Quickly understand the most up-to-date travel advice for visiting Costa Rica during Covid-19 in this article.

The world is certainly in a much better place than it was one year ago, but Corona Virus continues to linger and evolve, now with the new Delta variant taking the media’s spot light. This article services to help you understand the most recent updates to travel requirements for visiting Costa Rica.

COVID-19 Entry Requirements for Costa Rica

First off, make sure you verify if you have any visa requirements based on your nationality and requirements accordingly. 

For Costa Rican nationals or legal residents, it is not necessary to show a negative Covid test or purchase special medical insurance to enter Costa Rica. However, the Health Pass must be completed online, which you can access and complete at https://salud.go.cr.

Tourists that are fully vaccinated with Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson are permitted to enter without purchasing travel/medical insurance. The final dose must have been administered at least 14 days before entry to Costa Rica. Also, the vaccination card or certificate will need to be attached to their Health Pass form online. 

Unvaccinated tourists, or those with partial vaccinations, must buy the mandatory travel insurance that covers the cost of housing, quarantine and medical expenses should they fall sick from Covid-19 in Costa Rica.

It is best to purchase travel insurance from a local insurance company in Costa Rica, such as INS, Sagicor or BlueCross BlueShield. However, you are free to choose any international policy. Make sure your policy details include:

  • Validity during entire stay in Costa Rica
  • $50,000 USD for medical expenses relating to Covid-19
  • $2,000 USD for living expenses relating to Covid-19

Your insurance company should provide you documentation that will show the name of the insured that is traveling, validity dates, and total coverage for medical and living expenses relating to Covid-19.

Lastly, you will need to show proof of your return ticket already purchased when entering Costa Rica and going through immigration.

Requirements to Re-enter the United States

When leaving Costa Rica you will be required to produce a negative pre-departure test for Covid-19. The test must have been taken within three days of your flight’s departure. 

Travelers should have and be able to show written or electronic proof to verify the negative test result. Airlines will ask to see this before letting you board your flight. You will also need to complete the Passenger Disclosure and Attestation to the USA.

Costa Rica offers the PCR and the antigen test, and both are approved by authorities to be used for travel. Cost for such a test range between $100-150 USD. Testing is conducted by the Ministry of Health of Costa Rica within their authorized laboratories. Expect that the results will take 48 hours at most to be delivered to you for the PCR test, while the antigen test produces results within a couple of hours. Results will be emailed to you, and your airline will verify the documentation before your flight out of Costa Rica

Upon arrival back in the United States, you should expect to be further screened by US Immigration officials. They will ask about your health and its condition, whether you’ve been tested and cleared for travel, have contracted Covid-19 before, or other similar questions. It is actually quite common still to check body temperature as well.

Please visit www.cdc.gov for more official details and updates on travel policy.

Movement Restrictions in Costa Rica

Through end of August 2021, most all business can operate from 5 am until 9 pm local time, though some have capacity restrictions. National Parks will be open from 5 am to 6 pm and are able to operate at full capacity. Beaches will be open from 5 am to 8 pm as well.

While there is not a curfew restriction in place, there are some limitations set forth to limit number of vehicles on the road. 

Through August 2021 there will be a vehicle restriction during the day based on license plate numbers. 

  • Mondays: Vehicles with plates ending in 1 or 2 are restricted
  • Tuesdays: Vehicles with plates ending in 3 or 4 are restricted
  • Wednesdays: Vehicles with plates ending in 5 or 6 are restricted
  • Thursdays: Vehicles with plates ending in 7 or 8 are restricted
  • Fridays: Vehicles with plates ending in 9 or 0 are restricted

There is a nighttime driving ban as well, enacted since August 9th, from 10 pm until 5 am through end of the month. Those with proof of hotel and flight reservations, along with emergency vehicles, will still be allowed to travel at all times.

Should you have any specific questions on traveling into and out of Costa Rica, please visit us at www.thepuravidahouse.com and we will be happy to connect with you directly and clarify your questions. We wish you safest travels and look forward to hosting you soon!