*This post will no longer be updated to reflect current COVID cases. There are no COVID-19 restrictions in Costa Rica at all anymore. In case something does change, we will update this post but as of 2023, there have not been any restrictions.*
Costa Rica COVID Travel Restrictions and Border Opening
Costa Rica closed their borders beginning of March 2020.
On November 1, 2020, Costa Rica opened their borders to all countries in the world via air. On April 5, 2021, Costa Rica opened the land borders between Nicaragua and Panama.
Costa Rica Entry Requirements (COVID-19)
**As of April 1, 2022, all previous COVID entry requirements have been removed.** Costa Rica does not require quarantine, a health pass, travel insurance, QR code or a negative COVID-19 test to enter. There are no COVID-19 sanitary requirements to enter Costa Rica. Entering Costa Rica is exactly how it used to be before the pandemic.
Traveling around Costa Rica is nearly exactly how it used to be before COVID. There are nearly zero restrictions.
Do I have to be vaccinated to go to Costa Rica?
No. You do not have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for Costa Rica. Costa Rica is not requiring tourists to be vaccinated against COVID. Fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated and unvaccinated people can enter Costa Rica. You don’t need to have any booster shots to enter Costa Rica.
Costa Rica will not ask you for any COVID-19 vaccination information when you enter the country.
Costa Rica COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Tourists Need to Know About
There are no restrictions – no driving restrictions, no curfew, etc. Costa Rican establishments do not require any proof of vaccination to enter.
Please check our post Costa Rica COVID to see details.
Do I Need to Wear a Mask in Costa Rica?
As of May 11, 2022, face masks in public spaces, open spaces and indoors have no longer been mandatory in Costa Rica except for health officials. However, individual establishments may still require them for their guests and people can still wear them if they wish.
Likewise, the face mask mandate may be reinstated at any point, particularly indoors and public transportation settings, so please be aware of this and bring at least one mask with you still.
Where to Get a COVID test in Costa Rica
In case you need to get a COVID test in Costa Rica whether you are feeling sick or if you need one to re-enter your home country, nearly all labs, clinics and hospitals can administer COVID tests.
Please check your home country requirements to see what they require for re-entry. **The United States has removed its COVID test requirement on June 12, 2022. That means that air travelers entering the United States from abroad will no longer need to produce a 24 hour negative COVID test result.***
COVID tests in Costa Rica are done via a nasal swab.
Cost and Turnaround Time
The cost of a COVID test in Costa Rica varies between $55-300 USD per test. Antigen tests have an average of 1-8 hour turnaround time and are cheaper ~$50 USD. A PCR test is around $150 USD with a turnaround time of around 24-72 hours. Some labs may offer same day PCR tests for ~$300 and at home tests are now available. Results will be emailed in English or Spanish.
What Happens If You Test Positive for COVID in Costa Rica?
First, if you are feeling sick or believe you have COVID-19, isolate yourself and go to a clinic or lab to get tested.
If you need hospitalization, Costa Rica will not refuse anyone who requires COVID-19 hospital care regardless of their immigration and vaccination status.
Then if you are taking the test to re-enter your home country, airlines will not let you board with a positive test result. If your home country requires a negative test and you test positive, you will have to quarantine a given amount of days (usually 5- 14), which is determined by the doctor who attended you and the severity of the disease. You will have to comply with the entire duration of your stay at home order – even if you test negative during that period of time.
Tourists won’t be penalized if they overstay their tourist visa due to a stay at home quarantine order.
This is one of the reasons why we highly tourists to purchase a travel insurance, even though it is not mandatory. Many travel insurances will now cover COVID costs and it is especially important now since travel is still very messy with lots of flight delays and cancellations. Check our post for travel insurance recommendations for Costa Rica here.
What Is Open in Costa Rica Right Now During COVID-19?
Everything. It is exactly how it used to be pre-COVID. There are no restrictions at all.
Planning Your Trip to Costa Rica? Here Are Some Helpful Resources
Costa Rica destinations guide (Best places to visit)
Mytanfeet Costa Rica destination map
How to avoid crowds in Costa Rica
Disclaimer: Costa Rica border openings, travel restrictions and entry requirements are ever changing. We do our best to update this post with the latest information as much as possible. Please remember that the decision to travel is up to you and it is your responsibility to stay safe. Make sure to check the recommendations of your country when it comes to international travel.
José says
Hi. Flying out of Costa Rica at end of May. Canada does not require a covid test for fully vaxxed. Does Costa Rica require a covid test to get on plane even though Canada does not require it to enter the country? Thank you.
Sammi says
Costa Rica does not have any exit requirements.
Charlotte says
Hi! My family and I are going to Costa Rica next month and we aren’t sure if we need to be Covid tested or not before being able to return to the US. None of us are vaccinated. Anybody know?
Sammi says
Hi Charlotte, as of today, the US does require a negative test 24 hours before your flight, please check the CDC website (international travel section) for details and for updates
Josh says
We will be in CR next week and are going to book appointments at the San Jose testing facility prior to our return. Our flight home is super early in the morning. Do you know if we’re able to get to the facility via car the evening before to do the test? I’m unclear if it’s accessible to the public, or if you have to be at the airport to access.
Thanks for your help.
Sammi says
I’m sure you can, you can make the appointment on the website and it’ll have the details
Natalie says
Thank you so much for your blog. Lots of useful information!
One question – for covid testing to come back into the United States – can you use an at home test? As long as it is travel approved?
Sammi says
Yes I do know the US CDC website has a section regarding at home tests and which ones they accept so I would check their website
julie says
Are you considered fully vaccinated for the QR code or the vaccination card if you have had the first two jabs but not the booster yet?
Sammi says
Yes, the last dose must have been administered at least 14 days before your arrival day to Costa Rica, Costa Rica is not requiring the booster shot to be considered fully vaccinated (as of today – always check because things change all the time)
Sammi says
Hi Bailey, the CDC uses certain criteria to classify countries so with an Incidence Rate (new cases over past 28 days per 100,000 population) of more than 500, it is level 4, we have had a big increase of confirmed cases here in Costa Rica so per that criteria they moved us to Level 4. Our population is a little more than 5 million, and lately, there has been like 2-56000 average cases a day
Annette says
What happens after March 7 if I am already in Costa Rica with a tour group that is scheduled to depart on March 10? The new regulations about restaurants and hotels say that after that date tourists are not permitted
Sammi says
As of today, the date is March 8 when they will put the mandatory QR code in effect
Arielle says
Sorry to belabor this point but to be clear starting March 8th a person will not be able to enter any establishments (restaurant’s etc.) or participate in any activities (i.e. zipline, ATV etc.) if they are not fully vaccinated?
Sammi says
Correct that is what they said
Nic says
Question
In the hotels and resorts do you need to be fully vaccinated to stay there or can you stay unvaccinated?
Sammi says
There are no sanitary measures for COVID anymore in Costa Rica, as of April 1, they’ve removed all restrictions (only left is the mandatory face masks and hand washing)
Bailey says
I saw that the US (CDC) has raised travel to Costa Rica to a level 4 (Do Not Travel) because of a high-level of Covid in the country. Has there been a report of cases increasing significantly? My family has plans to return in mid April.
susan lopez says
HI we are arriving this Friday Jan 28 at 6pm to SJO- heard from a San Jose resident that its taking up to 6 hours to get through customs because they are so short on staff due to the 15 day stay at home policy if you get covid – workers are at 30%. Have you heard of this and can you provide any links to the actual articles?
Sammi says
I don’t know what article they’re talking about but it is true immigration and customs is taking a lot longer (customs is for luggage, immigration is for people).
Bobbi Summers says
Great Blog! You guys are awesome!
Just to clarify… We will be in Jaco 24 hours prior to departure to US, and will need the rapid test. Listed on the approved site was only 1 location in Jaco and it was PCR only. You had listed 3. One of your other comments implied that some these service locations take your test to an approved location to be tested… hence Jaco has 3 approved places… correct??
Sorry to be a pain… This must be one of the most commented on posts I have seen!!
Sammi says
Yes so many nurses/doctors or clinics that take your sample will then send it to an approved lab to do the actual test.
Stephane Utz says
Hello,
We are planning a trip to Costa Rica in April. My wif and myself are vaccinated but our children of 9 and 13 are not.
Will they need to be in order to access public places like hotels, restaurants, museum,…?
Thanks,
Stephane
Sammi says
As of today, they said that children 12 and up will need to present the QR code (for proof of vaccination) if establishments ask for it