*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.
Jeremiah says
Thank you sooo much for the detailed information. We are flying in on Alaska July 7th for 10 days, mostly staying in Coco. I really hope that between now and then some of the restrictions are lifted, especially the return test requirement. But if not, you have helped us prepare.
JB says
Do you need to actually have a your return flight ticket or would showing your flight itinerary via the airline app be efficient enough? I know most times you can’t print a boarding pass until 24 hours before your flight.
Sammi says
I always take a screenshot of my flight itinerary that is sent to my email, as long as it shows your name, date of flight, airline, flight number and departure, that is what they need to see.
Heather Levitt says
Thank you so much for this blog. I’ve read quite a few of your blogs to prepare for a Brief trip to Uvita on May 4th. I was wondering though if you have any tips for traveling to Uvita during the pandemic. I already have a packing list, tons of bug spray and sunblock, and rain gear. I also understand it’s a 4 hour drive from the airport 🙂
Specifically do you know of any COVID-19 testing sites we should contact prior to travel to ensure we are compliant upon returning to the States? Also any tips or recommendations for the Uvita area are greatly appreciated. We are staying in an Airbnb and are renting a 4 wheel drive vehicle. I would love any local recommendations for food and sight seeing too. We like the real experience and prefer to avoid high tourism areas. Thank you in advance for any recommendations you have a moment to provide.
Sammi says
Hello Heather, in this post I have a section for where to get a COVID test you can get information for.
Here is our Uvita, Costa Rica guide. Have a great time.
Costa Ricky Windhorst says
Just returned from Costa Rica. TWO IMPORTANT things to know. Get the insurance (two people 7 days $153). It makes it easy to get into the country. Next and most important, make an appointment with the Clinica online and they will schedule an appointment. We were told by Stay in Costa Rica to just show up at the clinic for 9:00am two days before we departed. WRONG! We almost didn’t get out of the country, luckily for $152. per person the doctors came to our condo and admistered the test. Unfortunately we lost a whole day of vacation waiting for them to show. They were scheduled to be there for noon and got there at 4:30 pm.
Veronica says
With the Clinica online, what town was that for? I’m looking for testing when we get to Jaco Beach and was hoping to find someone to come to us.
Danielle says
I was just tested at lab jaco. They do have rapid antigen tests available for $75 US. Results came by email in 24 hours. Process was easy, and quick. No issues returning to US.
Sammi says
Thank you for the feedback!
Veronica says
Did you do the anitgen because you knew you previously had it? There is a cost difference from the anitgen for $75 and the NAAT which ranges $125-$300. I don’t know how to decide which one to get.
Sammi says
Both Antigen and PCR are accepted by the US for entry (in case that is what you need it for).
Kelly says
How did you contact lab jaco to get your rapid antigen test? We will be testing in Jaco but the quote was for $130 per person. Thank you!
Yeraldi says
Hi Danielle what is the name of the clinic in jaco? I will be there in May im looking for places.
Sammi says
It’s Lab Jaco (on Facebook they are called Laboratorio Clinica Jaco). Antigen is around $75 USD, antigen tests are cheaper than PCR.
Susan says
It looks like you can enter the country by Marina. Do you know of any tour companies offering border runs by boat?
Sammi says
Unfortunately I don’t, sorry
Robert says
First I want to say this was an excellent source of information ,even though some of it was not good news. I was just curious about the motive for driving restrictions. I was in Costa Rica 15 years ago. I drove every day regardless of the destination. However in some South American cities license plate restrictions are the norm. Are these restriction related to the pandemic?
Sammi says
San Jose has had driving restrictions for many years and it is due to the increase of cars and heavy traffic in the city. The other nationwide driving restrictions are for the pandemic.
Sue Hamby, PhD says
My husband (age 89) and I (age 82) are flying into San Jose March 1 doe 8 nights. A rental car is provided in our package deal. We will be arriving at 1:21pm, will pick up the rental car and drive to Arenal for 3 nights . How far is Arenal and how long should it take us? Then we drive to LKa Costa de Papiti for 3 nights (How far and how long drive). Then we end up (Central Valley Cloud Forest) for 2 nites. (How far and how long?). Then the next day we leave from San Jose so we will have to be at San Jose airport by 11am so I am thinking about giving up our hotel (package deal) the last nite and rent a room in San Jose so we can be close to the airport. Hope this trip is “do-able” for a couple in their 80’s. Any suggestions? I love your information and will mention it in my next book, “Globetrotting 101: How to Travel More for Less”. It has over 800 websites to save money so I will make sure your website is included as well as your blog.
Sammi says
Hello Sue, you can read in this post about driving San Jose to Arenal. We do usually recommend to stay the last night by the airport so you have plenty of time and don’t have to worry about returning the car or any mishaps the day you fly out, here is our post for hotels near San Jose Airport.
We hope you have a great time.
Nicole says
Hi
I heard they now accept the rapid test to get back into the US is this true?
Sammi says
Hi Nicole, the US requires a viral test, you can find the details on the CDC website.
Hillary says
Thank you so much for all of this information! This is so helpful. I do have one question, you mentioned something about the Sim card place being closed in the Liberia airport, was that just that particular day or are all Sim card places closed? I was hoping to get a Sim card upon arrival at the Liberia airport. Also I’m sorry if you have already answered this question, but did you say that all rental cars are exempt from the driving restrictions at all times? Thank you for any info and I really appreciate you.
Sammi says
Hello Hilary! Unfortunately there isn’t a SIM card stand at all in Liberia Airport. You’ll have to get one in the supermarket or cell phone store in your next destination or if you rent a car, you can drive to Liberia and go to the cell phone store to get a card (need to check office hours, most cell phone stores close around 5 PM).
Rental cars are exempt from driving restrictions when going to/from hotels, airports and tourism activities (all with reservations).
Noriko says
Thank you for the most updated information. Your site is so helpful.
I just wanted to ask you about the driving restriction for the rental car. Can you provide the most recent update? Thank you.
Sammi says
Monday – Friday is only for San Jose downtown and it has the license plate restrictions. Weekends has nationwide license plate restrictions. Driving is allowed 5 AM to 10 PM every day. You can find the details in this post under the driving restrictions section
Julie M Stewart says
My family is going to Costa Rica March 20, 2021 through March 30, 2021. I have a quote for those dates through Trawick with is quite reasonable – $113. Now I am wondering if I should get a quote for an additional 2 weeks just in case someone tests positive before our return. If you test positive, will Trawick still extend your insurance (required to extend your visa) at a good rate, or will it increase significantly?
Sammi says
You will need to contact Trawick directly to see what their policies are.
Alexandra says
When you arrive to Costa Rica, immigration will only give you visa for to the date of your insurance, I suggested by your insurance for extra time just in case you decide to extend your stay.