*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.
Jana says
Dear Mytanfeet Team!
Thank you so much for your regular updates – it’s much appreciated!
We are confused about the land border opening to Costa Rica. We’d like to travel by Bus from Panama to Puerto Viejo, but there are contradictory information to be found online. At some it says land borders for tourists are open, but on another it was mentioned only for residents and Costa Rican Passport holders…we are just normal tourists. Do you have any information (or Link) whether we are allowed over the land border, of course with the required health pass and insurance?
Thank you so much!
Kind regards
Jana
Sammi says
Hi Jana, for Costa Rica, they have opened their land borders completely at the beginning of April as long as tourists fulfill each country’s entry requirements.
Chuck Bluemel says
Good Morning: Hi my name is Chuck Bluemel and We have planed a trip to Costa Rica in May, I have been trying to take out The insurance plan the the government is requiring, I have been trying to get covered through Blue cross,Blue shields website I put in all the required information and when we are to purchase it is asking for Document type. 1- National Natural person 2. legal Person. 3. Dimex Certificate. 4. DIDI ID. I do not know which of these I should enter. Please let me know which one is the correct to enter. AsaP.
Thanks
Sammi says
Hi Chuck! I would also recommend to check with a company called Trawick INsurance. They have a travel insurance specifically for Costa Rica which I’ve personally found to be way cheaper (just in case for other options). The Costa Rican pre-approved ones are expensive.
Stas says
Hi, thanks a lot for you blog! It’s really helpful and thorough!
We are a family of 2 from Switzerland, we will be travelling on April 29 for 3 weeks. We’ll need to have a PCR test on May 17th, do you think it makes sense to book an appointment for test now or there’s still time?
I really hope there won’t be more restrictions during our stay
Thanks!
Sammi says
You can wait to make your appointment in case you’re not sure where you will be, but you should contact the clinics just in case to see what they recommend (some places will require you to fill out a form, some places allow appointments a few days in advance, etc.) as each clinic has their own policies.
Veronica Redmond says
I will be in transit between Manuel Antonio and Jaco the day I need to take a Covid test. Would you recommend taking it at the hospital in Manuel Antonio or at the lab in Jaco?
Sammi says
Get the test at whichever lab/hospital gets back to you and has appointment space which works with your schedule.
Akshay Sawant says
Hi Samantha,
I would love to visit Costa Rica again but this covid situation is not allowing me to get there but next year I will try to visit Costa Rica once again. Thank You!
Corine says
This is so thorough. Great job!
Tara says
HI Sammi,
We are traveling to CR in july as a family of 4. Do we need to purchase travel insurance as a family or do we need a separate policy for each person? We were looking at Trawick since they also have policies that cover additional parts of our trip that we want to insure.
Sammi says
Hi, every foreign person is required to have a travel policy to enter Costa Rica
Dan Buettner says
Thank you for putting this information and site together. I will be buying your travel guides to support your efforts.
I will be in Costa Rica 3/25 – 3-29 traveling along the Pacific side of the country and points south of Jaco to scope out a good place to stay for a couple months over the summer with my family. Conservationism is going to be the main theme this summer so I’m looking for good places and ideas for volunteering for animal protection activities.
Thanks again!
Anne A Jameson says
Hi Samantha! Thanks for the incredible info! Do you know if the Covid testing sites that you listed also offer an antigen test? Do you know the cost of the antigen test?
That’s the only requirement to return to my home country.
Thank you!!
Sammi says
Many of the places do now, I know specifically Hospital Metropolitano offers antigen. It is around $85 USD + tax (varies between clinics/labs and locations)
nancy montes says
hi!
i am traveling to Nicaragua first to visit my parents then driving to Costa Rica using a Private Shuttle service called Easy Ride CR. are the borders open by land? crossing from Nicaragua to Costa Rica? I’ve read somewhere land is open April 1st? i would appreciate your guidance.
thank you for documenting your experience on this website very helpful.
Sammi says
Currently the border from Nicaragua – Costa Rica is closed until at least APril 1. The government will give us an update on that day whether they decide to extend the closure or not.