*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.
Mavelly says
Hi,
Been reading your blog for a few days in preparation for my trip to Costa Rica over a month. Great info btw!
I have question about my stay. I will not need a tourist visa as I’m from the Netherlands, so that’s settled. But I do have a return ticket for after 4 months. I was planning to go to Nicaragua in the middle of my trip, so I won’t be in Costa Rica for more than 90 days. Will I need proof of some sort at immigration?
I assume that they will be raising some eyebrows at the fact that I have my return ticket for over 4 months instead of 3…
Sammi says
You need to have proof of departure from Costa Rica within the time of your insurance. So if you purchase 90 days of insurance, you need proof of departure on the 90th day as they are giving tourist visas the same as the number of days of insurance you purchased, it is not an automatic 90 anymore.
If you don’t have proof of departure from Costa Rica by the time your insurance runs out, this will cause a problem at immigration.
Stan says
Extremely helpful blog and post – finding out about Tarwick Insurance from your blog has saved me a ton of money by not having to buy coverage from the government recommended insurance companies (legalized scam)
Anthony says
Super helpful website, and we appreciated your help in booking a car through Adobe. We will be flying back to the U.S. out of Liberia and our flight leaves at 10:00 am. The onsite Covid testing company is open at 7:00am, and they say we must be at the airport 4 hours prior to our flight. I am wondering if we will have any difficulty if we arrive at the testing site when they open at 7, only 3 hours prior to our flight?
Thank you for any advice you can provide.
Sammi says
Hi Anthony, Echandi says clients have to arrive 4 hours before, so I’d contact them to see what they say if you can only arrive 3 hours before as we don’t know their policies except for they say 4 hours before.
Maria says
Thank you so much for the detailed information! Is the form on mipruebacovid.com just for Hospital Metropolitano or is it required to be filled out regardless of where you get your test? We’re getting our tests done by Echandi at the Liberia Airport. I read on another blog that everyone has to fill it out because all testing facilities require it. However, I just sent a message via WhatsApp to Echandi and was told there’s no required form.
Sammi says
It will depend on the lab you get your test from – some do require it, some don’t. Not sure why, but each lab has their own conditions.
Amy says
Hi,
We have planned a trip to Costa Rica in June and now Costa Rica is still on do not travel list. Is there any issue if we ravel despite the warning?
Sammi says
On Costa Rica’s end, the country is open and is receiving tourists, they just need to purchase the COVID insurance and fill out a health pass. So it is up to you whether you feel comfortable traveling since Costa Rica is on the Level 4 of the US’s travel list.
Murali says
Hi Sammi,
I am looking into the Travel Insurance (50K health and 2K delay) and the prices seem to vary so much. The local insurance companies are asking around 600-700 USD for a family of 4. However I have seen another US company (Trawick International) that is quoting 140 USD for a recognised plan covering non US residents (we are from Switzerland).
That seems too good to be true?
Sammi says
Hi Murali, Trawick is one of the cheaper/cheapest options that a lot of people have used. I used it back in December.
Heather says
Hello,
Thank you so much for all of this great information! It’s been so helpful for our upcoming trip to Guanacaste. I have found conflicting information on the web about whether we need a visa or not. We are coming from US. We are coming for 1 week and we do have passports.
Thank you,
Heather
Sammi says
US passport holders don’t need to apply for a tourist visa, it is given upon arrival and there is no charge. Just make sure to fulfill the entry requirements (health insurance, health pass).
Casper says
I have tested positive for covid the day of my flight home, yesterday 21 May. My tourist visa and Sagicor health insurance was for 6 days which expired yesterday. I am self isolating and waiting for the ministry if health to send me a Sanitary Order but apparently they are overwhelmed and it will take a few days. I am asymptomatic.
My question is: if after the 10-14 days of isolation and if my covid test thereafter is negative and then I have to rebook my flight home which may be only available a few days later, what about my tourist visa and thexrequired health insurance? Will I need to apply for a visa extension first before buying a new flight ticket? Do I need to buy more Sagicor insurance now?
Sammi says
Hi Casper, in this case I would contact a Costa Rican immigration lawyer. As a blog we don’t have any knowledge when it comes to legal things like immigration. Sorry to hear about that hope it works out.
Todd Gubler says
In your blog you said: “For proof of recovery, it must be documentation of a recent positive viral test and a letter from your doctor or a public health official declaring you are clear to travel.”
Who is requiring the negative test or positive viral test and letter from a doctor? I recovered from COVID 4 weeks ago and I had my doctor write a letter for me and my sone but how will I know if it is sufficient?
Todd
Sammi says
The US requires this proof, please check the US CDC website for the exact documentation you need to prove you recovered from COVID and will be allowed to board the plane back to the US. (This is NOT Costa Rica’s requirement, it is the USA to re-enter the US from an international flight).
Dan L says
Hi Sammi,
Thank you so much for your post, my wife and I are considering a trip to Costa Rica in June. What we have in mind is renting a whole house or apartment from someone (AirBnB). I assume that AirBnB are still possible during covid, but would appreciate if you can confirm.
Thanks again, -Dan
Sammi says
Airbnb is still working in Costa Rica