As a tropical country, mosquitoes in Costa Rica are present year round almost throughout the entire country. So if you are visiting Costa Rica soon, you need to come prepared!
Here is what you need to know about mosquitoes in Costa Rica and we included a list of our recommended mosquito repellent.
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Mosquito Borne Diseases: Dengue, Malaria, Chikungunya and Zika in Costa Rica
When it comes down to diseases from mosquitoes in Costa Rica, dengue is the one to be concerned about.
I know a lot of people freak out about malaria but malaria is not a major concern in Costa Rica as it is in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dengue: Dengue is a big concern in Costa Rica. In 2023, Costa Rica had around 28,000 documented cases of dengue which has been a huge increase the last few years. In 2024, there were over 30,000 cases.
There are 4 different types of this viral disease and is treatable for acute or mild cases. It is not very common for people to die of dengue although it can happen.
Malaria: Malaria is not common in Costa Rica. Costa Rica has done a great job fighting against malaria. 2023 had 540 cases, which was the worst year for malaria since the year 2000 and even still, it is way lower than dengue.
In 2024, it decreased to 232 cases. Malaria occurs in the extremely dense, undeveloped and rural rainforest of the deep Caribbean mountains bordering Panama and the upper Northern Lowlands bordering Nicaragua.
Chikungunya virus: Also present in Costa Rica and doesn’t have a vaccine or cure. It was found for the first time in the Americas in 2013, before it was only in Africa, Asia and Europe. Chikungunya is not that common in Costa Rica.
Zika: Zika has been around since the 1950’s mostly in Asia and Africa. Costa Rica does not have a high rate of concern for Zika.
Which Areas Have the Worst Mosquitoes in Costa Rica?
Although there are mosquitoes year round, mosquitoes are generally not found in higher elevations in Costa Rica, around 1600 meters and up (5249 feet).
They are prolific on the coasts, beaches and low elevation areas.
There are mosquitoes in beach towns like Tamarindo, Playas del Coco, Samara, Puerto Viejo, Tortuguero, Jaco, Osa Peninsula, Uvita, Manuel Antonio, Santa Teresa, aka everywhere on the coasts.
Likewise, there are mosquitoes in La Fortuna, Sarapiqui, and the lower elevation rainforests.
However, there aren’t really mosquitoes in higher elevation places such as Monteverde, Vara Blanca, San Gerardo de Dota and Poasito as that’s about 1500 meters and above.
Mosquitoes are present almost all day and all night long as well. If you’re going out to dinner, I normally bring an extra sarong to wrap around my legs/
Worst Time of Year for Mosquitoes in Costa Rica
Mosquitoes are present all year long in Costa Rica. However, since mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, rainy season (May to end of November) is the worst time of year for mosquitoes.
Unfortunately streets in Costa Rica do not have good drainage and when it rains, drains get clogged and roads flood, allowing mosquitoes to breed prolifically.
For these reasons, you will need to bring or buy plenty of mosquito repellent for your trip to Costa Rica.
The Best Protection Against Mosquitoes
The best protection against mosquitoes in Costa Rica is to wear long sleeves and pants and to cover up.
That is the only surefire protection against mosquitoes.
However, it’s not ideal to be wearing long sleeves and pants in 90° F (32° C) tropical heat and near 90% daily humidity. So then you will need to apply mosquito repellent on exposed areas.
Best Insect Repellent Against Mosquitoes in Costa Rica
Here are the best products we tried ourselves.
We recommend bringing mosquito repellent for your trip because it is more expensive in Costa Rica.
Additionally, there aren’t a ton of options, especially if you prefer natural products or can only use specific ingredients and products.
Remember, what works for me, may not work for you. Mosquitoes have their own preferred flavor and when I first came to Costa Rica, I was the tasty treat of the year.
I try to use non-DEET products as much as possible but honestly for me, DEET works the best compared to other products, when I am not able to fully cover up.
Spray
I particular love a brand called Jungle Juice that is available at REI. I also like brand, Repel 100. It’s a little bottle but you don’t need much and it’s the perfect travel size. Whenever we go to the national parks or into the jungle for hiking, we always use this one and we don’t get bit at all.
Another one we like is Ben’s Max. This one contains around 30% DEET and works great. I could see the bugs hovering over my arm but never got bit!
Natural spray
For those who don’t want to use DEET, the Repel Natural is one of my favorite DEET free products but I do need to reapply about every half an hour or so. A couple of spritz does the trick each time.
Mosquito Repellent Wipes
Mosquito wipes are great for those who don’t like to use sprays. It is also very convenient to carry as they weigh practically nothing and aren’t considered a liquid (better for those traveling with a carry on). These are 30% DEET and lasts up to 10 hours.
We used these on our legs and arms and they worked well for us. They’re not my favorite product to use but they are super light to carry.
Insect Repelling Bands
These insect bands don’t contain DEET, it contains Geraniol, a plant based material that repels mosquitoes. These bands are for your wrists and feet and you can just leave it on.
They are water friendly and supposedly works up to 120 hours.
We put the bands on our ankles to test out how well it worked without any other product. It didn’t work for me at all, I got bit the first hour I had the bands on so I personally won’t be buying these again.
Mosquito repellent clothing
If you really want the ultimate protection against mosquitoes in Costa Rica, then covering up and wearing insect shield clothing is the best option.
Then apply repellent products to the areas that are not covered.
We have some pieces from Columbia, ExOfficio Bugs Away and a Buff Headwear with Insect shield that have worked great for us.
DEET Alternative
We tried a DEET alternative spray called Avon Skin so soft. It contains Picaridin which is still a synthetic chemical compound.
It’s much more pleasant smelling than DEET. It also works decently for me!
Another excellent insect repellent that doesn’t use DEET (it has 20% Picaridin, a non toxic ingredient) is Proven Insect Repellent.
Afterbite Itch Eraser
If you do get bit, you’ll want to put something on those bites especially if they swell.
The After bite eraser also works well and we found that it took away the itchiness pretty fast. You just dab a little bit on and let it do it’s magic.
Purchasing Mosquito Repellent in Costa Rica
If you have to buy mosquito repellent in Costa Rica, you can find them in all supermarkets.
Nowadays, natural products are getting more popular but something to note is that mosquito repellent is more expensive in Costa Rica with limited options.
If you can, bring it.
Another way to get non-DEET mosquito repellent is to go to a macrobiotica or organic store in Costa Rica.
Sometimes they will have more natural products like oils or natural sprays. Additionally, there may be some vendors at the farmer’s markets that have their own natural mosquito repellent.
I will say that after a couple years of living in Costa Rica, I rarely get bit by mosquitoes anymore. I guess my flavor is not that tasty anymore when they have a whole buffet to choose from.
Other Costa Rica Travel Tips
Need some tips on what to bring for Costa Rica? Check out our Costa Rica packing list.
Need some tips about sunscreen? Here are the best sunscreens for Costa Rica plus the different ones you can find here.
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Renee says
Thanks for all this great info! I too am a mosquito magnet. My husband, teen daughter and I are planning our first trip to CR in late July. I have bookmarked a couple of these items for purchase later on Amazon. I’ve not had much luck with “natural” remedies so I generally have to rely on deet. I also read in several places recently that taking vitamin B-1 for a few days prior and during exposure to mosquitoes helps a lot. Apparently it makes you taste bad? Worth a shot; can’t hurt.
Terri Lerner-frey says
My husband & I have been coming to CR for years. The last 2 years we’ve spent almost 2 months. Partly in Atenas in the Central Valley & partly on the coast, this year Guanacaste. We’ve noticed that each year we get more bug bites than the year before. We have not seen mosquitoes & the bites don’t quite look like mosquito bites. I was wondering if you know what they might be. They itch like crazy for a couple days & then we’re ok. Thanks
Sammi says
Those are probably purrujas, or midges/sand flies if it hurts when they bit. They are teeny tiny but they bite hard and their bites swell and hurt. They’re very common at the beach and they come out at sunset.
Leah says
My family will be visiting Costa Rica the last week in November. We’re scheduled to fly in to Liberia with the intention of spending lots of time at the beach, but now I’m getting really worried about Dengue. My kids will be 3 years old and 8 months old and I’m so scared about them getting bitten. We don’t have any lodging booked yet so we could definitely do something else besides the beach. Is that the best course of action? I keep trying to remind myself that babies are likely born in Guanacaste all the time and do just fine, but I can’t stop thinking that I’m putting my kids in danger. Any thoughts?
Sammi says
Hi Leah, getting Dengue Fever is not very common, it is a problem in Costa Rica but it’s not like every person who goes there or lives there gets it. I’ve lived there for 5 years and never gotten it. Yeison is Costa Rican and never gotten it. The people we know who have gotten it are locals who have lived there their whole lives and they have only gotten it once in their 40 something years. So it’s rare and you’d have to be super duper really unlucky if you get it on a short trip for your first time. THe locals don’t really use bug repellent and yes, there are a ton of babies and kids in Guanacaste 😉 you will see kids everywhere. Just make sure to use repellent every time you go outside and reapply but the best repellent is covering up. And at the beach, the worst times are sunrise and sunset for mosquitoes so as long as you use repellent and cover up, it is not likely to get Dengue fever. I’ve been bitten probably thousands of times over the course of my 5 years there (mosquitoes freaking love me) and have never gotten any sort of mosquito disease and we live at the beach.
Leah says
Thank you! I can’t tell you how much that puts my mind at ease!
Caitlin says
So happy I found this post! We’re headed to Costa Rica in October, and I am getting so worried about the bugs!
Am definitely ordering a number of these for our trip! Thank you for all the great info!!!!
Sammi says
Awesome that’s great! Glad to hear the post is helpful!
Becky says
Hi! I love all of your blogs. I am coming to CR on Thursday for a week and staying in Arenal and Jaco. I am getting worried about the mosquitoes this time of year. I bought 100% deet and 30% wipes. Should I apply it any time I am outdoors? Even at the pool in jaco? I appreciate any advice you have!!
Sammi says
Hi Becky, I recommend using mosquito repellent every time you go outside. You don’t need to wear repellent into the pool since you’ll be in the water but if you’re going to be laying out, I do recommend having it because mosquitoes like water – they breed in stagnant water actually and the pool is one of the worst places since there are usually always a lot of mosquitoes around.
Robin says
My daughter will be doing work at the field station (hatchery for the leatherback turtle) in La Tortuga the first part of June. Because DEET will kill the embryos of the eggs they collect, they have to use something else.
They will be patrolling the beach 4 hours each night so sand fleas are also a big issue.
Looking for good mosquito nets that can be used with bunk beds.
Looking for ideas on products without DEET for the times they will be handling eggs.
Should she be taking any particular vitamin to make herself less tasty?
Worried about various mosquito born illnesses as well as sand fleas.
Carol says
I realize that Robin’s Post was years ago now. But Robin noted the problem with Deet killing the embryos of Leatherback Turtle eggs they collect. That means the beaches loaded with people using Deet may be a problem. So I think we all need to know that especially on beaches the turtles use to lay eggs. We now know that all our older Sunscreens (Bullfrog no longer in business) had ingredients harmful to Coral Reefs. Thanks to your blog I am purchasing Sum Bum sunscreen. Also planning on wearing 50% sun-protected clothing while swimming such as AXESEA Women Rash Guard Swim shirt. That will I hope cut down on both the Sunscreen and the Deet needed on the beach. Problem: cuts down my suntan too!
Serene says
Hi there! Thanks for all of the great info! I am traveling to CR in December, and I am a total mosquito magnet. I was going to get the Repel 100, but have heard issues with it melting the plastic cap, and the ziplock bag if you carry it in one. I was going to go with a 30% formula instead. What are your thoughts on this? Is the stronger formula that much better? Or does it just last longer?
Sammi says
Hi Serene! Yes the 100 is pretty intense haha. I’m a huge magnet for mosquitoes and I only use the 100 when I am going into the dense jungle such as Corcovado National Park. The rest of the time I use the 30-40% deep forest one and it works alright, but I need to reapply like every hour since mosquitoes loooove me. With the 100, I just put a tiny bit on and it works like magic but I do only use it when I’m going to places I know that are really bad for mosquitoes. 30-40 should be fine if you’re just going to be at the beach or not going into the deep jungle, and make sure you reapply 🙂
Christina says
I was in distressed for the bites the first week in CR. We are in Panama now, will return to CR and stay until the end of August.
There were not only mosquitos, some tiny black insects too. A week ago, one of the bites swelled up and started to have nerve pain around the muscle. I almost went to a clinic to get shots, but it was a National holiday, so the clinics were closed. A pharmacist in Maxi Pali ( chain grocery store) recommended a topical gel that stopped the intense itch and pain effectively.
I read the blogs before I came to CR. As I am a mosquitos magnet, ( I heard they like Asians.) My husband wasn’t affected at all.( he is Caucasian) . So I was prepared. However, I don’t like to use chemicals. If Deet can melt plastic and rayon, what will it do to you?!
I mixed my own bug repellent. Using Neem oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, cinnamon oil and coconut oil. It worked wonders in Oregon when we hiked. Especially, because there are many chiggers and ticks in some regions.
Obviously, my repellent didn’t work here. The bugs are too aggressive in Central America.
So, I concentrated the potions. With all the essential oils that I’d mentioned above, I added just a little bit of coconut oil . This time it worked! I have to reapply, of course, because it’s all natural products.
I also used Vicks, yes Vicks, for chest congestion when people have a cold. It also works wonders. But it’s too goopy. There’s a lot of applying and reapplying whenever you are outdoor. I felt exhausted from the process.
I wore a long sleeved top and pants and I tucked the legs under my socks.
Its ridiculously hot, what can you do !
Sammi says
Hi Ashley, mosquitoes will be around no matter what but just make sure to spray them every time you go out and reapply after going in the water, etc. The clothing spray will help a ton. Millions of tourists visit Costa Rica every year including kids and newborns, it’s actually not very common to get mosquito illnesses (all the very few people I know who have gotten dengue are those who live in CR) and as long as you’re putting on repellent, you are being responsible and doing everything you can for your kids. Costa Rica is a huge family destination and kids of all ages come here and have an amazing time!
As for safety, honestly don’t read the US embassy website because it’ll have all these warnings for every single country in the world, whereas the US has actually gotten more dangerous to be honest. Over a million tourists travel to Costa Rica every year, including solo female travelers and the crime here is very minimal for tourists. Since tourism is one of the biggest resources for Costa Rica, crime against tourists is quite low. Also, Manuel Antonio is a very touristic area, probably the most touristic destination in all of Costa Rica so you’ll see hundreds of other tourists and everyone is super friendly. Hundreds of thousands of American tourists come to Costa Rica every year, they actually make up the majority of the tourists and it’s very rare to hear of crime towards a tourist here. Like any other country in the world, use your common sense (don’t leave your belongings unattended, don’t accept strangers offers to watch your stuff, etc.) and be extra aware but on the whole, Costa Rica is very safe. They don’t even have an army! Costa Rica is one of the most recommended countries for travelers when it comes to safety actually. Here are some safety tips you can read: Costa Rica safety tips
The most important thing is to use your common sense. Petty theft is probably the most common crime but most of the cases, it is because the person left their purse on the table unattended and went to the bathroom. Or left their stuff on the beach and went swimming for 2 hours. So always keep an eye on your stuff, use your common sense and never leave your belongings unattended.
Ashley says
Thank you for your mosquito advice. We are traveling to Manuel Antonio at the end of the month for 10 days. We have a 10 month old, 3 and 4 year old. I am so worried about them catching one of these awful mosquito borne illnesses. I am going to treat all of our clothing with permethrin beforehand and will be diligent with bug spray (although the strong deet scares me on our small children). I’m just worried because even if I’m very diligent I just don’t know how I can keep them covered 24/7 every single day. If the mosquitos are this big of an issue maybe we should cancel our trip? Are we being irresponsible for taking them? The reason for the trip is our four year old son has a profound love for nature. His love for animals is so strong that we wanted to take him to the rainforest and foster his passion.
Now I am also worried about the crime. When you go to the us embassy website for CR it has a posted warning about violent crime toward American tourists and talks about kidnapping and armed robbery!
Any thoughts and reassurance are much appreciated. At this point I think I’m going to be so scared for their safety I’m not going to enjoy the trip anyway.
Thank you!!