Welcome to Costa Rica! To visit our country there are some requirements which must be met.

Remember that:

• Your country of origin determines the amount of days available to stay in Costa Rica as a tourist
• In some cases, the Immigration official may request you show economic solvency for your stay in the country
• Even with a 90-day tourist visa, the immigration official determines the duration of your stay as allowed by your passport.

Visitors to Costa Rica must have a valid passport as well as proof of their intent to exit the country before their visa or entry stamp expires, usually within 90 days.

All non-resident travelers must possess a return ticket or a ticket as proof of when they intend to exit the country, commonly referred to as an outbound exit or onward ticket. An onward ticket is required of non-residents who are:

• Traveling on a one-way ticket
• Entering the country with a return ticket dated more than 90 days after arrival
• Flying into Costa Rica and flying out of another country

By law, an onward ticket includes any of the following on approved, commercial transport:

• A pre-purchased bus ticket out of the country
• A pre-purchased flight out of the country
• Proof of passage on a cruise ship

What inoculations do I need before entering Costa Rica?

Starting on July 30, 2007, all travelers coming from the following countries must possess a yellow fever vaccination certificate before entry into Costa Rica will be allowed: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and the Republic of Guyana.

For a safe and pleasant trip:

1) 

Costa Rica offers a wide variety of hotels for all budgets, from boutique hotels, villas, lodges, bungalows, bed and breakfasts to luxurious hotels and all-inclusive; however, most of these hotels are small and tend to have limited space availability, especially in the peak tourist season (December to March). Plan your trip in advance, at least two months during low season and six months during high season. This will ensure that you can count on lodging that will make your holiday

2)

It is always best to travel light. Try to pack only what is necessary, cool clothes that are easy to dry and wash by hand in case of an emergency. Some airlines and tour operators have weight restrictions on luggage, and you will probably have to move with your luggage from one place to another, so we recommend you only travel with necessary

3)

Include in your luggage all the medication you may need in the event that you have a medical condition, since some medications in Costa Rica require a certified prescription.

4)

Costa Rica requires a visa for some countries, so it is advisable to check the list of countries before you purchase your ticket to verify the entry requirements. It is important to check visa requirements according to the country in which the passport was issued, and not necessarily the place of residence.

5)

Anyone who enters the country as a foreigner will be prompted for a return ticket; the time allowed for visiting varies by country of origin as well as the discretion of immigration officer that attends you upon arrival. Once in the country, it is advisable to make a photocopy of the passport with the entry stamp to carry at all times during your stay in Costa Rica instead of carrying your original passport during tours and other activities.

6)

Taxes account for 13% of the purchase and are always included in the final price. In restaurants and hotels, taxes and services are included in the final price; however, if you were happy with the service and would like to leave a gratuity, it would be welcome. Since 2016, the country’s departure tax is included in most of the inexpensive airline tickets. For those plane tickets where it is duly stipulated that they do not include the departure tax, you must pay $29 per person, either in dollars, colones, credit or debit card.

7)

Costa Rica is a safe country, but there are cases of theft in several parts of the country, especially in tourist areas, so it is advisable to be alert at all times, do not leave your belongings unattended, avoid walking down the street late at night without company, and avoid entering sites that seem unsafe. As a general rule, do not bring valuable belongings or of high sentimental value that can be lost or stolen. The Costa Rican Tourism Board, in conjunction with the police, have created a subdivision titled tourist police with more than 250 officers, whose primary purpose is to maintain order and security in tourist areas. If you have any questions or concerns, you can seek them.

8)

The health care system in Costa Rica is very good, both private and public. The general health conditions of the country are very good although they have seen small pockets of dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Basic vaccines for hepatitis A and B are recommended, as well as rabies and tetanus, before making the trip. The government of Costa Rica requires the yellow fever vaccine when traveling from countries in Africa, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil. The vaccine must be administered at least 10 days before the start date of your trip.

9)

Tap water is potable across the country. However, it is recommended that visitors drink bottled water while in the Caribbean to avoid motion sickness, which can affect the quality of your trip.

10)

In Costa Rica it is easy to find restaurants, sodas, cafes and The cuisine is quite extensive and includes both national and international options. Lunch is usually between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. and dinner between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.; therefore, some restaurants close their kitchen between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m.

Let’s prevent drownings on beaches

Did you know that there’s a mobile app to monitor waves and tides?

The app “MIOCIMAR” includes seven-day forecasts for surf currents, and wave and sea conditions. These forecasts are divided into color-coded categories (green, yellow and red) that indicate the levels of caution that swimmers should exercise. The forecasts are updated every six hours.

You can download the app from Play Store for Android or App Store for iOS.

It’s available in English and Spanish.

The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) partnered with the University of Costa Rica (UCR) for the launch in order to boost the reach of MIOCIMAR version 3.0, developed by IMACTUS, a Costa Rican company.

The Minister of Tourism, María Amalia Revelo noted that this tool makes the practice of reviewing sea conditions from cell phones easier, taking preventive information into the 21st century.

In turn, Rodney Mora, coordinator of the Oceanographic Information Unit (MIO) of the Center for Research in Marine Sciences and Limnology (CIMAR) at UCR, added, “This alliance between two institutions unites their efforts around a common theme: the prevention of coastal marine threats. The beauty our beaches and seas offer does not negate the fact that domestic and foreign tourists are exposed to risks when visiting beaches or enjoying walks along the sea. Information on marine conditions is within reach for everyone, for free and through an easily accessible mobile app

(MIOCIMAR)”.

Source Costa Rican Institute of Tourism