Guide to Traveling to Costa Rica Safely

Costa Rica markets itself as a destination of nature and safety, and largely it is, but that doesn't eliminate concrete risks: Pacific beaches have riptides that kill more tourists each year than any wild animal in the country, and theft from rental cars is a documented problem in tourist areas.

The country requires an onward ticket on entry and organizes its visa exemption by country categories, so it's worth checking which group each traveler's passport falls into before buying the flight.

Here's what you need to know to plan the trip well: seasons, paperwork, health, and real safety — not the brochure version.

Visa and health for travelers

Visa: Costa Rica exempts many nationalities from a visa for short stays within specific categories, but some nationalities do need to apply for one, and almost everyone must show an onward ticket; check the exact category for your passport before booking.

Health & travel insurance: Dengue circulates in warm, humid areas, but the most frequent risk for tourists is drowning from riptides on Pacific beaches; insurance with medical evacuation covers both scenarios.

When to travel

The dry season (the local 'summer,' from December to April) is the most sought-after for Pacific beaches like Manuel Antonio or Tamarindo, with higher prices. The green season (May to November) brings afternoon rain but lush scenery and lower rates; the Caribbean coast (Puerto Viejo, Tortuguero) has a different rain pattern, with September and October relatively drier there than in the rest of the country.

Entry requirements

Costa Rica classifies countries into categories for visa purposes: some don't require a visa or prior consultation, others must register online before traveling (free, but mandatory), and others need a consular visa. Nearly all nationalities must show an onward ticket out of the country (by air or land) on entry.

• Valid passport
• Onward ticket out of the country (required of almost all nationalities)
• Check whether your category requires online registration or a consular visa

Real safety: beyond the tourist brochure

Drowning from riptides on Pacific beaches (such as Playa Hermosa, Espadilla, or Jacó) is, according to reports from local lifeguard authorities, one of the most frequent causes of tourist death in the country; very few beaches have permanent lifeguards, so it's worth asking locally before swimming. Theft from rental cars parked at viewpoints and beaches is another documented risk: not leaving valuables in sight reduces the problem considerably.

Health and travel insurance

Dengue and, to a lesser extent, chikungunya and Zika circulate in warm, humid areas; repellent is recommended on the coast and in rural areas. A yellow fever vaccine isn't required unless arriving from a country at risk of the disease. Given the combination of adventure sports (surfing, ziplining, rafting) and ocean currents, travel medical insurance with evacuation is a reasonable investment. Assist-365 covers these scenarios with 24-hour assistance, and the code MEDALLOADV2023 gives an immediate discount when you get a quote.

Travel checklist for Costa Rica

Quick list based on this guide's real data (not generic) before traveling to Costa Rica.

• Check the visa requirement for Costa Rica based on your passport: Costa Rica exempts many nationalities from a visa for short stays within specific categories, but some nationalities do need to apply for one, and almost everyone must show an onward ticket; check the exact category for your passport before booking.
• Passport valid for at least 6 months from the entry date
• Travel medical insurance arranged, keeping this in mind: Dengue circulates in warm, humid areas, but the most frequent risk for tourists is drowning from riptides on Pacific beaches; insurance with medical evacuation covers both scenarios.
• Save Costa Rica's emergency number: 911, along with your insurer's contact
• Cash or a no-fee card in Costa Rican Colón (CRC); the US dollar (USD) is widely accepted
• Physical and digital copies of passport, insurance and bookings
• Required or recommended vaccines up to date for the region
• eSIM or international data plan active on arrival

Frequently Asked Questions

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