We have great Costa Rica news for our fellow Timid Travelers! The Costa Rica tourism board announced that Costa Rica has reopened its borders for tourism as of August 1st, 2020.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Costa Rica has been closed to foreign travelers since March 18, 2020. Fortunately, six months later, the Costa Rican borders have reopened and travel planning can resume!

Keep in mind, the August 1st ban lift is a general reopening of the country. The location you’re traveling to in Costa Rica and the location you’re traveling from to enter Costa Rica may affect your admission. 

Costa Rica’s three international airports (Juan Santamaría International Airport, Daniel Oduber Quirós Airport, and Tobías Bolaños Airport) are allowing select international travelers at this time. 

Here’s what you need to know about U.S. travel to Costa Rica during COVID-19 and the Costa Rica travel ban:

Can I travel to Costa Rica right now from the U.S.?

Costa Rica is the first country to reopen its borders to select states in the U.S., based on the number of COVID cases in that specific state. 

At a press conference on August 19, Gustavo Segura, Costa Rica’s tourism minister, said, “The authorized states have an epidemiological condition with similar or lower levels of contagion to those of Costa Rica. We are taking very gradual and carefully analyzed steps in the direction of the revitalization of tourism.”

In other words, only the select U.S. states that have lower rates of Coronavirus than Costa Rica has are allowed to enter the country at this time. This is great news for any Timid Travelers who may be nervous to travel to Costa Rica right now! This unique Costa Rica travel restriction speaks to the extensive safety precautions Costa Rica’s tourism center is taking to prevent the spread of COVID.  

Here’s a breakdown of which Americans can travel to Costa Rica right now, as stated by the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica:

• As of September 1, 2020, the following residents are permitted to enter Costa Rica on flights from the United States:
  • New York
  • New Jersey
  • Maine
  • Connecticut
  • New Hampshire
  • Vermont
  • Maryland
  • Virginia
  • District of Columbia

• As of September 14, 2020, the following residents are permitted to enter Costa Rica on flights from the United States:
  • Colorado
  • Massachusetts
  • Pennsylvania
  • Wyoming
  • Washington
  • Oregon
  • Arizona
  • New Mexico
  • Michigan
  • Rhode Island

• As of October 1, 2020, residents of California are permitted to enter Costa Rica on flights from the United States.

Can I travel to Costa Rica right now from another country?

If you are from the European Union, the Schengen Zone, the United Kingdom, Canada, Uruguay, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, China, or New Zealand, then yes!

As of August 19, 2020, Costa Rica travel restrictions have lifted for those countries. 

What do I need to travel to Costa Rica during COVID-19?

During the COVID-19 pandemic and the Costa Rica travel restrictions, you’ll need some additional travel documents to enter the country. If you’re a U.S. citizen traveling to Costa Rica during the Coronavirus, here’s what you’ll need:

1. Present a negative COVID-19 test result: You’ll need proof that you do not have the Coronavirus. A negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test for COVID-19, taken within the last 72 hours must be presented.
2. Complete a digital epidemiological health pass: These passes are health screenings, available in multiple languages and offered by the Republic of Costa Rica. Fill yours out here!
3. Provide proof of health insurance: Travelers must have health insurance and must provide proof of health insurance to enter Costa Rica.
4. Purchase travel insurance: To travel to Costa Rica, you’ll have to purchase travel insurance to cover your accommodations in case you contract COVID-19 during your travels. 
5. Provide proof of residency: A valid driver’s license or State ID card that verifies your residency in an authorized state must be presented to prove your residency. 

Do I have to quarantine when I arrive in Costa Rica?

No you do not! If your state of residency is permitted to enter Costa Rica and you fulfill the requirements (listed above), you do not have to quarantine upon arrival. 

Although, if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 while you’re traveling to Costa Rica, you will be ordered to quarantine in Costa Rica. 

How Zane Can Help 

We’re just as excited as you are to resume our travels to Costa Rica! 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s critical that travelers exercise the utmost precautions when traveling within the U.S. and to other countries. We’re following the U.S. Embassy’s Costa Rica travel updates closely, and we’ll continue to keep you updated as conditions change.

Although this pandemic is unprecedented and we’re all taking it day-by-day together, we’re here to provide you with the advice, information, and recent updates you need to plan a safe and unforgettable trip to Costa Rica. 

When businesses in Costa Rica first had to adapt to new precautions to keep their patrons safe, we were honored to be able to help our friends and partners in Costa Rica to navigate the changes.

Zane has been working closely with our preferred vendors to establish new protocols that will ensure the safety of our Timid Travelers as travel plans resume.

Whether you’re planning to visit Costa Rica in the coming months or the near future, we want to help you plan your authentic Costa Rican adventure through expert advising from a traveler who understands your unique needs and concerns.

Zane empowers travelers with travel anxiety, gluten sensitivity, or food allergies to explore Costa Rica, by preparing them with the tools, resources, and connections they need to experience a one-of-a-kind trip. It’s our goal to minimize your fear of a food allergy reaction, and lighten your anxieties with a realistic understanding of what to expect on your adventure.

If you need help planning your entire trip in Costa Rica, we can do that for you! If you only want to plan a specific adventure, we’ll show you the possibilities. Whatever you need to experience your extraordinary Costa Rican adventure with confidence, we’re here for you. 

Let’s get started by scheduling your 1-hour, no-obligation, custom advising session with Zane. We want to hear your needs, address your concerns, and support you in reaching your adventurous goals. We’ll get you in the right place, at the perfect time.