If you’re planning a fishing trip to Costa Rica this upcoming holiday season or beyond read this!
It is important to be aware of Costa Rica’s current Covid19 situation and requirements for entering the country
Sport fishing including most charters and lodges are operating in Costa Rica but there is a lot of information you should be aware of if you plan to travel to Costa Rica in the upcoming months. A Health Pass is required 48 hours before boarding your airline and extended insurance is required to enter the country – there is no longer testing and or quarantine requirements.
- Current Covid19 Stats
- Costa Rica Entry Requirements
- Required Insurance
- Health Pass
- Airlines Operating
- What’s Open
- Driving Restrictions
What is the Covid19 Situation in Costa Rica?
Four-hundred and eighty-nine people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19; 191 are in intensive care as of November 12, 2020.
As of Thursday there is a cumulative total of 120,939 cases.
A total of 74,255 people have been cleared as recovered; however, this number typically lags several weeks behind actual figures.
What Are the Entry Requirements in Costa Rica?
Since Nov. 1, Costa Rica has allowed all countries in the world to enter by air, as long as they meet the country’s visa and COVID-19 entry requirements.
The Government of the Republic has facilitated the entry of international tourists, and since Oct. 26, eliminated the requirement of RT-PCR tests for the detection of the coronavirus. Neither Costa Ricans nor foreigners will be issued sanitary confinement (or quarantine) orders when entering the country by air. These measures are subject to change and dependent on the evolution of the pandemic both in Costa Rica and around the world.
Tourists visiting Costa Rica are asked to abide by the sanitary protocols implemented for carrying out all tourist activities in the country.
Entry requirements for the country
The following requirements remain during the pandemic:
- Complete the digital form called HEALTH PASS and available at https://salud.go.cr
- This pass will be available 48 hours before boarding. It must be accessed in an updated browser (except for Internet Explorer). An individual form must be completed for every person, including minors.
- Purchase health insurance
- It is mandatory that tourists purchase travel insurance, covering their accommodations in case of quarantine and medical expenses due to COVID-19 illness. An explanation of one’s travel insurance coverage, addressing Costa Rica’s requirements, must be uploaded or entered into the HEALTH PASS in order to be reviewed and approved by the Costa Rican authorities. If more information on international insurance is needed, the Costa Rican authorities will contact the passenger at the email address indicated in the HEALTH PASS.
- In the case of international insurance, the tourist must request from their insurer a certification issued in English or Spanish, noting at least three conditions, without forgetting to add it to the HEALTH PASS:
- Validity of the effective policy during the visit in Costa Rica.
- Guarantee of coverage for medical expenses in cases of pandemic disease COVID 19 in Costa Rica, for at least US $50,000 (fifty thousand dollars of the United States of America).
- Minimum coverage of US $2,000 for extended lodging expenses due to pandemic illness or trip interruption/cancellation due to illness, which covers the extra cost of the passenger due to quarantine.
- If you do not have international insurance, it is possible to opt for travel insurance from Costa Rican companies approved by SUGESE (General Superintendency of Insurance of Costa Rica), which offer their services at Juan Santamaría international airports (city of San José) and Daniel Oduber Quirós (city of Liberia).
- National insurances meet all the requirements to have coverage of medical expenses for illness, including COVID-19, for a minimum amount of $20,000 and coverage for extended lodging expenses or quarantine, due to pandemic illness, for a minimum amount of $2,000.
- Local insurance authorized for travelers can be valued at the following links. If you have doubts or queries about the requirements or conditions of the insurance, please email seguros@ict.go.cr
- Foreigners with temporary or permanent residence or temporary category who return to Costa Rica, and who are not up to date with the corresponding payments with the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, must purchase a temporary local insurance for 22 days or bring an international insurance that complies with the requirements of a foreign tourist.
- In the case of foreigners with the migratory category of permanent or temporary resident, or special category in the latter case, with the exception of the Student Subcategory, they must demonstrate the insurance by the Costa Rican social security, which can be verified at https://sfa.ccss.sa.cr/servMedicos/validarDerechos.do
International Insurance Options
Overview
International insurance policies are also acceptable, provided they meet the minimum requirements. Specifically, the insurance must cover at least $50,000 for medical expenses associated with Covid-19 and $2,000 in accommodation expenses to cover at least 14 days of quarantine. You can find these requirements on the Tourism Institute (ICT)’s website.
Update, November 6 – International Insurance Options
Recently, we have heard from some readers about international insurance options that they say meet Costa Rica’s requirements. This includes the $2,000 in required coverage for accommodations in case of quarantine. Below is a list of companies.
IMPORTANT: Please keep in mind that these insurance companies have not been preapproved by the Costa Rican government. We also cannot vouch for the companies in general, as we have not used them before. So you will need to do your own due diligence to make sure that the policies meet the requirements and you are comfortable. Specifically, make sure they cover $50,000 in medical expenses for Covid-19 and $2,000 in accommodations due to quarantine.
We highly recommend emailing ICT/the Tourism Board with your policy information in advance so that you don’t have any problems. Print the email response from ICT and bring a hard copy in case you need to show it at the airport.
ICT’s email is seguros@ict.go.cr
If the prices are similar, to just go with the Costa Rican insurance companies to make life easy. These are preapproved so all you will have to do is put in your policy number in the Health Pass, and won’t have to worry about getting approval of your policy and a QR code that will automatically allow for entry. If there is a big price difference, then it can be worth it to do the extra work for getting an international policy.
What Airlines are Flying to Costa Rica
Direct Commercial Flights to Costa Rica from USA, Flying Right Now
United Airlines
EWR (New Jersey) to SJO, on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
EWR to LIR, on Saturdays
IAH (Houston) to SJO, daily
IAH to LIR, on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays
United also scheduled departures from three more cities:
ORD (Chicago) to SJO, on Saturdays, starting Nov 1
DEN (Denver) to LIR, on Saturdays, starting Nov 7
IAD (Washington) to SJO on Saturdays, as of Dec 1
American Airlines
MIA (Miami) to SJO, twice a day on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
DFW (Dallas) to SJO, daily
To LIR, both from MIA and DFW, once a week, on Saturdays.
Delta Airlines
ATL (Atlanta) to both SJO and LIR, daily.
Spirit Airlines
FLL (Fort Lauderdale) to SJO, daily
MCO (Orlando) to SJO, as of November 1st.
JetBlue
JFK to SJO, on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, as of Oct 25th
FLL to SJO, on Thursdays and Saturdays, as of Nov 5th.
MCO to SJO, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, as of November 4th.
Alaska Airlines
LAX to SJO, daily, as of December 16th.
Are Fishing Operations Operating?
All fishing lodges and charters are allowed to operate and most are remaining open through the holiday season and beyond. Be sure to call your fishing lodge, captain, or owner/operator to be sure they are operating before arriving in Costa Rica
How do I get Travel Insurance?
Are Most Businesses Open?
Costa Rica has been working hard to reopen its economy for tourism. In most places, hotels and restaurants are open. The country’s beaches are also open for most of the day and tourism companies are beginning to reopen slowly.
Hopefully in the coming months, more and more hotels, restaurants, and tour operators will reopen as more visitors are allowed into the country.
Orange and Yellow Alert Zones
Costa Rica has an alert system for sanitary restrictions. Areas under an orange alert, which are experiencing the most Covid cases, have greater limitations than yellow alert areas. In general, orange alert zones are in the greater San Jose area. The list of areas under orange alert is subject to change based on how the pandemic progresses. To find information on the current breakdown, visit this site and click Alerta.
Previously, most businesses were closed in orange alert zones except for those that sell essentials (e.g., grocery stores, pharmacies). Starting in September and continuing now, most businesses are allowed to be open even in orange alert zones.
For tourists, this means that restaurants, supermarkets, shops, etc. are open at 50% capacity. Everything that is open is subject to strict sanitary measures, which we will discuss separately below.
Hotels can be open at full capacity in both orange and yellow alert zones. Common areas like pools and hotel restaurants need to be at 50% capacity.
As of October 8, bars can reopen at 50% capacity. However, they are subject to strict procotols, including that music be kept at a low volume and no dancing will be permitted. Acrylic barriers will be in place to separate patrons at the bar and at tables.
Casinos at hotels can also reopen at 50%, subject to certain limitations. These include temperature checks upon entry and cleaning measures. No alcohol will be served.
As of October 15, beaches are open all day. The hours are as follows:
- Monday through Friday – 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday – 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Surfing and other non-contact sports are permitted. Visitors must stay within their social bubble (see below).
National parks that have been listed as reopened can operate at 50%, as well as thermal hot springs resorts, wildlife centers, and botanical gardens.
This government website has more specific information on what is open (in Spanish).
Are there Driving Restrictions?
As a tourist your states drivers license is valid in Costa Rica for 90 days after you enter the country. Costa Rica has driving restrictions that limit travel during the week based on license plate number. Since rental cars are exempt, most tourists will not be affected by this. If you are pulled over by transit police during your stay, you will just need to show them your rental car contract.
Keep in mind, though, that there are nighttime curfews. Countrywide, driving is permitted Monday through Friday from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekends. Rental cars are still exempt from these requirements, but if you want to avoid getting pulled over, we’d recommend avoiding driving during the curfews.
Enjoy Your Costa Rica Fishing Vacation!
To learn more about fishing vacations in Costa Rica subscribe to our mailing list
[yikes-mailchimp form=”1″]
You May Also Like:
How to Catch Sailfish in Costa Rica
Billfish Anglers Guide to Costa Rica
