Costa Rica Opens Borders to Tourists from All States November 1st, 2020

You may be returning to the blue water faster than you think. Costa Rica has just announced that it will reopen its borders to ALL of the United States starting November 1st, 2020. Previously Costa Rica was just allowing select states to enter. From Guanacaste in the North to the Osa Peninsula in the South as well as Tarpon country on the Carribean – fishing lodges, resorts and charters are back in the action with all reports indicating that the bite is better than normal due to decreased activity.

If you have been considering a fishing trip in Costa Rica in 2020-21, there are several new entry requirements that you’ll need to be aware of including travel insurance and a Covid19 test.

Here is a list of the most current requirements to enter Costa Rica. Hope to see you soon chasing billfish in paradise.

#TravelTip – American Airlines now offers a pre-flight Covid19 test

Starting October 15, passengers flying American Airlines to Costa Rica from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) can choose one of three options to get tested:

Take a sample from home during a virtual visit with a medical professional.
Get an in-person PCR test at a CareNow urgent care location.
Take an on-site PCR test at DFW, administered by CareNow.

Passengers flying American Airlines to Costa Rica from Miami (MIA) can also participate in the program, though for the time being, only the at-home test is being offered.

The at-home option is a PCR test, which meets Costa Rica’s requirements. It costs $129 and is conducted by LetsGetChecked.

American Airlines is among several U.S. carriers that have begun offering coronavirus testing to encourage travel and help passengers fulfill entry requirements. The Fort Worth-based airline becomes the first to announce such a programs for its Costa Rica routes.

Update from The Tico Times Online Edition

Requirements for Tourists Entering Costa Rica

Tourists wishing to enter Costa Rica via a flight must comply with these requirements:

Complete the online “Health Pass” epidemiological form: https://salud.go.cr.
Show proof of a negative PCR test for the coronavirus. The sample for the test must have been taken no more than 72 hours before departure.
Obtain travel insurance. This can be either a pre-approved Costa Rican policy from INS or Sagicor, or an international policy that covers COVID-19 medical expenses of at least $50,000 and $2,000 for lodging.

Tourists must have remained in an authorized country for at least 14 days before travel.

Until November 1, U.S. residents must show a driver’s license or State ID indicating they live in an authorized state. As of November 1, this will no longer be necessary, as all U.S. states will be authorized.

Requirements for citizens and residents

Citizens and residents can legally return to Costa Rica via a flight from anywhere.

Here are the entry requirements for citizens:

Complete the Health Pass.

Here are the entry requirements for residents (permanent, temporary, special categories or estancias):

Complete the Health Pass.
Present a valid DIMEX card.
Have proof of current payment into the Caja OR have travel insurance that covers COVID-19 with a minimum coverage of 22 days.

Citizens and residents are issued a 14-day quarantine upon their arrival in Costa Rica. However, they are exempted from the isolation order if they come from an approved country/U.S. state and obtained a negative PCR coronavirus test prior to travel.

Coronavirus in Costa Rica

As of Friday, Costa Rica has confirmed 77,829 coronavirus cases and 930 deaths.

62% of the country’s ICU beds and 36% of the country’s moderate-care beds are occupied by coronavirus patients; Costa Rica has not saturated its public health system at any time during the pandemic.