Costa Rica Planning Your Trip

Before You Go
Passport . Required for all visitors. Passports must be valid for at least 30 days after date of entry. Travelers for whom a visa is required must hold passports valid for 3 months after date of entry.
Visa . Not required for citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, US, or members of the European Union.
Work Permit . Required for all foreigners planning to work in Costa Rica for up to a year.
Recommended Vaccinations . Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid.
Vaccination/Health Certificates . International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever is required of citizens from select countries. Visit the Embassy of Costa Rica (www.costarica-embassy.org) for information and a list of affected countries.
Other Health Concerns: Malaria pills are recommended for those heading to high-risk areas . If your insurance does not cover travel, you may wish to purchase additional coverage.

Embassies And Consulates

Australia: Embassy, De La Sala House, Piso 11, 30 Clarence St., Sydney, NSW 2000 (☎ 61 2 9261 1177; fax 9261 2953). Open M-F 10am-5pm. Canada: Embassy, 325 Dalhousie St., Ste. 407, Ottawa, Ontario ...more

Documents And Formalities

Requirements All visitors need valid passports to enter Costa Rica and to re-enter their home countries. Costa Rica does not allow entrance if the holder’s passport expires in under three months ...more

Money

The chart below is based on August 2008 exchange rates between local currency and Australian dollars (AUS$), Canadian dollars (CDN$), European Union euro (EUR€), New Zealand dollars (NZ$), British ...more

Packing

Pack lightly: lay out only what you absolutely need, then take half the clothes and twice the money. The Travelite FAQ (www.travelite.org) is a good resource for tips on traveling light. The online Universal ...more

Safety And Health

Know Costa Rica travel safety information prior to traveling. Costa Rica tourist safety and travel health includes vaccinations and immunizations to avoid Costa Rica diseases.

Transportation To Costa Rica

Costa Rica flights on major airlines have higher airfare to Costa Rica than courier fares, standby flights, and charter flights to Costa Rica. Cruise lines also offer cruises to Costa Rica.

Transportation in Costa Rica

A word of advice: ask. Ticos are extremely friendly, and signs in Costa Rica are very limited (nonexistent in some places), so if you have any doubts, or carrying a map isn’t helping, just stop ...more

Staying Connected

Costa Rica internet access is fast, cheap & plentiful. Use the internet cafe Costa Rica list to find internet access by cities, buy calling cards, use a phone and to mail out.

Travel Concerns

Costa Rica ecotourism and sustainable tourism resources are common. Avoid drinking water and eating foods washed from the tap. Costa Rica vegetarian & vegan dishes are available.

Other Resources

Let’s Go tries to cover all aspects of budget travel, but we can’t put everything in our guides. Listed below are books and websites that can serve as jumping-off points for your own research ...more