Costa Rica has shown to be an innovative country in regards to being eco friendly, preserving their biodiversity, having long life expectancies and considered to be one of the happiest countries on the planet. Once again, Costa Rica is a step ahead and is one of the top ranked countries for handling the curve of Covid 19. Their proactive and progressive government closed the borders shortly after the country reported their first case. Luckily this was just weeks before their largest national holiday. Semana Santa/Easter Week, where everybody heads to the beaches.  It could have spread like wildfire. 

Our home town of Puerto Viejo, is one of the most beautiful hidden gems in the country, now we are one of the few places on the planet that is Covid free. 

Costa Rican officials have just released they will be reopen its borders for tourism on August 1, 2020, allowing tourists from select low-risk countries

All of the entry procedures and requirements have not been finalized, but this is what we can expect:

• The wearing of masks in public places was just made mandatory. Tourists should expect the rule to stand in August. Also, expect to wear a mask on their flight, in the airport, and during outings.
• Costa Rica is contemplating using a health declaration card that travellers fill out prior to their trip. This form will not only help to      pre-screen inbound passengers but can also help with tracing in event of an outbreak.
• Tourists should expect thermal scans upon arrival and symptom checks.
• At this time, mandatory testing at the airport is not planned.

Transportation

Costa Rica is fairley easy to get around. The options for transportation range from public transportation to domestic flights, however it depends a lot on your travel route, budget and the length of stay in each place to choose which will be the most suitable option for you.

Currency

In addition to colones, US dollars are widely accepted throughout the country, You don’t need to stress too much about exchanging all your money beforehand. 

6. When you arrive car rental/taxi/shuttle

If you are going to be traveling by taxi make sure they have a meter running. Costa Rica also has Uber. If you consider to rent a car be aware that most car rentals agencies are off site within a 1-2 km radius from the airport.  Shared shuttle services are a cheap, fast and effective way of traveling the entire country

7. Small country = Long travel times

Though small in size, most of the top destinations in Costa Rica are far apart and usually require an entire day dedicated to travel. Always add at least 30+ minutes to whatever is suggested.

8. US dollars are accepted almost everywhere 

The US dollar has become the standard currency in tourism. Be aware of the exchange rate. Since the exchange rate is around 565 CRC to 1 USD, some places may try to stiff you by using a 500 to 1 rate and you will lose out a bit.

9. Dengue

Dengue is a mosquito borne disease travelers should be aware of while in Costa Rica. The best protection is any type of insect or bug repellant.

10. Bring unlocked cell phone 

We suggest bringing an unlocked smartphone and getting a pay as you go Costa Rican SIM card upon arrival at the airport at the Kolbi kiosk or you can quite often purchase the SIM card at larger grocery stores for around $4.

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