Costa Rica🇨🇷

Not to enter as a tourist. During the pandemic Costa Rica required visitors to hold a policy with set medical and lodging limits. That rule ended in April 2022, and the entry requirements now published by the Costa Rica Tourism Board do not mention insurance. What they do list:

• a valid passport,
• an onward or return ticket,
• proof of funds of at least 100 US dollars per month of stay,
• a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from a listed country in South America or Africa.

Nationals of many countries, including the US, UK and most of Europe, can be admitted for up to 180 days, with the exact period decided by the immigration officer.

Insurance is a recommendation, and a firm one. The US State Department recommends medical evacuation insurance for Costa Rica, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) calls adequate travel health insurance essential. Medicare says it usually does not cover care outside the US. You can compare travel medical plans on Ombrela. Residency and long stay visa categories have their own insurance rules, which this guide does not cover.

Costa Rica has a public system, run by the social security fund known as the Caja, and a private sector concentrated in and around San Jose. The FCDO describes medical care as being of a generally high standard. The US State Department says care in San Jose is adequate.

Tourists are not enrolled in the public system. The FCDO says only initial emergency treatment is free for visitors and all later care must be paid for. The State Department adds that most hospitals require payment or a deposit before treatment, that US insurance is not always accepted, and that public hospitals generally do not take private insurance while private hospitals will if the plan covers care abroad.

The US Embassy's list of medical providers includes private hospitals such as Hospital Clinica Biblica in San Jose, Hospital CIMA in Escazu and Hospital Metropolitano in San Jose. Outside the Central Valley, facilities are smaller, and complex cases are generally sent to the capital.

Distance is the real constraint. From the Osa Peninsula, Tortuguero or the southern Caribbean coast, San Jose can be many hours away by road, and the FCDO notes that ambulance availability varies in remote regions. Use the medical cost estimator to judge how much cover to carry.

• Rip currents. The FCDO says rip currents are very common, that few beaches have lifeguards, and that drownings average 50 to 60 a year, about a third of them tourists. Ask locally before you swim, on both coasts.
• Adventure activities. Zip lines, canyoning, rafting, surfing and quad bikes are central to many trips. The State Department says the tourism industry is regulated but some operators are not registered. The FCDO warns that these activities are often excluded from standard policies.
• Mosquito borne disease. The CDC's chikungunya notice for the northwest was at Level 2 when updated on July 30, 2026. Dengue is present year round, and the CDC lists malaria risk in Alajuela and Limon provinces. Check the CDC page close to departure, because notices change.
• Hepatitis A. The CDC posted a notice on September 18, 2026 about hepatitis A, mostly in San Jose province, and recommends the vaccine for unvaccinated travelers.
• Volcanoes and earthquakes. The FCDO reports increased activity at Poas Volcano and says tremors are frequent. Follow park closures.
• Crime. The State Department advisory was reissued at Level 2 on April 2, 2026, citing petty crime and some violent crime affecting tourists. Check the current level before you travel.

Road travel is a further risk. The FCDO notes potholes and landslides in rainy season.

The dry season generally runs from about December to April on the Pacific side. The FCDO identifies June to November as the peak rainy season, and warns that flooding and landslides can close roads. The Caribbean coast follows a different pattern and can be wet at almost any time of year.

The Atlantic hurricane season, set by the US National Hurricane Center at June 1 to November 30, overlaps the rains. Even when a storm does not make landfall in Costa Rica, systems passing through the Caribbean can bring days of heavy rain.

For insurance purposes, the point is access. A washed out road can turn a short transfer into a long one. Travel medical insurance is not trip cancellation cover and will not refund a tour cancelled for weather, but its evacuation benefit is what pays to move you when a medical emergency happens somewhere remote.

• Adventure sports cover. List what you will actually do, then check each activity against the policy. Some plans cover zip lining and surfing as standard, some need an add on, and some exclude specific activities. See travel insurance for adventure sports.
• Emergency medical evacuation. This covers transport from a remote area to San Jose and, if medically necessary, onward to your home country. Read how evacuation cover works.
• A policy maximum that covers private hospital care. Private hospitals in San Jose are where most insured visitors are treated.
• A deductible you can pay by card. Deposits are common, so expect to pay something at registration.
• Cover for the whole stay. If you are admitted for 180 days and plan to use them, buy for the full period or choose a plan you can extend.

Ombrela is a comparison site, not an insurer. Plans such as Atlas International, Patriot International Lite, Patriot Platinum International and Safe Travels International cover trips to Costa Rica, and you can compare them side by side. The glossary explains terms such as deductible and policy maximum.

Call 911 for an ambulance. In a remote area, tell your lodge or guide straight away, because they will know the fastest route to care and whether a local clinic can stabilise you first.

Contact your insurer's assistance line as soon as you can. It can direct you to a private hospital that works with international insurers, arrange a guarantee of payment where the hospital accepts one, and authorise an evacuation. Do not arrange a private air transfer without that approval.

If you pay yourself, keep the itemised bill, the medical report, receipts and proof of payment. Pharmacies are widespread, but the FCDO notes that foreign prescriptions cannot be filled locally, so bring enough regular medication for the trip.

Travelling on through the region? See the guide for Mexico.