Quick Guide To Traveling In Costa Rica: During Covid-19
Covid Restrictions (As of 4/1/21)
In order to enter Costa Rica you must first purchase a travel insurance plan that covers Covid-19 as part of the plan. The plan should have coverage for accommodations in case of quarantine and medical expenses due to COVID-19 illness. The coverage needs to be for at least $50,000 USD
If you cant find your own international insurance, you can purchase a plan with some Costa Rican companies. You can find more info about them (https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/planning-your-trip/entry-requirements)
World Nomads: Currently plans with World Nomads does not cover you for travel to Costa Rica. However, I was able to enter the country with just my World Nomad Travel Insurance.
Health Pass: 3 Days before your flight to Costa Rica, you must submit a Health Pass. You enter a few details about your trip, and upload proof of insurance. The Costa Rica government will review the form, and once it is excepted you will get a QR Code to be scanned by immigration in San Jose.
*Note: Again I was able to get this QR Code by sending them proof of just my World Nomad Insurance, but I can’t guarantee this will work for everyone.
This is what is will looklike
Renting A Car
The most common mode of transportation for tourist visiting Costa Rica is renting a car. I found this to be the easiest option, since the places I wanted to visit were so spread out around the country, trying to figure out bus times and transfers was making my head spin.
Once in San Jose you can a lot of different companies to choose from, they all have similar cars and prices so my advice would to not worry too much about bargain hunting.
I eventually went with Alamo, since they had the most conveniently located drop off areas around the country.
Insurance:
The actually cost of renting a car in Costa Rica can be very affordable, where it gets pricey is the mandatory insurance. When finalizing your contract they will add two types of insurance to your bill.
#1: Collision: This covers any car to car accidents, and is not mandatory. You can chose to waive this coverage, or use a credit card that has collision coverage as a part of your perks.
#2: Incidental Coverage: This coverage is required by Costa Rican law, and can add a lot of money to your overall cost per day. This protects you from having an accident with a pedestrian or animal etc.
You cannot waive this coverage, and trust me I tried very hard. So just budget for about $15-$20 more a day for your rental to pay for this coverage.
Scam Prices:
I booked my car in advance through my credit card. I was quoted a to good to be true price of $10 a day for the car. Of course, when I arrived the price was actually more like $40 a day. When I asked the rental company why they would quote me so low, the guy simply just smiled and said you should of read the small print. So, I canceled the car out of spite and went back to read the small print. IT basically states the price is subject to change, giving them the freedom to post fake prices and jack them up once you are in Costa Rica and sort if stuck and out of options. This is not really a scam, but it sucks, so be careful.
San Jose
Capitol city of Costa Rica, is one of the two International Airports in the country. I read in other blogs that you really don’t need to stay in the San Jose more than 1 day, some people said you don’t need to stay at all. I myself did not plan to stay at all, but ended up staying two days, and it was really cool to explore the city.
Walking Around Town:
You can get the lay of the land here pretty quickly, as most things are along one major street. To the North you will find shopping and a more busy congested environment, and in the south you have a lot of food options to choose from.
Safety
Like most big cities in Central America, you have to keep your wits about you when walking around town. Try to avoid flashing your money and phone in certain areas. You will come across a lot of different types of people in a city; like the homeless, drunks, business professionals, and working class people etc.
In my experience people in San Jose are very friendly, so don’t be shy to ask for directions or a food recommendation when walking around.
Covid Testing
San Jose has many covid testing options. Clinics information and locations can be found with a simple google search. To set up an appointment you can simply just Whatsapp them directly. Very easy, and will cost you around $70-100 for the test, with results coming in about 2 to 3 days.
Here is a great blog about all the covid rtesting options throughout the country:
https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/covid-19-test-costa-rica/