Travel Insurance and Safety Advice for Costa Rica

Costa Rica Travel Insurance for Visitors

Costa Rica tourism attracts retirees and vacationers with its sunny beaches, lush rainforests, and exotic wildlife. It’s a haven for extreme sports enthusiasts, boaters, ecotourists, and explorers, too. But you can’t enjoy this Central American country’s quaint cafes and breathtaking coastlines if you’re ill or injured and don’t know where to turn for healthcare. That’s why it’s important to consider medical care and travel insurance for Costa Rica before you go.

Do You Need Travel Insurance for Costa Rica?

Smart travelers don’t leave home without travel insurance. The best travel insurance for Costa Rica will cover medical costs, personal liability in accidents, and even costs from trip cancellations and stolen property.

Travel health insurance isn’t required to enter the country, but we recommend getting it. These medical policies cover unexpected costs, including out-of-pocket medical expenses in Costa Rica and travel back to the U.S. if needed.

You can also include trip cancellation insurance, which covers unexpected costs from travel disasters such as canceled flights or cruises due to bad weather or other circumstances.

The travel insurance Costa Rica visitors need the most includes both types of coverage.

The BCBS Global Solutions Single Trip Platinum travel medical insurance plan is the best option for U.S. citizens and residents visiting Costa Rica.

What Do I Need to Know Before Traveling to Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is a beautiful country with plenty of opportunities to take life slow. Adventures ranging from zip-lining to water sports are also attractions when traveling in Costa Rica. When considering Costa Rica travel advice, think at least as much about travel insurance as what to pack.

Accidents on the water or while exploring Costa Rican jungles can happen, but so can illnesses from mosquito bites and even from scratches or bites from wildlife or stray dogs in the country’s rural areas.

Costa Rica’s tourist areas can be a magnet for pickpockets and property theft. Safety in Costa Rica is more likely if you keep an eye on your belongings, but travel insurance adds another layer of protection.

The cost of living in Costa Rica is lower than in the United States. Medical costs are lower, too, but that doesn’t mean healthcare is free.

Costa Rica travel health insurance will help cover the costs of care in Costa Rican hospitals and clinics, prescriptions, and travel for care.

How Much Is Travel Insurance for Costa Rica?

The price of travel insurance varies by policy and by the age and health of those insured. Policies range from around $100 per month to $1,000 or more.

Excluding U.S. healthcare from your coverage can lower your premiums. Another factor that affects the cost of travel health insurance is the type of policy.

Typically, policies that cover accidents while participating in extreme sports such as ziplining or mountaineering tend to cost more than those that are more flexible.

Contact us for a free quote and to find a plan that fits your needs and budget.

How to Get Travel Insurance for Costa Rica

Before you pay your first premium for travel insurance, you should understand the coverage you’re paying for. Travel insurance typically covers a range of vacation mishaps that can be expensive.

Canceled flights, scheduling snafus, and delays can become costly for travelers. Trip cancellation insurance will cover the costs associated with these issues.

An illness before you leave for your Costa Rican vacation could result in the costs of flight changes and hotel fees, but trip cancellation insurance will cover those costs as well.

An emergency back home might mean scheduling travel back and reservations you can no longer enjoy. Cancel For Any Reason, or CFAR, will cover the costs of cancellation for any reason, or no reason. This flexibility usually makes CFAR travel insurance more expensive.

Travel medical insurance covers healthcare costs during your vacation to Costa Rica or other spots around the globe. What if your luggage ends up in Des Moines instead of Costa Rica? Lost luggage, stolen bags, and the cost of replacing their contents can also be covered by some travel health insurance policies.

Extreme sports travel insurance covers accidents during activities such as bungee jumping, parasailing, and treetop canopy walks that other travel insurance policies may not.

Some avid travelers take out annual travel insurance policies that provide coverage wherever they roam during the year.

Best Travel Medical Insurance Plan for All Nationalities Visiting Costa Rica

Medical Preparation for Travel to Costa Rica

Those taking a Costa Rica vacation or moving there should make an appointment with a physician before leaving the U.S.

While vaccinations are not required, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccination against several diseases in the region.

If you are traveling from countries in Africa, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, or Guyana, you’ll need a certificate of yellow fever vaccination. The dose must be taken at least 10 days before you arrive.

What Vaccinations Do I Need for Travel to Costa Rica?

Americans planning a trip to Costa Rica should check their health records and get any vaccinations needed. The CDC recommends immunizations for the following conditions before going to Costa Rica:

Routine Vaccinations

Immunizations for chicken pox, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, influenza, polio, and shingles should already be part of your health record.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for travelers aged one and older. Those who are allergic to the vaccine or are 6 months old or younger should get a dose of immune globulin, which will provide protection for about two months.

Hepatitis B

Travelers under 60 should get vaccinated against Hepatitis B before traveling to Costa Rica. Unvaccinated travelers aged 60 or older should get vaccinated before leaving home.

Rabies

Consider getting a rabies vaccination if you will be around feral dogs or wildlife while exploring rainforests and rural areas in Costa Rica.

If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal in Costa Rica, seek rabies treatment if you are unvaccinated.

Typhoid

Vaccinations for typhoid are recommended for most travelers to Costa Rica who are planning to stay in rural areas where they could be exposed through food or water.

Malaria

Talk with your physician about medications you can take to prevent getting this mosquito-borne disease. Depending on the medication, you may have to take doses before you leave for Costa Rica and after you arrive.

Measles

Babies 6 to 11 months old should get a dose of the measles vaccine before traveling to Costa Rica.

How to Bring Medications to Costa Rica

Bringing along your necessary medications is a must when traveling or moving to Costa Rica. Making sure your medications are labeled correctly and bringing along a doctor’s prescription for each of them, especially narcotics, sleeping pills, antidepressants, and stimulants, is essential for bringing them into the country.

Bring only the medication you need for your stay.

How Visitors Can Access Medical Care in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has universal healthcare with public and private systems, and both are affordable.

Because of the high-quality healthcare available in San Jose and low costs, medical tourists visit the country for medical, dental, and vision care.

Foreigners in Costa Rica can get care in hospitals and clinics in the country. Healthcare is free only to the country’s needy, but medical care and treatment in Costa Rica are affordable.

EBAIS, or Equipos Básicos de Atención Integral en Salud, provides treatments for minor illnesses and injuries.

Cities such as San Jose offer more healthcare options than rural areas. Health insurance companies can help expats with translations and in finding the best clinics near them.

English is spoken in clinics and hospitals in tourist areas, but there are fewer English speakers in smaller towns.

Travel Warnings and Alerts for Costa Rica

Smart travelers know it’s important to stay up to date on travel warnings and alerts before heading overseas.

The U.S. State Department offers up-to-date travel warnings and alerts related to health, crime, conflicts, and environmental conditions to keep travelers safe, so you’ll know when there’s a Costa Rica travel advisory.

If you’re from the U.S., sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to stay up-to-date on advisories. The STEP program is a free service that keeps U.S. citizens and nationals traveling or living abroad informed about travel advisories.

Travel Advisories for Costa Rica

• Travel.State.Gov (USA Citizens)
• Government of Canada (Canadian Travelers)
• Smartraveller.gov.au (Australians)

How Safe is Costa Rica?

The crime rate in Costa Rica is rising. Violent crime, including robbery, homicide, and sexual assault, prompted the U.S. State Department to warn travelers to Costa Rica to take precautions such as being aware of their surroundings, keeping an eye on their belongings, and not showing signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive jewelry and watches or flashing cash.

But is it safe in Costa Rica? While no country is completely crime-free, Costa Rica is among the safest in Central America, with most crimes involving theft.

As in the U.S., visitors to Costa Rica should take crime-prevention precautions.

Is Costa Rica Safe for Tourists?

In Costa Rica, violent crime is less common, but it is still smart to travel with others and stay in well-lit areas. Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Canadian government offer these tips for traveling to Costa Rica:

• Don’t carry unnecessary cash or wear expensive jewelry or watches.
• Be cautious when withdrawing cash from an ATM in Costa Rica, protect your credit card information, and be aware of anyone following you.
• Only change money at banks and official exchanges.
• Property crimes often occur in areas where tourists gather, so keep an eye on your belongings in restaurants, hotel lobbies, and while sightseeing.
• Travel with others to reduce the risk of being a target.
• Avoid isolated areas.

Emergency Contact Information for Costa Rica

Costa Rica has responders ready to assist citizens and expats in emergencies. Response times vary, with the fastest help in cities. Knowing the numbers to call is essential for getting the help you need.

Emergency Assistance Numbers in Costa Rica

If you’re in Costa Rica on vacation or planning to retire there, it’s important to know a few numbers to call in case of emergency.

• Call 911 for help in an emergency such as a fire, crime, accident, or medical crisis.
• If an ambulance is needed, call 128.

Embassy Phone Numbers in Costa Rica

Expats in Costa Rica can turn to their countries’ embassies for help with situations such as lost or stolen passports, being a crime victim, or being arrested.

They can also assist in happier circumstances, such as marriage or the birth of a child abroad. Knowing the number of your country’s embassy is the first step in getting the help you need.

• The U.S. Embassy’s number is +506 2519-2000.
• The Canadian Embassy can be reached at +506 2242-4400.
• Contact the French Embassy at +506 2234-4201.
• The Australian Embassy can be reached at +506 4081-8008.

7 Tips for Safe Travel in Costa Rica

Whether you’re just planning to be in Costa Rica for a week or several, you can have a safer and more enjoyable stay. These seven tips will protect your health and wealth.

1. Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Being aware of what’s going on around you is essential to safety in Costa Rica. Being distracted with electronics or listening to music through noise-canceling headphones can leave you vulnerable to crime or an accident.

2. Always Keep Your Belongings Secure

Most crimes in Costa Rica are opportunistic. If you leave your purse on a cafe table or your laptop computer on a bench while you step away for a moment, it may not be there when you return.

Limit bags to what’s necessary, and always keep them at hand. Leaving a wallet within view inside your car may result in an auto burglary. Consider leaving valuables you may not need at home, locked up.

3. Remember That There’s Safety in Numbers

You may love an early morning run or a solitary evening stroll, but it’s best to travel in groups in Costa Rica.

Women, especially, should avoid being alone in Costa Rica’s secluded areas. Evenings are safer when you share them with friends.

4. Consider Travel Insurance for Health and Trip Cancellations

Purchasing travel insurance in Costa Rica will protect you from the risk of losing money if your flight or cruise is canceled and will ensure the cost of care if you become ill or are injured in Costa Rica.

A health insurance policy can even pay for transportation back to the U.S. for care or recovery.

5. Know Where to Get Help in an Emergency

The time to look up numbers to call for help in an emergency is before the emergency occurs. Make sure you save the contact numbers for emergency responders on your cell phone and write them down at home, too.

Knowing the number of the hospital and clinic near you will make getting care easier.

6. Park Your Car in Secured Parking Lots

Your car is less likely to be stolen or broken into if you park in a lot with security guards or a gate.

If you must leave valuables inside your car, make sure they are out of sight in the trunk or glove compartment to reduce the risk of a break-in.

7. Lock Your Home

Keeping the doors and windows of your lodging in Costa Rica locked at all times will reduce your risk of burglary. Leave valuables at your lodging out of view or in a safe.

What Are Some Things Tourists Should Be Careful About in Costa Rica?

Below are some other questions tourists to Costa Rica often have about specific places and types of travelers.

Our Recommended Travel Medical Plans for Travel to Costa Rica

Be Cautious in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a country filled with beautiful beaches and breathtaking landscapes, but accidents, illnesses, and crimes can happen anywhere. Being careful can reduce the risk of crime.

Other actions, such as purchasing Costa Rican travel health insurance and trip cancellation coverage, can protect you from unexpected costs. Showing a little caution in Costa Rica will go a long way toward a safer vacation.