Costa Rica is a stunning destination, renowned for its lush landscapes, vibrant wildlife, and thrilling adventures. While the allure of our country is undeniable, it’s essential to prioritize your safety during your travels. So, keep on reading and find some of the best Costa Rica travel safety tips.
Whether you’re exploring the pristine beaches, hiking through majestic rainforests, or immersing yourself in local culture, being informed can enhance your experience. Even if your travel agent is available 24/7, we encourage all visitors to familiarize themselves with essential safety tips.
This guide aims to equip you with valuable information to ensure you travel safely and make the most of your unforgettable journey in Costa Rica. Keep reading to discover how to enjoy all that our beautiful country has to offer while staying safe!
These are some of the travel safety tips for your trip in Costa Rica:
Initial Precautions:
Some visitors will need a visa to enter Costa Rica, so check the list of countries before purchasing your ticket and confirm the entrance requirements based on the nation where your passport was issued. If you are traveling with a travel agent, confirm that it is a certified travel agency. If you are booking a day tour, confirm it with an authorized tour operator. Ensure it has an operating permit and their insurance coverage.
Before reserving a tour, verify the local weather conditions and predictions. Costa Rica is in the tropics, and the weather is unpredictable. However, for your safety, comfort, and convenience, always check the conditions first. When you are on a tour, make sure you understand all the safety regulations and instructions given by the tour guides.
Health in Costa Rica
Historically, Costa Rica has had one of the best healthcare systems in the Americas.
Many of our medical staff speak perfect English. Especially in the numerous private hospitals, you will find bilingual staff, and the quality is good enough to have many people come to Costa Rica for their medical treatments.
As one of the most important Costa Rica safety tips save these numbers in your phone:
In case of an emergency:
– **911** (toll-free): Here you will find all services listed below.
– Red Cross ambulances and Rescue Team: 1028
– Judicial Police: 2222-1365 and 2221-5337.
– Traffic Police (Policía de Tránsito): 800/8726-7486 (toll-free in Costa Rica) or 2222-9245.
Medical Requirements:
No vaccinations are required to enter Costa Rica unless you have traveled to a country or region with yellow fever. In this case, it is required to show proof of this vaccine.
Costa Rica Travel Safety Tips if You Get Sick While on Vacation:
If you are traveling with a travel agent, dial their 24/7 emergency line, and they will support you.
If you are traveling with your own tour guide, he or she is the first line of defense. They are all CPR-certified and each carry a first aid kit. If you are by yourself, your hotel reception staff will be the best place to go and ask for options. Usually, the staff at hotels are locals and know the places and people in the region who may help you.
You can also stop at the pharmacy. Pharmacies are found in medium and large towns in Costa Rica. They are well stocked, and the pharmacists usually recommend soft medications. You may find the medicines you are used to with different brands but the same quality.
Costa Rica Travel Safety Tips on Tropical Illnesses:
Malaria, Zika, and dengue fever are present in the Northern Zone and in the lowlands along both coasts. It’s important to have repellent at all times, especially in the rainy season. Mosquitoes are the carriers of these diseases, and they may bite you day or night.
So, most important Costa Rica safety tips to prevent these diseases, other than the repellent, are to try to use long pants and sleeves, and always ask the locals about the presence of any of the diseases. Try to sleep with the AC unit on, closed windows, and at least the fan on. A mosquito net in hot places is a great idea.
If you experience a high fever along with severe body aches, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting while visiting Costa Rica or shortly after, consult a doctor right away. And if you are our passenger, let us know immediately!
Costa Rica Travel Safety Tips on Water:
In Costa Rica, we value our watersheds, which is one of the reasons why so much land is conserved in parks and reserves. The AYA (Costa Rican Water Company) monitors and enforces water quality standards that are equivalent to those used in North America and Europe. As a result, 91% of the tap water in Costa Rica is drinkable.
However, the best advice is to ask. Always ask about the water quality wherever you are. Our staff can provide that information in advance if you are traveling with us. But even if so, as soon as you arrive at your hotel, ask if the water is safe to drink. There are a few areas in the North Pacific and the Caribbean where water may not be drinkable.
Some more Costa Rica Travel Safety Tips on water consumption:
Get a sturdy bottle of water and refill it when possible. It’s important to have it washed frequently. Remember, we are in the tropics, and mold is easily formed at the bottom of the bottle.
– In places where water is not potable, find out if the hotel has bottled water for refills (usually they do).
Be careful when hiking in national parks and reserves. It is tempting to think that because the surroundings are so pristine, the water will be as clean. However, remember that even in the wild, water may carry parasites and bacteria, and it is not convenient to drink it.
Pollution in the rivers downstream of the Central Valley in the Central Pacific (Puntarenas) can be severe enough to make swimming dangerous.
Red Tides:
Red tides (phytoplankton and dinoflagellate algal blooms) are a naturally occurring result of storm-stirred nutrient upwellings, but they are becoming more frequent as a result of climate change and fertilizer spills into the ocean. The microorganisms that color the water red or rusty brown produce brevetoxins, which may cause several problems in fish, shellfish, or water if consumed.
If you are by the beach and there is a red tide, ask your tour guide and the hotel staff about information regarding swimming and eating seafood. Red tides are more prevalent on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and can persist anywhere from a few days to many weeks.
Washing your hands:
Whether you are traveling around Costa Rica or not, washing your hands is one of the most efficient strategies to avoid illness transmission. Due to the COVID pandemic in Costa Rica, you will find handwashing stations available in many places. Common sense is your best defense against abdominal complications. Wash all fruits and vegetables (particularly those you don’t peel), avoid eating food from street stands, and carry alcohol in gel at all times.
Insurance:
Travel insurance is almost indispensable nowadays. Many multinational corporations provide insurance coverage that covers travel cancellations, lost baggage, medical expenses, and emergency evacuations. Some of the things to look for in your travel insurance are:
- Trip cancellation coverage
- Trip interruption coverage
- Trip delay coverage
- Medical expenses and emergency-evacuation benefits
- Baggage loss
