Costa Rica: qué saber antes del viaje
Lo esencial
- Check the stay granted on arrival; the maximum for eligible first-group tourists is 180 days, not a guaranteed admission.
- Rip currents and flooding are serious hazards. Use licensed guides and check road and park closures.
Entrada y visados
Bring a valid machine-readable passport, visa if required, return/onward ticket and funds evidence. Required means are at least USD 100 per month or part month. Immigration determines the stay. Eligible first-group nationals can be granted up to 180 days; other groups have different limits. Yellow-fever certificate rules depend on travel history; check the official current list.
Validez del pasaporte: Depends on nationality group; check the official immigration guidelines and carrier requirements.
En la frontera pueden pedir
- Check the permitted departure date on your entry stamp.
Aduana
- Do not remove wildlife or seashells; declare restricted goods and large cash amounts.
Revisado el 30 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: visitcostarica.com ↗, gov.uk ↗, travel.state.gov ↗
Dinero
Se usan tanto efectivo como tarjetas. Las tarjetas se aceptan casi en todas partes.
Apple Pay — sin datos · Google Pay — sin datos
- US dollars are widely accepted.
- Use banks or authorised exchange offices; bank transactions require the original passport.
- Keep cash for rural areas and small vendors.
Revisado el 30 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: visitcostarica.com ↗, visitcostarica.com ↗
Normas y prohibiciones
Prohibido
- Illegal drugs
- Unauthorised entry into restricted conservation areas
Leyes que los viajeros incumplen sin saberlo
- Carry identification; police usually accept a printed passport copy, with the original available.
Revisado el 30 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: gov.uk ↗
Cultura y ropa
Religión: The pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Angels Basilica in Cartago is an important Catholic tradition.
Ropa: Bring suitable footwear and rain protection for rainforest visits; dress respectfully at religious sites.
Revisado el 30 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: si.cultura.cr ↗, visitcostarica.com ↗
Clima
Pacific dry season is December-March, April transitional, rainy May-October and November transitional. The Caribbean coast has no clear dry season; February-March and September-October are relatively drier.
Mes a mes
- enero: Jan: Pacific dry; Caribbean wetter
- febrero: Feb: Pacific dry; Caribbean relatively drier
- marzo: Mar: Pacific dry; Caribbean relatively drier
- abril: Apr: Pacific transition
- mayo: May: Pacific rainy season
- junio: Jun: Pacific rainy season
- julio: Jul: rainy; relative Pacific lull possible
- agosto: Aug: rainy; relative Pacific lull possible
- septiembre: Sep: Pacific very wet; Caribbean relatively drier
- octubre: Oct: Pacific very wet; Caribbean relatively drier
- noviembre: Nov: Pacific transition; Caribbean wetter
- diciembre: Dec: Pacific dry; Caribbean wetter
Mejor temporada: December-March for the Pacific; consider February-March or September-October for the Caribbean coast.
Revisado el 30 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: visitcostarica.com ↗
Qué llevar
- Insect repellent
- Hooded raincoat
- Hiking footwear
- Passport and onward ticket
- Travel insurance covering planned activities
Qué no llevar / prohibido importar
- Collecting wildlife, shells or plants as souvenirs
Práctico
Enchufes: Type A/B, 120 V
Agua: Usually potable in towns and tourist areas; choose bottled water where local safety is uncertain.
Circulación: por la derecha
Seguro: Check explicit cover for surfing, rafting, zip-lining or other adventure activities.
Emergencias: 911
Revisado el 30 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: visitcostarica.com ↗, visitcostarica.com ↗, gov.uk ↗
Las normas de entrada cambian. Antes del viaje, consulta la web de la embajada o del servicio de inmigración del país.