Costa Rica travel, health, and security updates

Costa Rica has implemented various travel and health-related entry requirements and advisories. In late July 2026, U.S. officials issued warnings regarding visa compliance, noting that violations could lead to visa revocation. Simultaneously, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintained a Level 2 travel notice for a chikungunya outbreak in northwest Costa Rica, advising travelers to prevent mosquito bites.

By late August 2026, Costa Rica expanded its health documentation requirements. While the disease is not present in Costa Rica, health officials mandate yellow fever vaccination for travelers arriving from specific high-risk zones in South America and the Caribbean—including Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana—to prevent the virus from being introduced via the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Although originally slated for late August, the implementation of these vaccination requirements was postponed to October 1 to allow travelers sufficient time to develop immunity. Additionally, authorities may require proof of sufficient funds, approximately US$100 per month of stay, depending on the traveler’s nationality.

In the Guanacaste region, a surge in tourism has coincided with rising crime rates. Between January and July 2026, Liberia reported a 49% increase in vehicle thefts and a 111% increase in motorcycle thefts compared to the previous year, presenting new security challenges for commercial fleets and rental vehicle companies.