Costa Rica FAQs

Your passport needs to be valid for the duration of your stay in Costa Rica. This will be checked against your return flight date at immigration.

UK passport holders can enter Costa Rica without a tourist visa and stay for up to 180 days, although this is at the discretion of the immigration officer.

You can check the latest rules on the FCO website, or equivalent service from your home country.

Yes, we would always recommend taking out comprehensive family travel insurance when travelling. This should cover any medical services you need, lost property and other common claims.

We would strongly suggest buying a policy as soon as you’ve booked your holiday, as most insurers will cover you for cancellation before departure at no extra cost (e.g. for medical problems or close family members passing away).

Costa Rica has a warm and humid climate so loose clothes made from natural materials are perfect. You’ll also want light rain jackets, some sturdy trainers or walking boots, and a couple of warmer layers in case you head into the cloudforest or highlands.

Some other family packing essentials include;

Sunscreen, sunglasses, hats or caps, sandals, mosquito repellent, plug adaptors (for type A sockets), charger cables for any gadgets, reading materials, refillable water bottles, small first aid kit, any specific medicines (clearly labelled).

Also your bank card and emergency helpline numbers, your driver’s license if you are going to drive, a small first aid kit, copies of important documents and a money belt to keep them in.

It is always best to get the advice of a GP or travel nurse before travelling overseas to check which vaccinations you might need or if any boosters are required. The Travel Health Pro website provides a comprehensive guide on all the vaccinations you should consider.

We know heading off on holiday is always a little bit stressful, especially on the day you leave, so we would advise doing these things before you depart:

• Check you have all your necessary documentation, including your passports!
• Take a photo of your documents and email it to yourself and travelling partners. Having a copy on your phone always comes in handy too.
• Ensure you have all your chargers and converters for any phones, cameras, tablets you are taking. A portable battery pack is a handy item to have in your hand luggage.
• Take snacks and a refillable bottle for your flight.
• Get to the airport with plenty of time to spare, we advise arriving 3 hours prior to your flight departure.
• Pack a change of clothes in your hand luggage and take a photo of your checked bag in case it goes missing en route.
• Sit back and relax knowing we have your holiday sorted!

Spanish is Costa Rica’s national language. Knowing a few words can be helpful and endear you to the locals, so we’d recommend getting phrasebook or using Google Translate. Having said that, many Costa Ricans speak a decent level of English, especially the younger generations

The Basics;

Hello: Hola
Goodbye: Adiós
Thank you: Gracias
Please: Por favor

Costa Rica is well setup for tourists and in more popular towns you’ll find restaurants serving everything from pizza to curry, as well as delicious fresh fish. Most hotels will either serve food themselves or can recommend somewhere nearby, and even if your kids are going through a fussy eating phase, you shouldn’t have any problems finding something familiar on the menu for them.

If you want to go local then we hope you like rice and beans! This dish is known locally as “Casado” and will usually be served along with some tasty meats, salads and local veg.

In terms of snacks for the kids, you’ll find the shops and supermarkets well stocked with many of the same brands you’d see at home or in the United States, alongside some local favourites.

If any of your family are vegetarian or vegan then we recommend downloading the Happy Cow app to locate specialist restaurants. Normal restaurants will usually have something vegetarian on offer, although it might not be all that inspiring!

Costa Rica is one of Central America’s safest countries and generally you won’t find any problems. That said, it always pays to be vigilant when visiting any destination. It’s unlikely that you’ll fall victim to anything nasty, but it’s a good idea to be aware of petty crime as it can be an issue. Try to avoid travelling with anything of a very high value, but if you do, don’t leave it unattended. Make use of your hotel safe whenever you can.

If you are hiring a car, don’t leave any valuables in the car when it’s parked up as car crime can be an issue in certain areas. Try to park your car in official car parks as much as possible and make use of parking attendants in some areas who will watch your car for a small fee. This is the norm in Costa Rica in some places, so don’t be alarmed!

When travelling at night, make use of official taxis – you can always ask restaurants to call one for you.

Yes, healthcare in Costa Rica is of a good standard. Most common medicines are available and hospitals are generally very professional and well-equipped.

Please make sure you have adequate travel insurance and that you pack any specific medicines your family need.

We are contactable in the UK during office hours and our local partners in destination are available 24/7 for any support or help you might need. They are in the best position as they will be on the same timezone, they should be your first contact in a case of emergency.

In more extreme cases, 911 is the national emergency services number and you can reach the British Embassy on +506 2258 2025. Make sure you have good family travel insurance to cover any costs that arise.

The official currency of Costa Rica is the Colón (CRC), while US dollars are also widely accepted. You will also be able to pay for many things using a debit or credit card.

For more detail on money and costs, check our Costa Rica money guide.