Even though our team will be available to you round-the-clock before you arrive, Amazing Costa Rica likes to promote visitors who end up enamored of our country, so the information we provide here will also be useful to you even if you are not traveling with us. So, please keep on reading and enjoy your vacation in Costa Rica!
Costa Rica is a beautiful country, full of amazing landscapes, fantastic wildlife, and breathtaking adventures, for us, at Amazing Costa Rica, it is primordial for visitors to delight safely of all the experiences that there are to enjoy in our amazing Costa Rica. And even if you are not traveling with us, it is quite important for all visitors to know the most of our country, see its magnificent beauty, its community drive, and its smiling faces.
These are some of the safety basic 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 here.
- If you are booking a day tour, confirm it with an authorized tour operator here. Confirm it has an operating permit and their insurance coverage.
- Before buying 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. And 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.
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) are 800/8726-7486 toll-free in Costa Rica, or 2222-9245.
Medical Requirements:
No vaccinations are required to enter in 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.
If you get sick while on vacation:
- If you are traveling with Amazing Costa Rica please dial our 24/7 emergency line, and we will support you.
- If you are traveling with Amazing Costa Rica with your own tour guide, he or she is the first line of defense. They all carry a first aid kit and are certified by the Red Cross.
- 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 where you are that may help you.
You can also stop at the pharmacy. Pharmacies are found in medium and large towns in Costa Rica. They are also well stocked, the pharmacists usually may recommend soft meds, and you may find the medicines you are used to with different brands but the same quality.
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, other than the repellent, 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!
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. If you are traveling with Amazing Costa Rica that information can be provided before hand by our staff.
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 tips:
- 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.)
- Drinking water from rivers and lagoons: 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 naturally created by storm-stirred nutrient upwellings, but they are becoming more common due to climate change and fertilizers dumped 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. I
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 sea food.
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
Conclusion:
At Amazing Costa Rica, we want you to have the vacation of a lifetime, safely enjoying all that our beautiful country has to offer. By following these tips on health, safety, and preparation, you can protect yourself while still immersing yourself in our natural paradises and warm culture. Contact us today to start planning your custom Costa Rica getaway – we’ll handle all the details so you can relax and make memories to cherish forever.
References
(01) International Citizens Insurance, “Understanding the Costa Rican Healthcare System.” International Citizens Insurance. n.d. Web. May 6, 2022. https://www.internationalinsurance.com/health/systems/costa-rica.php
(02) Mora-Alvarado, Darner. “Water for human consumption and sanitation in Costa Rica to 2016. Goals for 2022 and 2030.” Repositoriotec.tec.ac.cr, 25 Sept. 2020. Web. 6 May 2022. https://repositoriotec.tec.ac.cr/handle/2238/11797
(03) Visit Costa Rica. “Tips for Travelers.” Visit Costa Rica. 27 Aug. 2019. Web. 6 May 2022. https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/planning-your-trip/tips
