Citizens of the EU, UK, USA, Canada, Australia and most of Latin America do not require a visa for tourist stays up to 90 days — only a valid passport and a return or onward ticket. Citizens of some countries do require a visa; clients should verify with the Costa Rican consulate before travel. We can advise on a case-by-case basis.

We advise clients to have at least 6 months’ validity beyond their travel dates. Costa Rican immigration officially requires only that the passport be valid for the duration of the stay, but airlines may refuse boarding if validity is short. Six months is the safe minimum to communicate.

Yes. Immigration officers can and do ask for evidence of a return or onward flight. Clients arriving without this may be asked to purchase a ticket at the airport before being admitted. We recommend all clients have a confirmed return booking before departure. If clients have a complex multi-country itinerary, we can advise on how to document this.

As of 2026, there are no mandatory vaccination requirements for entry into Costa Rica for most nationalities. Yellow fever vaccination proof is required for travellers arriving from or transiting through certain endemic countries. Travellers should obtain personalised advice from a qualified travel-health professional well before departure.

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is the main international gateway, 18 km northwest of San José. A second international airport, Daniel Oduber Quirós (LIR) in Liberia, Guanacaste, handles direct flights from the USA, UK and some European cities — convenient for clients going directly to the north Pacific coast.

Yes — we arrange all airport transfers as part of our packages. Private transfers are standard for B2B bookings. We track flight arrivals and adjust pickup times automatically if there are delays. Shared shuttle services are available as a lower-cost option on some routes. We strongly recommend private transfers for family groups and early morning or late night arrivals.

Yes. Sansa Airlines operates scheduled domestic flights from SJO and LIR to Quepos (Manuel Antonio), Liberia, Drake Bay (Osa), Puerto Jiménez, Palmar Sur, and Tortuguero. Charter flights serve smaller airstrips. Domestic planes are small (12–19 seats), strict luggage limits apply (typically 12–15 kg hold + 5 kg carry-on), and schedules can be affected by weather. We coordinate all domestic air bookings for CRS itineraries.

Christmas/New Year and Easter: 9–12 months minimum for quality lodges. January–April (dry season): 4–6 months. Green season (May–November): 6–8 weeks is usually sufficient. Tortuguero in August, Corcovado lodge dates, and Nayara Springs at Arenal are the most constrained — contact us as soon as travel dates are confirmed for these.

The official currency is the Costa Rican Colón (CRC). US Dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas — most hotels, restaurants and tour operators quote in USD. Euros are not widely accepted outside a few international hotels. We advise clients to carry a mix of USD cash and a bank card. ATMs are available in all main towns and dispense Colones; some airport ATMs dispense USD.

Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and larger tour operators. American Express acceptance is less consistent. A small fee (typically 3–5%) is sometimes added for card payments at smaller businesses. In remote areas (Monteverde, Osa, Tortuguero), ATM access is limited — advise clients to carry USD cash when heading to these destinations.

We invoice agencies in USD. Payment terms are typically 50% deposit on confirmation, balance 30 days before travel. For bookings made within 30 days of departure, full payment is required on confirmation. We accept bank transfer (SWIFT/IBAN). Contact us to receive the current agency agreement.

A 10% service charge is legally required on restaurant bills, and a 13% IVA (sales tax) applies to most goods and services — final restaurant bills are approximately 23% higher than menu prices. Additional tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. For guides, $10–20 per person per day is standard for excellent service. For hotel housekeeping, $2–3 per day. We include tipping guidance in the pre-departure travel guide for all CRS clients.

Costa Rica is one of the safest countries in Latin America — no military, a stable democracy, and a strong tradition of peaceful governance. The main risks are petty theft (particularly at beaches and in San José city centre) and ocean currents at unguarded beaches. The main tourist areas (Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Guanacaste, Tortuguero) have very low crime rates. We recommend clients avoid displaying expensive cameras and jewellery in crowded areas.

San José has modern private hospitals — CIMA Hospital and Clínica Bíblica are used by most international patients and insurers. Outside the capital, facilities are adequate in larger towns (Liberia, Quepos). Remote areas like the Osa Peninsula have limited facilities. Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly recommended for all clients, particularly those visiting remote areas.

Malaria risk in Costa Rica is very low and generally confined to areas near the Panamanian border — the main tourist circuit has negligible malaria risk. Dengue fever is present throughout the country with seasonal peaks during the rainy season. We advise clients to use DEET-based insect repellent and wear long sleeves in evenings, particularly in lowland and Caribbean areas.

Costa Rica has one of the highest rates of clean tap water access in Latin America — tap water is potable in San José and most urban and tourist areas. In very remote rural areas or after heavy flooding, we advise drinking bottled water as a precaution. Overall, Costa Rica’s water infrastructure is considerably more reliable than most Central American neighbours.

Coverage is good in urban areas and along main highways. Signal drops in Monteverde, parts of the Osa Peninsula, and on the river in Tortuguero. 4G LTE is available in most tourist areas. Clients can purchase a local SIM at the airport for approximately $10–15. We advise all self-drive clients to download offline Google Maps for their areas before departure.

WiFi is standard at all mid-range and premium hotels. Speed and reliability vary — urban hotels and newer lodges have good connections; some remote lodges (particularly Tortuguero and Osa) have limited or no WiFi by design. For clients who need reliable connectivity for work, we flag properties with known connectivity limitations at the quoting stage.

Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken in all tourist areas. Our guides are bilingual (Spanish/English) as standard; specialist multilingual guides (German, French, Italian, Dutch) are available on request with advance notice.

Costa Rica uses Type A and Type B plugs (same as USA/Canada — flat two-pin). Voltage is 110V/60Hz, same as North America. European clients (220V devices) need a voltage adapter, not just a plug adapter. Most modern laptops, phone chargers and camera batteries are dual-voltage (100–240V) — clients should check device labels. Universal travel adapters cover Costa Rica.

We aim to return all quotes within 24 hours on business days (Monday–Friday, Costa Rica time, GMT-6). For complex multi-destination itineraries, we may take up to 48 hours. We respond fastest to enquiries that include travel dates, group size, budget indication and clear client interests.

Yes — all CRS bookings include a pre-departure travel guide tailored to the specific itinerary: destination-by-destination notes, driving directions (for self-drive), activity confirmations, hotel contacts, emergency numbers, beach safety notes, packing recommendations, and a day-by-day programme. Delivered through the WETU app, well before departure.

All CRS bookings include access to a 24/7 emergency line for clients during travel, covering accommodation issues, activity cancellations, vehicle breakdowns, medical guidance, and any other on-trip problem. Agents receive the same emergency contact details so you can reach us directly if a client contacts you with an issue.

Everything we do is tailored. Our packages are starting points — we adjust duration, hotels, activities, vehicle category and routing for every booking. We don’t operate fixed group departures — all CRS bookings are private, independent arrangements.