🇨🇷Costa Rica Travel Guide

Visa requirements for Costa Rica depend on your passport. Most US, UK, EU, Canadian, Australian, Japanese, and Singaporean citizens enter visa-free for tourism (typically 30–90 days). Pick your citizenship in the visa section above for exact rules.

Standard tourist stays in Costa Rica are 30 to 90 days depending on your nationality. Longer stays usually require an eVisa, residence permit, or — where available — a digital nomad visa.

A passport valid 6+ months beyond your stay, return or onward ticket, accommodation address, and proof of funds. Some nationalities also need an online travel authorization before boarding.

Daily costs in Costa Rica vary widely by city and travel style. Use the TravelOS budget calculator to estimate accommodation, food, transport, and activities for your trip dates.

Costa Rica offers options across all budgets. Capital San José is typically the most expensive base; smaller cities and shoulder season drop prices significantly.

Shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) usually give the best balance of weather, prices, and crowds in Costa Rica. Peak summer is hottest and most expensive.

Costa Rica has distinct seasonal patterns. Check our country guide for month-by-month temperatures, rainfall, and what to pack so you can match dates to weather.

Costa Rica welcomes millions of tourists each year. Main risks are petty theft in crowded tourist areas and standard road-safety. Always check your government's travel advisory before booking.

Solo female travelers regularly visit Costa Rica. Stick to well-reviewed accommodation, use licensed taxis or ride-hail apps after dark, and follow local dress norms in religious sites.

The capital of Costa Rica is San José, which is also the main international gateway for most travelers.

Airalo and Holafly both offer Costa Rica eSIMs that activate in 90 seconds, so you have data the moment you land. See the eSIM section in our country guide for current plans and prices.

Yes. Major eSIM providers (Airalo, Holafly, Saily, Nomad) cover Costa Rica on the main local 4G/5G networks. You can install the eSIM before departure and it activates automatically once you land and your phone connects to a partner network.

Buy the plan online, scan the QR code from the confirmation email, install the eSIM profile in your phone settings, and toggle data roaming on the eSIM line. Most plans activate the first time the phone registers on a network in Costa Rica — usually within 90 seconds of landing.

Tourist eSIM plans for Costa Rica typically cost $5–$15 for 1–3 GB and $20–$40 for 10–20 GB, valid 7–30 days. Buy the smallest plan that covers your stay and top up if needed.

eSIM works on iPhone XS and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and most Samsung Galaxy S20+ devices. Phones must be carrier-unlocked. Some phones bought in mainland China and a few older Android models do not support eSIM — check your device settings for "Add eSIM" or "Mobile plan".

Almost always. International roaming with a home carrier usually costs $10–$15 per day; a travel eSIM is closer to $1–$2 per day for the same coverage. eSIMs also avoid surprise bills since they are prepaid.