*Please note: the information below is subject to change, please verify online for the latest entry requirements, and travel.

WHO IS ALLOWED INTO COSTA RICA?

WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER COSTA RICA?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are new entry requirements to enter Costa Rica for permitted international travellers. If you do not adhere to the requirements and are denied entry into Costa Rica at a port of entry, you will not be issued a refund or credit for your festival pass.

Requirements for entry are as follows:

UPDATE: As of August 1, 2021, travel insurance requirements for international travels has changed for fully vaccinated individuals, please continue reading below:

1. Fill out Costa Rica’s electronic epidemiological HEALTH PASS form at salud.go.cr 72 hours before boarding your flight to Costa Rica. A form must be filled out for each individual traveling, no exceptions.

2. As of August 1, 2021 all international visitors who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with any of the following COVID-19 vaccines: AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech; may enter Costa Rica without a travel insurance policy. The last dose of either a single or two dose vaccine series must have been administered at least 14 days prior to arrival in Costa Rica. Fully vaccinated international visitors must attach their vaccination certificate to the Health Pass. Vaccination certificates or cards, must clearly contain and list all of the following information below:

a. Name of the individual who received the vaccination.
b. Date of each vaccine dose.
c. Pharmaceutical house.

For visitors from the United States, the CDC COVID-19 vaccination record card will be accepted.

3. For international visitors who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or not vaccinated with a vaccine listed above, they must purchase mandatory travel insurance that covers housing/lodging in the case of required quarantine and medical expenses due to COVID-19 infection.

IMPORTANT: For international visitors who are not fully vaccinated and must present mandatory travel insurance, visitors must request and present a certification from their insurance company, issued in English or Spanish, verifying at least the following three conditions:

● Effectiveness of the policy during the entire visit to Costa Rica.

● Guaranteed coverage of medical expenses in the event of becoming ill with the pandemic COVID-19 virus while in Costa Rica, for at least USD $50,000.00.

● Includes minimum coverage of USD $2,000.00 for lodging expenses issued as a result of the quarantine.

For the latest available information, please click here. All permitted international travellers must adhere to Costa Rica’s new entry requirements and must enter via one of Costa Rica’s three main airports: Juan Santamaría International Airport (San José), Daniel Oduber Quirós Airport (Liberia), or Tobías Bolaños Airport (San José).

Upon landing in Costa Rican territory, all international travellers must wear a mask/face protection and comply with all protocols of the air terminal with regard to social distancing, disinfection of carpets, temperature readings, and any other sanitary instructions.

If you do not adhere to the requirements and are denied entry into Costa Rica at a port of entry, you will not be issued a refund or credit for your festival pass.

FREQUENTLY ASKED TRAVEL QUESTIONS

Do I need a visa to travel to Costa Rica?

Tourist visas are required for certain nationalities, please check ​here​.

Travelers from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, United States, and Venezuela do not need tourist visas. However this may change, please check ​here for the latest information.

Travelers may visit Costa Rica for up to 90 days and must have a valid passport and return ticket to exit the country ready to be presented when entering the country. It is recommended that passports should be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date in Costa Rica.

What airport should I fly into?

All permitted international travelers must adhere to Costa Rica’s new entry requirements and must enter via one of Costa Rica’s three main airports: Juan Santamaría International Airport (San José), Daniel Oduber Quirós Airport (Liberia), or Tobías Bolaños Airport (San José).

Liberia International Airport (LIR) is approximately 60 minutes driving from Tamarindo, and San José International Airport (SJO), San José’s primary international airport, is between 3-4 hours driving from Tamarindo.

LIR AND SJO are served by international airlines including Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air France, Air Panama, Air Transat, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Avianca, British Airways, Copa, Delta, Iberia, JetBlue, Latam, Lufthansa, KLM, Sansa, Southwest, United, Westjet, and more.

Local carriers Nature Air and Sansa also offer flights between San José (SJO) and Tamarindo Airport (TNO).

How do I get to Tamarindo from Liberia or San José?

Airport Transfers (from Liberia)​: ​Shared shuttles from Liberia to Tamarindo typically cost around $20USD per person one-way, minimum 2 people from LIR airport. Private transfers for 1-4 people cost around $90USD one-way. Gray Line and Interbus offer private van/shuttles to over 40 destinations in Costa Rica.

Air (from San José)​: Local carriers Nature Air and Sansa offer flights between San José (SJO) and Tamarindo Airport (TNO). The flight time is approximately 50 minutes. Chartered Cessna flights are also available from San José (SJO) to Tamarindo Airport (TNO).

Car Rental​: There are several car rental companies in Costa Rica offering automatic and manual transmission, 4WD is recommended as some roads are unpaved. Travelers must have a valid driver’s license from their home country and their passport to rent a vehicle. It is recommended to fill your vehicle’s car tank when possible at gas stations as some areas are very rural and gas stations spread apart, and remember if your rental is diesel or gasoline!

CURRENCY

What is the local currency in Costa Rica?

The local currency in Costa Rica is ​Costa Rican Colones (CRC / ​₡)​. Credit cards are accepted in most locations and US dollars are commonly used in Costa Rica, it is recommended to bring smaller bills ($20USD or less). Once in Costa Rica, for best exchange rates visit a local bank (​Banco Nacional, BCR, etc.).

Euros (EUR) and Canadian dollars (CAD) are not accepted in Costa Rica and can only be exchanged for CRC or USD at San ​José or Liberia airport exchanges.

ACCOMMODATION

Where Should I Stay?

Introducing the Tamarindo Diria, the Official BPM Costa Rica Hotel! Centrally located, the four-star resort is the only beachfront hotel in Tamarindo and will be exclusively for our BPM familia. Indulge in oceanfront view rooms, four restaurants and three bars on property, four pools, a casino across the street, and more, all just steps away from Playa Tamarindo.

Book your stay for 7 nights during BPM Costa Rica or extend your stay for up to 10 or 14 days with trips to Nosara Beach, Santa Teresa, and Volcano Arenal, with the option to add up to 3 days before or after your arrival/departure date.

All packages include roundtrip shared transfer to Liberia (LIR) or San José International Airport (SJO), plus free breakfast each morning, an exclusive BPM Welcome Party on January 12, $200 USD food & drink credit per room, and many more amenities on property.

For more information and to book your stay at the Tamarindo Diria, click here.

For apartments and villas, click here.

NEAREST FOREIGN REPRESENTATION

Embassy of Argentina in San José

Curridabat, Plaza del Sol, 700m south and 25m east, 4th, house on the left 1963 – 1000 San José, Costa Rica | +506 2234 6520 | ​Website

Embassy of Australia in San ​José

Centro Corporativo Plaza Roble Edificio El Patio, 3rd Floor, Escazu San José, Costa Rica | +506 2201 8700

Embassy of Brazil in San ​José

Paseo Colon, Edificio Torre, Mercedes 6o. Piso 10132-1000 San José, Costa Rica | +506 2295-6875

Embassy of Canada in San José

La Sabana Executive Business Centre, Building No. 5, 3rd Floor behind the Contraloría General de la República P.O. Box 351-1007 San José Costa Rica | +506 2242 4400 | ​Website

Embassy of Chile in San José

Los Yoses, del Automercado 225 metros al Sur, San José, Costa Rica | +506 2224 1547 | ​Website

Consulate of Colombia in San José

De Taco Bell San Pedro, 350 metros Oeste. Casa gris con rejas negras. | +506 2283 6871 | ​Website

Embassy of France in San José

From the Mitsubishi distributor – 200m to the south and 25m to the west – Curridabat, San José | +506 234 41 67 | ​Website

Embassy of Germany in San José

Edificio Torre La Sabana, 8° piso, 300 meters west from ICE, Sabana Norte P.O Box 4017-1000, San José, Costa Rica | +506 290 90 91 | ​Website

Embassy of Italy in San José

5a entrada Barrio Los Yoses Ap.do Postal 1729-1000, San José, Costa Rica | +506 224 6574 | ​Website

Embassy of Mexico in San José

Avenida 7ma. No. 1371 75 m, este Casa Amarilla Apartado Postal 10107 1000 San José, Costa Rica | +506 2257 0633 | ​Website

Embassy of the Netherlands in San José

Oficentro Ejecutivo La Sabana (behind Contraloria) Third Building, Third Floor Apartado 10,285 1000, San José, Costa Rica | +506 296 1490 | ​Website

Embassy of Portugal in San José

Calle 16 Av.15 17 Barrio Mexico | +506 2221 4092

Embassy of Spain in San José

Calle 32 (entre Paseo Colón y Avenida Segunda) San José, Costa Rica | +506 222 1933

Embassy of the United Kingdom in San José

Edificio Centro Colón Paseo Colón and Streets 38 and 40, San José, Costa Rica | +506 2258-2025 |

Website

Embassy of the United States in San José

Calle 120 Via 104 Pavas, San ​José​, Costa Rica | +506 2519 2000 | ​Website

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

For Emergency Calls: Dial 911
To Request an Ambulance: Dial 128 To Report a Fire: Dial 118

HOSPITAL + PHARMACY

Where is the nearest pharmacy?

There are several pharmacies in Tamarindo along Calle Central.

Farmacia Fischel: Calle Central, Playa Tamarindo, Guanacaste | +506 2653 0210
Farmacia Pacifico: Calle Central, Playa Tamarindo, Guanacaste | +506 2653 0711
Farmacia Tamarindo: Calle Central, Playa Tamarindo, Guanacaste | +506 2653 0210 | ​Website

Where is the nearest medical services/hospital?

Tamarindo​: Pacific Emergencies, a private health clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 7pm. Walk-in visits typically cost $60 USD. Bilingual emergency medical staff are available 24/7 on call. To call: +506 2653 2001, for emergencies +506 8378 8265.

Villareal​: The closest public health clinic is the EBAIS, located 15 minutes driving from Tamarindo and offers free or low walk-in visits. For emergencies: +506 2653 0736.

Liberia​: Clinica Biblica (+506 2667 0892) and San Rafael Arcangel Medical Center (+506 2666 1717) are two private hospitals in Liberia with the addition of Liberia Public Hospital (+506 2666 0011).