Costa Rica: Officials to ease certain domestic COVID-19 restrictions effective Sept. 1 /update 41

Event

Authorities in Costa Rica plan to ease certain COVID-19 business and movement restrictions nationwide beginning Sept. 1 until at least Sept. 30.

Under the new directives, the nightly 22:00-05:00 ban on movement and business operations will remain unchanged, but private vehicles will be allowed to travel without restrictions 05:00-22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Authorities will continue to restrict vehicles from traveling Mondays through Fridays based on their license plate numbers.

Starting Sept. 1, the following vehicle restrictions are in effect:

• Mondays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 1 or 2 are prohibited

• Tuesdays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 3 or 4 are prohibited

• Wednesdays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 5 or 6 are prohibited

• Thursdays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 7 or 8 are prohibited

• Fridays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 9 or 0 are prohibited

• Saturdays and Sundays: All vehicles are allowed to travel 05:00-22:00

Additionally, authorities plan to allow up to 3,000 people to attend four sporting events at the National Stadium in San Jose in September as a trial for potentially allowing mass attendance events in the future. Other business restrictions will remain unchanged in September, including capacity limitations and social distancing requirements.

Hotels with more than 100 rooms may continue opening at up to 75 percent capacity. Restaurants, grocery stores, and all other businesses allowed to operate may continue doing so at up to 50 percent capacity. Bars can operate at up to 25 percent capacity and authorities have announced this will increase to 50 percent starting Oct. 1.

Authorities continue to categorize individual cantons based on local COVID-19 transmission risk using a four-tier color-coded system. The specific tiers are low risk (green), moderate risk (yellow), high risk (orange), and extreme risk (red). As of Aug. 31, all cantons nationwide remain at the high-risk (orange) level.

International Travel Restrictions
All travelers, including nonresident foreign nationals, can enter Costa Rica by air regardless of their country of origin. Foreign travelers are not required to provide a negative result from a COVID-19 test prior to entering the country. Nevertheless, they must still complete the required health affidavit (Health Pass) and have sufficient insurance to cover lodging and health expenses. Individuals may enter Costa Rica without the requisite health insurance if they provide proof of having been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to arrival.

All land borders have reopened for nonresident foreign nationals. Visitors traveling by land must also complete the government Health Pass and have sufficient insurance to cover any potential health expenses. Travelers entering Costa Rica, including residents, are no longer required to undergo a self-quarantine period upon arrival. The country's maritime borders remain mostly closed to visitors, although certain private boats are allowed to enter.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice, depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Heed the directives of local authorities. Reconfirm all health-related travel requirements before travel. Confirm appointments in advance.

Resources

WHO Coronavirus Knowledge Base
Government COVID-19 Information (Spanish)
Online Health Pass