Preparing for Costa Rica Travel – things to do 3-6 months ahead

The items on this list can be checked off in a few minutes but if you discover something that needs doing don’t wait until the last minute to be sure you’re ready to visit Costa Rica.

Passport Expiration & Validity

You’ll find a lot of different information about passport validity for travel to Costa Rica and most of it is wrong. If you’re traveling in June and your passport expires in July you may need to renew it or you may be just fine.

Costa Rica officially requires one single day of validity for most* visitors. The day you arrive. However, your airline will have a different requirement which can range from the planned length of your trip up to six months depending on the airline. The only way to know is to contact your airline.

*visitors from the U.S., Canada, Europe and many other countries.

Tourist Visa

One thing you don’t have to worry about if you carry a passport from the U.S., Canada, Europe or many other countries is applying for a consular visa in advance. You will be issued a visa on entry when you arrive.

Apply for a Schwab or Other No Fee ATM Card

If you don’t already have one getting a debit card that does not charge any fees and pays all out of network bank and machine fees for you can save money and make getting cash much more convenient.

Generally the best way to pay for things is using a credit card (see below) but you’ll likely need some cash and the best exchange rate you’ll find is at ATMs.

Prepare Your Credit Card(s)

It may mean dumping your current company but a good travel credit card can save you a lot of money and hassles.

Make a call to the cardmember services toll free number on the back of your card

Ask about international fees? Some cards charge and extra 3% on every foreign transaction.
Is rental car loss damage coverage provided as a perk? This can save you several hundred dollars on a typical rental in Costa Rica.
Is travel insurance included and what does it cover? Some cards have free policies covering flight delays, medical and other unexpected expenses.
Even if you think you might want a new card let them know the dates you’ll be traveling in case you want to use your current card as a backup.

If your card is lacking (or it’s an AmEx or Discover card which aren’t widely accepted) consider shopping for a new one. We probably save/rebate close to a thousand dollars every time we travel to Costa Rica by having a good travel card.

The first place to check for a new card is with your existing company. Credit card issuers spend millions acquiring new customers so your company may be willing to cough up a surprising number of perks to keep you around.

If you use them it’s good time to add cards to apple pay or other phone wallet apps. They are widely accepted in Costa Rica but bring at least one physical card as a backup.

If you don’t have a backup account or you aren’t traveling with someone who can cover you then consider getting a second card. Fraud and unauthorized transactions are more common when traveling and if your card needs to be cancelled there’s no FedEx overnight to get you a new one.

Set Airfare Alerts

If you haven’t purchased airfare then six months out is a good time to set fare watchers on sites like google flights or kayak. Some airlines open bookings for international flights six months in advance and the extra inventory can lead to a dip in prices.

ESTA

If you’re traveling from Europe there’s a good chance you’ll transit the U.S. and yes, you are required to have an ESTA or transit visa even if you’re only on the ground for a few hours.

Vaccinations

There are no vaccines required to travel to Costa Rica and the large majority of visitors do nothing.

However, taking a trip is a good reminder to check if you’re current on tetanus (every 10 years) especially if you plan on outdoor adventure activities. Hep A/B vaccine may be a good idea when traveling to a developing tropical country and it requires a series a couple of weeks apart. There’s been a recent surge (10x more cases in one month than all of last year combined) in Hep A cases.

You might also consider flu, covid or other vaccines to reduce your risk which tends to be increased by more exposure during travel.

Footwear

One of the most common things travelers shop for before traveling to Costa Rica is shoes. Whether you’ve decided on water shoes, hiking sandals or a hybrid like Keen’s you should buy them at least a few weeks in advance.

Start breaking them in by wearing around the house, town or out walking or hiking. If you don’t break them in ahead of travel then be sure to shop for blister bandages, mole foam and Nu-skin ahead of time.