{:de}Travel during Corona – Our entry to Costa Rica from Germany
The information is valid as of 07.01.2021. Therefore, inform yourself about the current entry requirements on the page of the Auswärtigen Amtes (for Germany) or on the page visitcostarica.com.
After spending three months in the van in Italy and Greece, our next stop is called: Backpacking in Costa Rica. Since I was busy with research for our trip for a long time, I would like to briefly summarize what we needed for the entry on 07.01.2021 and how the entry went.
OUR FLIGHT
We flew on 07.01.2021 with Swiss from Frankfurt to Zurich (45 minutes flight time) and from there with Edelweiss to San Jose (12:20h flight time). The flight (one-way) cost us 475 euros with 23kg checked baggage. It is important that the flight does not have a stopover in the USA, because entry (also for transit) is currently not yet allowed for Germans. If you do not book a direct flight, then also inform yourself whether a COVID 19 test is required for the stopover of your flight. This is for example the case for the airport in Amsterdam, but not in Switzerland.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A COVID 19 test is not required for entry into Costa Rica (as of 07.01.2020). However, this may change at a later date. Tourists are required to have a travel insurance that covers their accommodation in case of quarantine and medical expenses due to COVID-19 disease. You will need to fill out a Health Pass for this 48 hours prior to departure, providing information about your medical condition and 1st accommodation. You must also have insurance that meets three conditions:
- The insurance must be valid for the duration of your stay in Costa Rica.
- The insurance must cover at least 50.000 US $ medical treatment costs in case of a COVID 19 illness.
- The insurance must cover at least 2.000 US $ quarantine costs in case of a COVID 19 illness.
We have already taken out the annual insurance policy with Hanse Merkur as our international health insurance in advance. However, this only covers conditions 1 and 2. Therefore, we took out online the Costa Rican insurance of INS for 150 euros for 58 days, which is approved by SUGESE (General Superintendency of Insurance of Costa Rica). With the number generated by the insurance company, we were able to fill out the Health Pass within 5 minutes. It is best to check with your internal insurance company if all three conditions are met. If this is the case, you will need a confirmation in English or Spanish and upload it to the Health Pass. We heard from other travelers that the insurance of Hanse Merkur was possible for the entry. For us, however, it was important that the entry runs smoothly.
As 1st accommodation we booked the Selina San Jose for 2 nights and indicated in the passport. As soon as your Health Pass is approved, you will receive a QR code for entry via email. We were only asked for the QR code and insurance at check-in in Frankfurt. Showing the proof was then required when boarding the plane to Costa Rica in Zurich. We were also advised that if the insurance was incorrect, it would be possible to take out a short-term policy locally in San Jose. Arriving at the airport in San Jose, we then had to show the QR code together with our passport. In addition, a (flight-)ticket is necessary for the departure.
BEFORE STARTING THE TRIP
Before our trip to Costa Rica we informed ourselves about necessary vaccinations in Central and South America (for example yellow fever, rabies, cholera, thypus, meningococcus) and got advice and vaccinations at the Medical Center at Frankfurt Airport. There it is possible, for example, to be vaccinated against yellow fever. This is only permitted at certain vaccination centers. In some South American countries, proof of a yellow fever vaccination is required for entry. You should decide for yourself which vaccinations make sense for you after a consultation with a specialist. Most health insurance companies cover almost the entire cost of vaccinations. Therefore, it is essential to keep and submit the receipts. Also note that some vaccinations are necessary several times and therefore enough time should be planned before departure (example rabies vaccination: 3 vaccinations on day 1, day 7 and day 21).
Afterwards we planned our luggage. Unlike vanlife, backpack space is very limited. We decided to take a backpack (as checked luggage), a daypack (as carry-on luggage) and a fanny pack (for documents and passports). Also remember that masks are mandatory during the entire flight and your stay in the airport. You can find my packing list here.
Follow our trip on Instagram and TikTok at @heyiamnele! And if you have any other questions, feel free to contact me via Direct Message on Instagram or via the contact form. Until then, have fun planning and have a good and safe trip!
Nele Rose
@heyiamnele{:}{:gb}Travel during Corona – Our entry to Costa Rica from Germany
The information is valid as of 07.01.2021. Therefore, inform yourself about the current entry requirements on the page of the Auswärtigen Amtes (for Germany) or on the page visitcostarica.com.
After spending three months in the van in Italy and Greece, our next stop is called: Backpacking in Costa Rica. Since I was busy with research for our trip for a long time, I would like to briefly summarize what we needed for the entry on 07.01.2021 and how the entry went.
OUR FLIGHT
We flew on 07.01.2021 with Swiss from Frankfurt to Zurich (45 minutes flight time) and from there with Edelweiss to San Jose (12:20h flight time). The flight (one-way) cost us 475 euros with 23kg checked baggage. It is important that the flight does not have a stopover in the USA, because entry (also for transit) is currently not yet allowed for Germans. If you do not book a direct flight, then also inform yourself whether a COVID 19 test is required for the stopover of your flight. This is for example the case for the airport in Amsterdam, but not in Switzerland.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A COVID 19 test is not required for entry into Costa Rica (as of 07.01.2020). However, this may change at a later date. Tourists are required to have a travel insurance that covers their accommodation in case of quarantine and medical expenses due to COVID-19 disease. You will need to fill out a Health Pass for this 48 hours prior to departure, providing information about your medical condition and 1st accommodation. You must also have insurance that meets three conditions:
- The insurance must be valid for the duration of your stay in Costa Rica.
- The insurance must cover at least 50.000 US $ medical treatment costs in case of a COVID 19 illness.
- The insurance must cover at least 2.000 US $ quarantine costs in case of a COVID 19 illness.
We have already taken out the annual insurance policy with Hanse Merkur as our international health insurance in advance. However, this only covers conditions 1 and 2. Therefore, we took out online the Costa Rican insurance of INS for 150 euros for 58 days, which is approved by SUGESE (General Superintendency of Insurance of Costa Rica). With the number generated by the insurance company, we were able to fill out the Health Pass within 5 minutes. It is best to check with your internal insurance company if all three conditions are met. If this is the case, you will need a confirmation in English or Spanish and upload it to the Health Pass. We heard from other travelers that the insurance of Hanse Merkur was possible for the entry. For us, however, it was important that the entry runs smoothly.
As 1st accommodation we booked the Selina San Jose for 2 nights and indicated in the passport. As soon as your Health Pass is approved, you will receive a QR code for entry via email. We were only asked for the QR code and insurance at check-in in Frankfurt. Showing the proof was then required when boarding the plane to Costa Rica in Zurich. We were also advised that if the insurance was incorrect, it would be possible to take out a short-term policy locally in San Jose. Arriving at the airport in San Jose, we then had to show the QR code together with our passport. In addition, a (flight-)ticket is necessary for the departure.
BEFORE STARTING THE TRIP
Before our trip to Costa Rica we informed ourselves about necessary vaccinations in Central and South America (for example yellow fever, rabies, cholera, thypus, meningococcus) and got advice and vaccinations at the Medical Center at Frankfurt Airport. There it is possible, for example, to be vaccinated against yellow fever. This is only permitted at certain vaccination centers. In some South American countries, proof of a yellow fever vaccination is required for entry. You should decide for yourself which vaccinations make sense for you after a consultation with a specialist. Most health insurance companies cover almost the entire cost of vaccinations. Therefore, it is essential to keep and submit the receipts. Also note that some vaccinations are necessary several times and therefore enough time should be planned before departure (example rabies vaccination: 3 vaccinations on day 1, day 7 and day 21).
Afterwards we planned our luggage. Unlike vanlife, backpack space is very limited. We decided to take a backpack (as checked luggage), a daypack (as carry-on luggage) and a fanny pack (for documents and passports). Also remember that masks are mandatory during the entire flight and your stay in the airport. You can find my packing list here.
Follow our trip on Instagram and TikTok at @heyiamnele! And if you have any other questions, feel free to contact me via Direct Message on Instagram or via the contact form. Until then, have fun planning and have a good and safe trip!
Nele Rose
@heyiamnele{:}