Travel to Costa Rica

When planning your travel to Costa Rica: passport formalities and possible visa

French, Canadian, Belgian and Swiss people who wish to travel to Costa Rica without stopping in the USA can directly access to Costa Rica without visa. They just need a valid passport expiring more than 3 months after the arrival date.

They can stay in Costa Rica as tourists during maximum 90 days and must be in possession of a return ticket.

The tourists who transit by the United States must fill in additional formalities. They must hold a passport with a validity date expiring at least 6 months after their stay. They also need to apply for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (the famous ESTA). It can easily be done through the Internet.

It is of course more careful to double check with your embassy if any formality has been changed or added.

Airlines that fly to Costa Rica

Flights from Europe

• To San José

Since November 2016, AIR FRANCE provides, during high season, twice weekly direct flights Paris-San José and, since October 2017, the airline operates three direct flights a week.

The Swiss airline EDELWEISS has also started twice weekly nonstop flights Zurich-San José since May 2017, and now offers three direct flights a week.

As for LUFTHANSA, it has, since 2018, twice weekly direct flights Frankfurt-San Jose all year round.

These new flights complement the existing offer of IBERIA, which operates direct flights Madrid-San José, and of BRITISH AIRWAYS which has nonstop flights London-San José.

Finally, other European or North-American airlines also offer flights to San José but connecting flights.

• To Liberia

For those who, coming from Europe, prefer to land directly at the International Airport of Liberia in Guanacaste, TUI AIRWAYS offers direct flights London-Liberia.

Moreover, there are numerous connecting flights to Liberia operated by a large choice of airlines.

Flights from Canada

• To San José

From Canada, travelers have the choice between many nonstop flights Toronto-San José with AIR CANADA, WESTJET and AIR TRANSAT.

Moreover, there are direct flights Montreal-San José with AIR TRANSAT but also, since high season 2016-2017, with AIR CANADA.

In parallel, numerous connecting flights to San José are also available.

• To Liberia

For those who wish to land directly at the International Airport of Liberia, there is a large choice of nonstop flights Toronto-Liberia with AIR CANADA, WESTJET, AIR TRANSAT and SUNWING.

Travelers have also the option to choose the direct flights Montreal-Liberia with AIR CANADA, AIR TRANSAT and SUNWING.

WESTJET and SUNWING also offer nonstop flights Calgary-Liberia.

All this without forgetting connecting flights to Liberia operated by many airlines.

Time difference

France, Belgium and Switzerland

During the European winter, it is 7 hours less in Costa Rica than in Europe while during the European summer, it is 8 hours less in Costa Rica.

Canada

Quebec, Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa: during the Canadian winter, it is 1 hour less in Costa Rica than in Montreal, Quebec, Toronto and Ottawa while during the Canadian summer, it is 2 hours less in Costa Rica.

Fredericton: during the Canadian winter, it is 2 hours less in Costa Rica than in Fredericton while during the Canadian summer, it is 3 hours less in Costa Rica.

Winnipeg: during the Canadian winter, the hour is the same than in Costa Rica while during the Canadian summer, it is 1 hour less in Costa Rica.

Calgary: during the Canadian winter, it is 1 hour more in Costa Rica than in Calgary while during the Canadian summer, the hour is the same than in Costa Rica.

Vancouver: during the Canadian winter, it is 2 hours more in Costa Rica than in Vancouver while during the Canadian summer, it is 1 hour more in Costa Rica.

Currency

The currency is the Costa Rican colon but it is possible to pay almost everywhere in American dollars.

All real estate transactions are done in USD.

It is easy to pay by credit card in most hotels, restaurants and shops and also for car rentals.

In the same way, it’s very easy to withdraw money in cash and to change USD into colons in any banks.

To change euros into dollars, the easiest or the less expensive way would be to change a part of the money in your country before travelling.

Language

The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish but English is widespread in tourist areas.

Electricity

110 V, 60 Hz. It’s very important for European tourists not to forget a multi-plug adaptor because the plugs here are different from the ones in Europe.

For the voltage, most appliances support a voltage from 100 to 240v but it could be prudent to check before plugging it.

Telephone codes

To phone Costa Rica from France, Belgium or Switzerland, it is necessary to compose the 00 then the international phone code of Costa Rica (506) and then directly the 8 digit number of your correspondent (there is no area code).

To call Costa Rica from Canada, it is necessary to compose “011506” then correspondent number.

To phone Canada from Costa Rica, you need to compose “001” followed by the regional code and by your correspondent number.