Costa Rica vacation and visitor guide with airport, airline, passport, visa, hotel and vacation information. Costa Rica has something for everybody! Whatever your interests; eco-tourism, bird watching, adventure tours, fishing, diving, rafting, canopy tours, golf, all inclusive hotels or just relaxing on an unspoiled tropical beach, you will find all of that and more in this tropical and secure paradise. Learn more about Costa Rica Attractions. People who take the time to Learn Spanish are able to better enjoy the culture, the people and feel more comfortable traveling.
Commercial international flights to Costa Rica currently land either at the Juan Santamaría International Airport (airport code: SJO), located ten miles from downtown San José, or at the Daniel Oduber International airport (Airport code: LIR) in Liberia, Guanacaste.
Major U.S. cities with direct flights to Costa Rica include Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, New York, Orlando, New Orleans, Atlanta and others. U.S. air carriers serving Costa Rica include American, United, Continental and Delta Airlines. LACSA is the official Costa Rican carrier. LTU, MartinAir, Mexicana, Taca, Iberia are among the international air carriers that have Costa Rica as a destination. Visit our Airports & Airlines section for more information.
There are a large number of affordable taxis. Bus service is readily available both inter and intra city as well as internationally. Two domestic airlines, SANSA and Nature Air, service the country well and there are a number of air taxi services as well as helicopters. The road system is somewhat primitive compared to North American standards and driving at night is not recommended. An international driver's permit is not necessary.
Passport, Visa & Embassy Information
Citizens holding valid passports from USA, Canada and most European countries are permitted to stay in Costa Rica for 90 days without a visa. Other select coutries are permitted to stay for 30 days without Visa but are allowed to apply within country for an additional 90 days. Visit our Immigration section for more information about visiting, living or retiring in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica maintains an embassy in the United States at 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-328-6628).
The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica is located in Pavas at Boulevard Pavas and Calle 120, San Jose, tel. (506) 220-3939.
Visit our Costa Rica Immigration section for more information.
Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings also are available on the Consular Affairs Internet home page: http://travel.state.gov. Consular Affairs Tips for Travelers publication series, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip abroad, are on the Internet and hard copies can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, telephone: 202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250.
Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries.
U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in dangerous areas are encouraged to register their travel via the State Department’s travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov or at the Consular section of the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country by filling out a short form and sending in a copy of their passports. This may help family members contact you in case of an emergency.
