Costa Rica travel insurance isn’t required to enter the country anymore, but in my opinion it’s still one of the smartest things you can buy for your trip.
Between rainforest hikes, zip lines, big surf and bumpy roads, small accidents happen here, and private medical care isn’t cheap. In this guide, I’ll cover what your policy should include, where to get treated if something goes wrong, the rental car rule that surprises almost everyone, and the plan we recommend.
Thomas and I have lived in Costa Rica since 2016, and over the years we’ve been super thankful to have travel insurance for unexpected illnesses, injuries and even last-minute changes to our travel plans.
Don’t Want to Read It All?
Here’s the short version of what I’d do if I were planning a Costa Rica trip right now:
- Travel insurance Get a quote from Heymondo. It’s our top pick for Costa Rica trips, and our link gets you 5% off (the discount doesn’t apply to US travelers).
- Long trips or digital nomads SafetyWing works like a subscription, and you can start it even after you’ve left home.
- Renting a car Travel insurance can’t replace the mandatory rental car insurance here. Book Adobe Rent-a-Car with our Costa Rica Vibes discount for 10% off, a free second driver and 0% deductible on liability insurance.
- Phone data Grab an Airalo eSIM before you fly (code NEWTOAIRALO15) so you can reach your insurer’s app from anywhere.
Do You Need Travel Insurance for Costa Rica?
No. Costa Rica dropped its travel insurance requirement for tourists in April 2022, so nobody will ask to see a policy when you land. You can check everything you do need in our Costa Rica entry requirements guide.
That said, I would never visit without it. Many North American health insurance plans don’t cover you abroad, and private hospitals here usually expect you to pay before you leave.
Sarah’s Tip
Check what you already have before you buy. Some credit cards include travel insurance benefits, and depending on your plan, your own health insurance may cover you abroad. These usually come with lower limits or gaps (like medical evacuation), so read the details and fill in what’s missing with a travel policy.
Costa Rica is also a country made for adventure. You’ll probably be hiking muddy trails, swimming in the ocean, flying down zip lines and driving roads you’re not used to.
Sarah’s Tip
Buy your policy as soon as you book your trip, ideally at the same time as your flights. With Heymondo, trip cancellation coverage has to be purchased within 7 days of your first trip booking, and some insurers only cover cancellation costs for bookings made after you bought the policy. Waiting until the week before you fly can cost you that protection.
Why I Changed My Mind About Travel Insurance
I used to be that person who traveled without travel insurance and just hoped nothing would happen. I think I assumed it was only useful for big medical emergencies.
I’ve since learned it covers so much more than that. From canceled flights to doctor visits, travel insurance has saved me more than once.
Two experiences really stand out.
The Time My Eye Swelled Shut
When we first arrived in Costa Rica, I developed a terrifying rash all over my face. It got to the point that my eye completely swelled shut, and I looked absolutely terrifying.
Truthfully, it probably looked worse than it really was, but it looked really bad.
I went to one doctor who wasn’t very helpful, so I started doing my own research. Eventually, I figured it out.
Mango trees apparently contain the same oil as poison ivy. Who knew? I definitely had no idea, since I grew up far away from mango trees in cold New England.
A few days before the rash showed up, I’d been picking mangos off the tree at a friend’s house. Mystery solved.
I’ve always been very sensitive to poison ivy, so I knew exactly what I needed. I went to the doctor, they prescribed steroids to speed up the healing, and after a few days I was back to normal.
I gathered all my receipts from the two doctors I saw and the prescription meds, then submitted a travel insurance claim. It was easy, no stress, and I quickly got my money back.
The Last-Minute Flight Cancellation
The second time I filed a claim, my flight was canceled at the last minute. The airline refunded my ticket but refused to help beyond that, and booking a new flight cost me several hundred dollars more.
I submitted my new flight info, the cancellation info and all the other documents. I heard back quickly and was refunded the flight price difference.
What Your Costa Rica Travel Insurance Should Cover
Not every policy is the same. Here’s what I’d look for before buying a plan for Costa Rica:
| Coverage | Why It Matters in Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| Emergency medical | Private hospitals and clinics can be expensive, and your health insurance at home probably won’t cover you here. |
| Medical transport and repatriation | Many beach and mountain towns are hours from a major hospital, and serious cases usually end up in San José. |
| Trip cancellation | Protects the nonrefundable flights, hotels and tours you already paid for if you can’t go for a covered reason. |
| Trip interruption | Helps if you have to cut your trip short for a covered reason. |
| Baggage and delays | Lost luggage, delayed flights and petty theft do happen. |
| Adventure activities | Rafting, canyoning and diving often need an add-on. |
| Electronics | Laptops, cameras and other gear usually need their own coverage. |
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Trip cancellation coverage is for when something happens before you leave and you can’t take the trip at all, like a severe illness or a death in the family.
It reimburses the nonrefundable things you already paid for, like flights, hotels and tours. It only works for covered reasons, so read your policy wording before you buy.
Trip Interruption Insurance
Trip interruption coverage kicks in once your trip has already started. If you have to fly home early or your plans fall apart halfway through for a covered reason, it helps cover the unused, prepaid parts of your trip and the extra cost of getting home.
Many plans also include travel delay coverage, which helps with things like an unexpected hotel night if your flight is delayed or canceled on the way to or from Costa Rica.
Lost, Stolen or Delayed Baggage
Besides health-related problems, many Costa Rica travel insurance plans also cover lost, delayed or stolen items. The country is pretty safe, but petty crime does occasionally happen.
It’s nice to know that if something happens to your gear, you’re covered. Read our guide to staying safe in Costa Rica and our list of things not to do in Costa Rica for easy ways to protect yourself.
Common Medical Issues for Costa Rica Travelers
The odds of something going wrong are low, but these are the issues we hear about most from readers.
Injuries
Keep in mind that things aren’t always regulated the way you might be used to. At a waterfall, you may see a sign that says “Slippery When Wet” rather than an area actually being blocked off.
Costa Rica is made for adventure, and you may find yourself trying things you’ve never done before, like zip lining or white water rafting. That makes injuries more likely, so just use your best judgment.
The Sun
One of the most common emails we get from injured people is actually about severe sunburns. Costa Rica is close to the equator, and the UV index is super high.
Even when it doesn’t feel very hot and you’re not sitting in the sun, you can still get badly burned. Our full guide to the sun in Costa Rica has tips for protecting yourself.
Illness
The most common illnesses we hear about from visitors are stomach problems and colds or the flu. You may not be used to the food here, so eat at reputable restaurants when you can.
In general, tap water is perfectly fine to drink throughout the country, but if you’d like to be cautious, drink bottled water.
Animal-Related Injuries
I have to admit, there are plenty of animals in Costa Rica that can bite, sting or injure you. The odds of something happening are low, but you never know.
The most common animal-related problem is mosquito bites, since it’s possible to get dengue or Zika. Learn how to protect yourself in our Costa Rica mosquito guide.
When hiking, wear shoes instead of sandals, and if you go off the main trails, wear clothes that cover you. Our guide to snakes in Costa Rica covers what to watch for.
If you do get bitten by a snake, spider or anything else, call 9-1-1 immediately to get quick treatment.
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Where to Get Treated in Costa Rica
If you do get sick or hurt, here’s where to go, from small problems to real emergencies.
Pharmacies
For minor issues like sunburns, colds or stomach problems, start at a pharmacy. Pharmacies in Costa Rica can provide basic medical care for small illnesses and injuries.
They can also sell some medicines that you’d usually need a doctor’s prescription for in other countries. You’ll have no problem finding a pharmacy in almost every town.
Doctor’s Offices
Most towns have at least one doctor’s office. We suggest going here if the pharmacist can’t help you or your illness or injury is a bit more serious.
A doctor can better assess the situation and help decide if you need to go to a hospital.
Hospitals
There are hospitals in some of the main cities around the country, but the major ones are in San José. For life-threatening injuries, you’ll likely be transferred there.
Worst case, get to CIMA. If you’re in bad shape and want good international care with English speakers, Hospital CIMA San José in Escazú is the place to be. It’s accredited by Joint Commission International and is also one of the most popular hospitals for medical tourism.
In general, you can expect professional, well-trained doctors in Costa Rica hospitals, and we’ve found that many of them speak English.
Sarah’s Tip
If you have trouble communicating in Spanish, ask if anybody around speaks English. If not, the Google Translate app is a lifesaver. Its Conversation feature lets you speak and have your words translated into Spanish.
Keep in mind that you’ll usually either pay out of pocket for treatment or receive a bill to pay. You then submit your expenses to your travel insurance company to be reimbursed.
Does Travel Insurance Cover Rental Cars in Costa Rica?
Not the part you’re legally required to have. In Costa Rica, you cannot use a travel insurance plan for the rental car’s mandatory coverage. This catches so many people off guard!
Every rental car here must include mandatory liability insurance, and you have to buy it from the rental company. Your credit card and your travel insurance can’t replace it, no matter what your policy says.
The other coverage, for damage to the rental car itself, is where it gets more flexible. Depending on the rental company, you may be able to decline it if your credit card covers you in Costa Rica.
We highly suggest renting with Adobe. They’re our go-to car rental company because they’re completely upfront with their costs, and they don’t bundle the liability and car protection together. Adobe gives our readers 10% off plus other great perks.
Read our full Costa Rica rental car insurance guide to understand exactly what you need, plus our tips for driving in Costa Rica. Renting for a month or longer? Use our long-term rental form.
Best Travel Insurance for Costa Rica (Our Pick)
Our top pick is Heymondo. Their plans cover the things that matter most in Costa Rica, from emergency medical care to trip cancellation, baggage and travel delays.
I like that you can customize your plan with add-ons for adventure sports and electronics, and their app makes it easy to get help fast. Our readers get 5% off with our link (the discount doesn’t apply to US travelers).
Heymondo Plans Compared
Heymondo offers three single-trip plans for Costa Rica. Here’s how the two full plans compare:
| Plan | Price From | Medical Assistance | Baggage Theft and Damage | Cancellation and Interruption |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heymondo Top | $2.72 per day | Up to $5,000,000 | Up to $1,700 | Up to $3,500 |
| Heymondo Premium | $3.02 per day | Up to $10,000,000 | Up to $2,500 | Up to $7,000 |
Heymondo Medical is the budget option, from about $2.49 per day. It focuses on emergency medical care and repatriation and doesn’t include baggage coverage, so it’s a good fit if medical care is all you’re worried about.
In my opinion, Heymondo Top is the sweet spot for most Costa Rica vacations. If you’ve booked a lot of nonrefundable hotels and tours, I would go with Premium for the higher cancellation limit.
All three include repatriation and early return, trip cancellation, cruise coverage and the 24-hour travel assistance app. Prices depend on your age, trip length and where you live, so get a Heymondo quote for your exact dates.
Single Trip, Annual or Long Stay?
- Single trip covers only the dates of your Costa Rica trip. It’s perfect for a one or two week vacation.
- Annual multi-trip covers all your international trips for 12 months, with each trip up to 60 consecutive days. If you travel a few times a year, it likely offers better value.
- Long stay is for trips over 90 days, which is handy if you’re spending a whole season here or testing out life in Costa Rica.
Heymondo Add-Ons Worth Knowing About
Heymondo plans already cover a long list of everyday activities, including hiking, surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, zip lines and trekking below 3,000 meters. That covers most typical Costa Rica itineraries.
The adventure sports add-on extends your coverage to more intense activities, including:
- White water rafting and canyoning.
- Diving and underwater activities less than 20 meters deep.
- Horse riding, climbing and abseiling.
- Quad biking, mountain biking and bungee jumping.
- Kitesurfing and water skiing.
If rafting or canyoning is on your list (and in Costa Rica, it probably should be), I would add it.
The electronics add-on covers laptops, tablets, cameras and similar gear up to 50% of your baggage coverage, and you can raise that to 100% on the Top and Premium plans.
The cruise add-on covers any medical assistance you need on board if you’re visiting Costa Rica as part of a cruise.
SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and Long Trips
If you’re a digital nomad or traveling for months at a time, SafetyWing is another option we like. It works like a subscription billed every 4 weeks, and you can buy it even after you’ve already left home.
How Much Does Travel Insurance for Costa Rica Cost?
On Heymondo’s Costa Rica page, plans start from about $2.49 per day for Medical, $2.72 per day for Top and $3.02 per day for Premium.
Your actual price depends on your age, how long you’re staying, where you live and which add-ons you choose. For a typical one or two week vacation, I think it’s a small cost compared to a single private hospital bill. As a rough rule, plans that include trip cancellation usually cost somewhere around 4% to 8% of your total trip price, while medical-only plans cost less.
How to Use Your Travel Insurance in Costa Rica
Once you buy your policy, I suggest downloading the Heymondo app before you fly.
The app gives you 24/7 medical chat and video consultations, free assistance calls, easy claims management and offline access to your policy documents, so you always know what’s covered.
If anything happens, keep every receipt, prescription and medical report. You’ll need them to submit your claim and get reimbursed.
Sarah’s Tip
Make sure you’ll have data as soon as you land so you can use your insurance app anywhere. In my opinion an eSIM is the easiest option, and our guide to using your cell phone in Costa Rica explains how it works.
You don’t need to bring a printed copy of your policy to Costa Rica, but if you have a printer, it never hurts to have a hard copy just in case.
What Travel Insurance Won’t Cover
- Pre-existing conditions usually aren’t covered, so read the fine print if you have ongoing health issues.
- Planned medical procedures aren’t covered. Costa Rica is a popular medical tourism destination, and dental work or surgery may be a lot cheaper here, but you’ll pay for it yourself.
- Health care at home isn’t covered either. Travel insurance is for international travel, so if you’re from the United States, you can’t use it as your regular health insurance back home.
- Activities not on your plan, like white water rafting without the adventure sports add-on.
- Mandatory rental car liability insurance, which always has to come from the rental company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need travel insurance for Costa Rica?
No. Costa Rica stopped requiring travel insurance for tourists in April 2022. We still strongly recommend it, since most home health plans don’t cover you abroad and private hospitals usually expect payment before you leave.
Will my US health insurance work in Costa Rica?
Most North American health insurance plans don’t cover you in Costa Rica. Check with your provider before you go, but plan on getting travel medical insurance for your trip.
Does my credit card include travel insurance for Costa Rica?
It might. Some credit cards include travel benefits like trip cancellation, trip delay or lost baggage coverage, and a few include limited emergency medical coverage. Check your card’s benefits guide for the limits and what activates the coverage (often you have to pay for the trip with that card). Card coverage is usually lower than a dedicated travel policy, especially for medical care and evacuation, so I still recommend a travel insurance plan.
How much does travel insurance for Costa Rica cost?
Heymondo’s Costa Rica plans start from about $2.49 per day. Your price depends on your age, trip length, where you live and any add-ons you choose.
Does travel insurance cover rental cars in Costa Rica?
Not the mandatory part. Every rental in Costa Rica must include the mandatory liability insurance sold by the rental company, and travel insurance or credit card coverage can’t replace it. Our rental car insurance guide explains everything.
Does travel insurance cover zip lining and surfing in Costa Rica?
With Heymondo, zip lines, surfing, hiking and snorkeling are covered as standard. White water rafting, canyoning and diving need the adventure sports add-on.
Which hospital should tourists go to in Costa Rica?
For anything serious, we recommend Hospital CIMA San José in Escazú. It offers international-standard care with English-speaking staff, and the major hospitals in Costa Rica are in the San José area.
Final Thoughts on Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is one of those things you hope you never use, but if something does happen, you’ll be so glad you have it. And if you use it, don’t forget to submit your claim to get your money back!
Ready to book your travel insurance? Get your Heymondo quote here (our link gets you 5% off, though the discount doesn’t apply to US travelers).
Still planning? Grab our free Costa Rica trip planner, read our things to know before visiting Costa Rica, check our Costa Rica packing list, compare Costa Rica’s airports and browse our favorite things to do in Costa Rica for ideas.
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Meet the writer
Sarah McArthur
Sarah is the co-founder and main writer of Costa Rica Vibes. Originally from the US, she has lived in San José, Costa Rica since 2016 with her husband Thomas, who takes the photos you see on this site.
Together they have been writing about Costa Rica since 2017, drawing on years of road trips, hotel stays and tours around the country. We personally vet everything before we publish it.
Follow along on Instagram · Pinterest · Substack
or join our email list for trip planning help.
Meet the writer
Sarah McArthur
Sarah is the co-founder and main writer of Costa Rica Vibes. Originally from the US, she has lived in San José, Costa Rica since 2016 with her husband Thomas, who takes the photos you see on this site.
Together they have been writing about Costa Rica since 2017, drawing on years of road trips, hotel stays and tours around the country. We personally vet everything before we publish it.
Follow along on Instagram · Pinterest · Substack
or join our email list for trip planning help.
