Update - October 7, 2020: The government of Costa Rica announced that, beginning November 1, it will allow travelers from all American states to enter the country. The ruling follows months of restricted traveling permissions. As of October 15, passengers from a total of 23 states will be allowed in, with the country entirely opening up come the beginning of the following month. Arriving passengers will have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken 72 hours ahead of departure. They will also have to submit a health form and have insurance that covers up to $50,000 in medical costs, in case they get sick while in the country.
Update - September 30, 2020: The government of Costa Rica announced that residents from Ohio and California will be allowed to enter the country starting October 1. That brings the total number of U.S. states permitted to travel to Costa Rica to 21. All passengers must show proof of residence upon arrival and a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken at least 72 hours prior to landing. Travelers will not be required to quarantine but they will have to fill out an online health form and buy travel insurance that will cover eventual accommodation and medical costs in case of quarantine.
Update - August 28, 2020: The government of Costa Rica announced that residents of an additional three states—Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.—will be allowed in the country starting September 1. Beginning September 15, travelers from Colorado, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania will also be permitted to enter.
Additional changes were also announced: all arriving passengers will have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours of arrival (as opposed to the previously established 48 hours). Hotels will also be allowed to operate at full capacity starting August 31, with the exception of common areas the likes of swimming pools, restaurants and gyms, which will operate at 50% capacity.
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Folks from Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Vermont can rejoice: as of September 1, you'll be allowed into Costa Rica. Upon arrival, tourists will need to present a valid driver's license or government-issued ID card confirming their state of residence.
The Central American country just announced its decision based on the selected states' relatively low numbers associated to COVID-19.
"In these six states there has been a very positive evolution of the pandemic and their epidemiological indicators are of high quality," said Gustavo Segura, the Minister of Tourism in Costa Rica, in an official statement. "We are taking very gradual and carefully analyzed steps in the direction of the revitalization of tourism that is very necessary for the protection of the social progress that Costa Rica has achieved through this industry."
The United States joins a roster of other countries allowed into Costa Rica, including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Travelers from all over will have to fill out an online health questionnaire prior to arrival and present negative results of a COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of arrival.
Although the news affects only a fraction of Americans, we are happy to report that things are trending in the right direction. We might not be allowed into Europe just yet, but here's to hoping we soon will be.
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