Costa Rica travel advisories

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Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Safety Information
Travel advisories Updated on Dec. 16, 2025, 4:17 a.m.
1
Exercise increased caution

The following information has been provided by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The information is subject to change without notice. This is not a comprehensive list, and you are urged to check the most up-to-date information and details.

Table of contents

Entry information for travelers from Japan

No information available

COVID-19 risks

Oct. 19, 2022, midnight

In light of the general improvement in the global infection situation and the fact that the G7 countries have already canceled the designation of levels by country and region, all the new coronavirus infectious disease risk information was announced on October 19. The world is uniformly set to level 1 (please be careful).

Aug. 24, 2022, midnight

On August 24, the infectious disease risk information for 41 countries was changed from level 3 (recommendation to avoid travel) to level 2 (please refrain from non-essential travel), and the infectious disease risk information for 55 countries/regions was changed to level 2. The level has been lowered from (Please refrain from unnecessary and non-urgent travel) to Level 1 (Please be careful).

July 25, 2022, midnight

On July 23, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak of monkeypox a "public health emergency of international concern." According to the WHO, more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox infection in 75 countries and regions have been reported so far, and the infection is spreading worldwide.

July 1, 2022, midnight

Although the infection status of the new corona varies depending on the situation in each country and region, the risk of death and aggravation has decreased, and deregulation at the water's edge and in Japan has also been seen, especially in countries where vaccination is progressing worldwide. I'm on the way. Based on these trends, the infectious disease risk information level is now available after comprehensively considering the actual conditions of each country / region, such as the status of infection, vaccination status, infectious disease control / medical system, and status of various measures in each country / region. Was reviewed.

May 26, 2022, midnight

Although the infection status of the new corona varies depending on the situation in each country and region, the number of new infections and deaths is declining worldwide, and the risk of death and aggravation is mainly in countries where vaccination is progressing. Is declining, and regulations are being relaxed at the water's edge and in Japan. Based on these trends, the infectious disease risk information level is now available after comprehensively considering the actual conditions of each country / region, such as the status of infection, vaccination status, infectious disease control / medical system, and status of various measures in each country / region. Was reviewed.

April 1, 2022, midnight

The level of infectious disease risk information should be reviewed after comprehensively considering the actual situation of each country / region, such as the number of newly infected people in each country / region, vaccination status, infectious disease control / medical system, and status of various measures. It was made. As a result, infectious disease risk information has been reduced from Level 3 "Recommendation for suspension of travel" to Level 2 "Please stop unnecessary and unurgent travel" in 106 countries.

Nov. 29, 2021, midnight

As the infection may spread further, please be informed and try to prevent the infection.

Nov. 29, 2021, midnight

As the infection may spread further, please be informed and try to prevent the infection.

Aug. 13, 2021, midnight

As the infection may spread further, please obtain the latest information and try to prevent the infection.

May 18, 2021, midnight

Coronavirus infections are still spreading worldwide, with more than 160 million confirmed infections and more than 3 million deaths worldwide. Although the number of infected people is decreasing in North America and Europe, the situation continues to require caution, such as the remarkable spread of infection in South Asia.
Based on this situation, the infectious disease risk information level in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Saint Lucia, Thailand, East Timor, and Mongolia has been newly set to Level 2 by comprehensively considering various situations including the deterioration of the infection situation. "Please stop unnecessary and unurgent travel" has been raised to Level 3 "Travel Cancellation Recommendation".

Oct. 30, 2020, midnight

As the infection may spread further, please obtain the latest information and try to prevent the infection.

Local and national news

Information for the past 30 days.

Alert regarding chikungunya fever

Nov. 21, 2025, midnight Wide area information (infectious diseases)
● Chikungunya fever, which causes symptoms such as fever, joint pain, and rash, is prevalent in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.
● Chikungunya fever is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito infected with the chikungunya virus, so in the above areas please be sure to take the preventive measures described below in 1(4), such as wearing long sleeves and using insect repellent spray.
● If you suspect you may be infected, please visit a medical institution as soon as possible.

Zika virus infection alert (updated)

Nov. 21, 2025, midnight Wide area information (infectious diseases)
● The number of cases of Zika virus infection, which causes symptoms such as fever and rash and can result in congenital disorders such as microcephaly in fetuses, has decreased globally since 2017, but infections continue to occur, albeit in small numbers, in Latin America, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.
● Zika virus infection is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus, so if you are in the above areas, please be sure to take the preventive measures listed below in 1(4), such as wearing long sleeves and using insect repellent spray.
● If you suspect you may be infected, please visit a medical institution as soon as possible.

Travel advisories from local embassies and consulates

Information from the past two weeks.

Security Intelligence [November]

Dec. 11, 2025, 4:35 a.m.
San Jose Prefecture: "Arson with intent to murder" (murder case)
On October 29th, a fire broke out in Guadalupe, Goicoechea, resulting in the death of a 76-year-old man. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of the victim's sister, her daughter (niece), and her daughter's boyfriend on November 4th. They were seen coming out of the victim's house just before the fire, and are believed to have started the fire. The victim ran a money lending business during his lifetime and is believed to have had a large amount of assets.

"39-year-old woman shot dead" (murder case)
On November 7th, a Molotov cocktail was thrown into a house in the city of Puriscal and then shots were fired, resulting in a 39-year-old woman inside the house being shot and killed.

"Bodies of a married couple discovered" (murder case)
At 8:30 a.m. on November 16th, a friend visited the home of an 80-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman in the city of Alajuelita and discovered them stabbed to death inside their home. The couple reportedly ran a restaurant in the mountains.

"38-year-old man shot dead" (murder case)
At 3:21 a.m. on November 17th, a 38-year-old man was shot and killed while riding a motorcycle in San Sebastian, San Jose. He was shot by two men on a motorcycle.

"48-year-old man hit with a brick" (murder case)
On the night of November 19th, a 48-year-old man was shopping at a general store in Los Guido, Desamparados, when another customer asked for cigarettes and coins. He gave them to another customer, but when the customer asked for more money, he refused. When the customer refused, he became enraged and hit the man from behind with a block, causing his death. A nearby shopper reportedly caught the perpetrator and handed him over to the police.

"Three injured in shooting incident" (shooting incident)
At 11:00 p.m. on November 21st, a 12-year-old boy, a 16-year-old girl, and a 26-year-old man were shot and injured by two men on a motorcycle in front of a mini-supermarket in Pabas, San Jose.

"A series of murders in Hatillo" (murders)
At 7:30 a.m. on November 25th, a man was shot and killed in Hatillo, San Jose. Shortly afterwards, another man was found shot dead in the same area.

Limon Province: 43-year-old man shot dead (murder case)
At 12:20 a.m. on November 3rd, a 43-year-old man was shot and killed by a 50-year-old friend who was visiting his home in Limon after a heated argument. The perpetrator has been arrested.

"Drug organization busted" (drug-related crime)
On November 4th, the largest-ever simultaneous raids were carried out, uncovering the Carisvale Cartel, a drug organization based in the city of Limon. Searches were carried out in 66 locations across the country, and 28 people were arrested. Seven condominiums, 40 properties, and 73 cars were seized, with a total value of 2 billion colones.

"Woman's burned body discovered in abandoned refrigerator" (murder case)
On the morning of November 10th, the charred body of a woman was discovered inside a refrigerator that had been dumped in an illegal waste dump in the city of Limon. The refrigerator itself was also burned, and the body's identity is unknown.

"Cocaine discovered in container" (drug-related case)
On November 19, 812 packets of cocaine were discovered in a container destined for the Netherlands at the port of Moín in the city of Limon.

"Robber shot dead by homeowner" (murder case)
In the early hours of November 27th, several men broke into a rental house in Cahuita, Talamanca, with the intent of stealing. When the owners of the rental house arrived, they were confronted by the perpetrators, and the owners shot and killed one of the perpetrators.

"28-year-old man stabbed to death" (murder case)
At 7:30 pm on November 29th, a fight broke out in a bar in Cagliari, Pocosi, and a 28-year-old man was stabbed to death. The assailant fled, but was arrested the following day in Sarapiqui, Heredia. It appears that the assailant was attempting to flee to Nicaragua.

Puntarenas Province: "Boat loaded with marijuana discovered" (drug-related case)
On November 13th, a boat carrying 1,470 packets of marijuana was discovered near Sierpe, Osa City, and the crew (three Colombians and two Costa Ricans) were arrested and the marijuana was seized.

"Boat loaded with cocaine discovered" (drug-related case)
On November 26th, a boat carrying more than four tons of cocaine was discovered 170 miles off the coast of Golfito, two Colombian men on board were arrested, and the cocaine was seized.

Alajuela Department: "Three bodies discovered in house after gas leak" (murder case)
On the night of November 2nd, police responded to a report of a gas leak from a house in San Ramon and discovered the bodies of a 39-year-old woman and her 4-year-old daughter inside the house. In another room, the body of the woman's boyfriend, who had committed suicide, was also discovered.

"38-year-old man shot dead" (murder case)
At 6 a.m. on November 11th, a 38-year-old man was shot and killed by two men on a motorbike in La Guassima, Alajuela. The victim reportedly had a criminal record for assault, attempted murder, and drug trafficking.

●Carthage Prefecture: "27-year-old man shot dead" (murder case)
At around 4:00 a.m. on November 7th, a 27-year-old man and a 31-year-old man were shot by a masked man in the city of Oleamuno, killing the 27-year-old man and injuring the 31-year-old man.

"29-year-old man shot dead" (murder case)
On the night of November 25th, a 29-year-old man was shot and killed by two men on a motorcycle on a street in Paraiso City. A 35-year-old woman who was nearby was also shot and injured.

Heredia Department: "Body of Nicaraguan man discovered" (murder case)
On November 16th, the body of a Nicaraguan man was found on a farm in the city of Sarapiqui, his neck cut with a knife.

"33-year-old man shot dead" (murder case)
At 6:40 a.m. on November 21, a 33-year-old man was eating breakfast at a bakery in Santa Barbara when he was shot and killed by a man who had arrived at the store on a motorcycle.

"Masked Robber in Sarapiquí" (Robbery)
At 10pm on November 26th, five to seven masked men broke into a farm in Chilamate, Sarapiqui, and stole a car, truck, buggy, chainsaw, etc. Similar incidents have occurred frequently in the area, and it is believed that the same perpetrators may have committed the crimes.

Guanacaste Province: "Body of a man in his 30s discovered" (murder case)
On November 13, the body of a man in his late 30s was discovered by a neighbor in the city of Santa Cruz. The victim had injuries to his face.

"Head found in vacant lot" (murder case)
At 4pm on November 29th, a human head was discovered in a vacant lot in the city of Bagaces. The head showed signs of being burned and was buried in the ground. The victim's identity has not been identified.

[Contact Information]
Consular Section, Embassy of Japan in Costa Rica
Tel: (506)2232-1255 Fax: (506)2231-3140
E-mail: japon-consulado@sj.mofa.go.jp
URL: https://www.cr.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_ja/index.html
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