Tag Archives: coronavirus

NEWSFLASH: Costa Rica to Welcome ALL US residents from November 1!

Costa Rica Adventures, Costa Rica Rios, , ,

Fantastic news out of our idyllic shores this week: Costa Rica will reopen its borders to tourism for ALL US States (as well as Canada and Mexico) from the 1st of November. The news comes after the country was the first in the world to welcome US tourists based on their residency.

The first wave of Costa Rica border openings for US citizens occurred back in September, when the government announced it would welcome residents of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Vermont. More US States have been added to the list in the last month and we’re ecstatic to know that the country will open up to the whole of the US as of next month.

 

Moreover, there will be an in-between allowance added, with residents of Georgia, Florida and Texas allowed in as of mid-October.

 

As was the case with the previous openings, some conditions do apply. All US tourists must:

 

  • All travelers must have tested negative in a COVID-19 PCR test up to 72 hours maximum prior to flight departure time from the country of origin
  • Hold travel health insurance with COVID-specific clause for extended medical & living expenses
  • Fill in a Health Certificate before entering the country

 

You can buy COVID-specific insurance once you arrive in Costa Rica but most tourists choose to purchase a policy beforehand, through their travel agent, to save time upon arrival.

 

Costa Rica Reopens Completely to US tourism: Why The Sudden Change?

Costa Rica has handled the COVID-19 pandemic remarkably well, implementing harsh restrictions from the get-go. This has helped the country keep an impressively low record of infections and deaths. This was also the reason why Costa Rica has taken such a unique approach to its border reopening: yes, the country relies heavily on US tourism, in particular, but it also wanted to find a balance between keeping the economy churning and keeping COVID infections within acceptable (and handleable) limits.

 

The idea behind the staggered reopening was to ‘watch what happened’ and, since borders were first opened to the outside world in August, no ‘external’ infections have ever been detected. This means that no foreign tourist has brought the virus with them into Costa Rica, which is amazing news!

 

What is the COVID Situation in Costa Rica, Right Now?

As with most other countries around the world, second-wave infections have been increasing in Costa Rica. However, numbers remain manageable. As of right now, just over half the ICU beds and almost 30% of moderate-care beds are being used to treat COVID patients in the country, and the health system has never been stretched to capacity at any time during the pandemic.

 

What Does the Reopening Mean for Costa Rican Tourism?

Although US tourists do make up a huge chunk of the tourism income in Costa Rica, the restrictions in flight numbers and world-wide travel bans mean the country will still only receive about 50% of the usual high-tourist-season crowds.

 

High-season in Costa Rica usually starts in December (until about April), coinciding with dry season and international holiday periods.

 

What if You Want to Visit Before November 1?

Residents of the following US States can visit before November 1. However, they will need to show proof of residency upon entry:

 

As of October 1: New York, New Jersey, Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Colorado, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, Michigan, Rhode Island, California, and Ohio

 

As of October 15: As mentioned above, Texas, Georgia and Florida residents allowed

 

As of November 1: ALL US citizens

 

Caveats:

  • If you’re from an allowed State but can only fly to Costa Rica via a non-allowed State right now, you can still enter the country, provided your layover lasts no more than 18 hours.

 

  • US citizens who hold Costa Rican residency are allowed back into the country, no matter the State or country they’re coming from. If the origin is in an allowed country/State, or you have spent the last 14 days there, then you won’t have to quarantine. However, if you’re flying in from a currently unallowed State/country, then you will have to self-quarantine for 14 days.

 

Confused? You’re not the only one! There seems to have been a lot of confusion at airports all over the world in regards to Costa Rica’s allowances. Read this insightful Tico Times article for a detailed breakdown of the rules, at time of writing.

 

At Costa Rica Rios, we are eagerly awaiting the start of tourist season and are thrilled to know that we can welcome back all US tourists, as well as citizens from a myriad of other countries.

 

Ready for the adventure vacation of a lifetime?

 

Make 2020 the year you adventure in Costa Rica and you’ll remember it for all the right reasons!

 

Contact us to know more.

costa rica rios

US & Canada: +1-888-219-3660 | UK: +44-800-014-8071

Plan A Trip

Contact Us

[ssba]

COVID Update – Costa Rica to Welcome Back US Tourists!

Costa Rica Adventures, Costa Rica Rios, , , ,

The Costa Rican government has just released details on its latest wave of border openings and the news is looking GOOD for US tourists! The country’s Tourism Minister announced that US tourists will be welcomed back to Costa Rica as of 1st September – however, restrictions do apply.

Read on to find out more!

costa rica
The world’s most beloved eco-tourism and adventure hub, Costa Rica is internationally praised for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic

PHOTO TAGLINE: The world’s most beloved eco-tourism and adventure hub, Costa Rica is internationally praised for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic

Adding to the ever-growing list of allowed tourists (namely citizens and residents of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Uruguay, and several Asian countries) Costa Rica is preparing to welcome back US tourists in September, as long as they are from 6 select States.

They are:

  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Vermont

Tourists will be required to show their valid driver’s license to prove residency (or government-issued ID equivalent) and authorities will also need license-plate verification. According to the government, these measures are needed to ensure only genuine residents of States with (currently) the lowest COVID infection rate are allowed entry into the country.

*We’re currently waiting on a go-ahead to also be given to residents of Colorado, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania – we hope this will be announced shortly

All US tourists wishing to travel to Costa Rica will have to:

  • Fill in an online health form – you can select to view it in English from the drop-down menu on the top, RHS. The form is to be filled out no sooner than 48hr before traveling. You’ll get a QR code upon completion, which you are to show at the airport on arrival. You can also print out the confirmation

 

  • Present a negative COVID-19 test – the only accepted test is the RT-PCR test, taken no sooner than 48hr prior to traveling

 

  • Present COVID-specific travel health insurance – which covers all medical assistance should test positive for the virus whilst in the country. If you prefer to play it safe, you can purchase insurance directly from Costa Rica. The government has nominated a few agencies and pre-approved their policies, so you know you’ll be getting the right one)

Costa Rica, right now, is not placing any quarantine restrictions of tourists who satisfy the above-mentioned requirements and enter from approved countries/States.

Needless to say, we would love to announce a full reopening of Costa Rica to every resident of every country, as that would mean this COBID-19 nightmare would be well and truly behind us. But alas, we’ll take the small wins when we can get them and, right now, this is already amazing news.

 

costa rica

 

Plan Your Trip

 

Flights to Costa Rica are expected to increase, both in frequency and points of departure. New York is tipped to be the main springboard for Costa Rica flights and, on our end, we expect both the San Jose and Liberia International Airports to be fully operational. See the official San Jose Airport Website for details on expected incoming flights.

Costa Rica’s Tourism Minister said the 6 States in question have shown a “positive evolution of the pandemic” meaning they are making great strides forward and handling the current level of infection, keeping it at a manageable level. Given that US-based tourism is such a critical component of Costa Rica’s economy, it’s wonderful to see the authorities taking a logical approach: reopening the country but doing so slowly and safely.

According to the Health Ministry, the country has recorded just over 33,820 COVID-19 cases as of August 23.

It is also important that you know what restrictions your place of residence has introduced for tourist returning from Costa Rica.

We expect more concrete details about these latest developments to be announced shortly. Usually, the government makes a general announcement and then follows with greater details after a few days.

We’ll endeavor to keep you informed as news comes in.

 

What’s life like in Costa Rica, right now?

This month, we’ve seen a reopening of outdoor restaurants and cafés, as well as beaches, in so-called yellow zones. Of course, we’re all required to wear masks in indoor public places, except eating establishments where social distancing restrictions are in place (but staff still must wear them.

By and large, everyone seems to be getting used to the new normal: whipping on the mask, dabbing hand disinfectant when going out and keeping distance. The latter is arguably the hardest part: Costa Ricans are warm and huggy people. Like all Latinos, not being able to hug and give a peck on the cheek when meeting is the most painful part of this whole messy ordeal for Ticos.

During the month of August, more and more businesses opened although we had a short hiatus of shut-downs in the middle of the month. This gave businesses a chance to reboot the country’s economy whilst taking a short pause, half-way through the month, in case health services needed to catch up. Daily infections did increase, as expected, but this latest easing of border restrictions means the increase is still under control.

 

Costa Rica adventures await!

The best news of all, however, is that outdoor tourist activities have also recommenced and here at Costa Rica Rios, we’ve been busy planning and booking our most popular Week of Adventure Package starting from September. We’re meticulously planning for our tours to comply with all the directives, ensuring our valued guests have the time of their life and still keep safe.

All the country’s most beloved areas are open for tourists and given the cap on daily visitors (down 50% from the usual) it means you can come and explore world-famous sites like Arenal, Manuel Antonio and Turrialba and experience an uncrowded, unblemished paradise.

 

costa rica

 

At the moment, we are only running private & bespoke adventure tours for couples and families travelling within their own social bubble. We recently blogged about the benefits of bespoke tours, especially in COVID-times. Creating your own social bubble means you can double up on the fun and leave the stresses of 2020 behind you, as you kayak, raft, zipline and mountain bike in our pristine, unspoiled Costa Rican backyard.

Remote adventure vacations are what we’re all about here, at Costa Rica Rios, and we think our usual adventure style will fit post-COVID tours to perfection. The country is chock-full of exquisite remote lodges for that romantic getaway you’ve been waiting all year for, and insanely thrilling wild rivers and mountains for those high-adrenaline sports you can’t wait to get back into.

 

costa rica

 

Even though we don’t really expect everything to get back to normal until 2021, this further reopening step and the welcoming of US tourists is a heaven-send for everyone involved in tourism here. Traditionally, September and October are low-tourist months in the country so the opening is indeed very well-timed. Turning the country into a free-for-all, like we’ve seen happening in Europe, will likely just prolong the lockdown-agony and no-one wants to see that happening.

With this tentative, staggered opening, we’re hoping Costa Rica will be ready to welcome bigger numbers, and deliver bigger adventures, by the time high-season starts in December.

Ready to start planning your return to travel-freedom in the most exhilarating country on earth?

You know what to do! Call us or use our live chat and let us help you plan your own private and bespoke adventure tour to the incredible, nature-filled adventure playground that is Costa Rica. Because if there’s ever been a year when we need a once-in-a-lifetime, totally unforgettable adventure vacation in Costa Rica, this is surely the one!

 

costa rica rios

US & Canada: +1-888-219-3660 | UK: +44-800-014-8071

 

Plan Your Trip

Contact Us

[ssba]

COSTA RICA CALLING – Reopening Details for Summer Adventure Vacations

Costa Rica Adventures, Costa Rica Rios, ,

July 24, 2020 – Check below for recent updates

Costa Rica has announced it will reopen its borders on August 2nd and as adventure seekers from all over the world anticipate details, we thought we’d update you on what’s been happening in our neck of the rainforests.

The COVID-19 crisis has had devastating effects the world over but we’re grateful that Costa Rica has fared remarkably well. The government’s swift response has been obvious, given the modest number of infections and casualties. The reopening of businesses and a return to (a new) normal has been happening for over two months now. As is the case with just about every country, regional differences have meant that whilst some have been able to visit their nearest national parks and enjoy some (socially distanced) adventures, others have had to wait a little longer.

Like everyone involved in the travel industry in Costa Rica, we have also been eagerly awaiting the latest phase of reopening, hoping to soon bring bucketloads of adventure-filled fun to intrepid explorers.

Here’s all you need to know about Costa Rica’s coronavirus battle and the latest updates on reopening dates and details.

 

How has Costa Rica fared during the COVID-19 crisis?

Costa Rica was one of the first countries to apply a complete lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic, effectively shutting its doors merely 12 days after its first infection case was detected and on the day it recorded its first COVID-19 death. Ironically enough, Costa Rica’s first infection was also the first in the Central American region and although other countries have now suffered tremendous losses due to inaction, Costa Rica has managed to keep the spread at bay.

At time of writing, Costa Rica has recorded 24000 cases, over 7800 recoveries with 244 locals passing away.

The country had been planning for the arrival of the virus since January, said President Alvarado, which means Costa Rica, unlike other nations in the region, was not caught unawares.

 

Plan Your Trip

 

What kind of easing of restrictions has Costa Rica implemented recently?

Costa Rica’s reluctance to reopen fully has certainly been understandable and the government’s staggered phased plan to reopen businesses and tourist attractions seems to be working well.

By mid-May, the government released re-opening plans which included:

May 31st

  • Vehicle restrictions based on number plates (this is something many Latin American countries ordinarily do to limit emissions in large cities) which involved omitting two numbers between Monday and Friday and up to five numbers on weekend (ie. taken as the last digit on the number plate)
  • 50% reduction in visitor number to national parks (with previously purchased entry tickets) – the only parks which reopened on 31st May were Corcovado, Manuel Antonio, Cahuita, Arenal, Rincon de la Vieja, Irazu, Poas, Guayabo, Braulio Carrillo, Los Quetzales and Monteverde
  • Only non-contact sporting activities allowed
  • Restaurants could operate on weekends – take-away food only
  • Small hotels (< 20 rooms) could operate but only at 50% capacity
  • Opening of beaches, with social distancing rules in place, between 5 and 8am during the week

June 1st

  • By June, all national parks in the country were allowed to open, albeit at 50% capacity – as were all public parks
  • Restaurants were also allowed to open, at 50% capacity
  • Museums also reopened, at 50% capacity
  • All other hotels were allowed to reopen, also at 50% capacity
  • Vehicular restrictions remain in place

June 21st

Towards the end of June, it was time to reopen cinemas and shops (all at 50% capacity) and bars (at 25% capacity)

July 13th

  • All beaches reopened with social distancing rules in place
  • Contact sports can go ahead but spectator crowds are reduced to 20% of venue’s capacity
  • Vehicular restrictions remain in place

August 2nd

The new phase of reopening and accompanying restrictions is yet to be fully announced. However, we do know that Costa Rica will reopen to visitors from what it considers low-risk countries.

 

UPDATES AS THEY HAPPEN:

As of 11.59pm on August 1st, citizens of the following will be welcomed:

  • European Union
  • UK
  • Canada

Travelers will need to hold travel insurance, have completed a medical form online before travelling and present a recent COVID-test result (negative, naturally) upon entry. Your travel agent / airline representative will fill you in on all details.

Only a handful of flights will be allowed in every week so it’s recommended you book your flight to Costa Rica as soon as possible. This staggered and opening of borders will allow Costa Rica to finally welcome tourists once more, whilst gauging the feasibility of further easing of restrictions.

We expect more countries to be included in the list and we shall update this section as announcements are made.

 

What do we know, for certain?

Although details of the next phase of reopening have not yet been confirmed, the Health Ministry has made it clear that some rules will remain in place, for residents and visitors alike. The government calls these the ‘golden rules’ and they are to be respected by everyone living or visiting Costa Rica for the summer:

  • Masks should be worn in all public places, especially on public transport
  • Everyone should maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet (1.8m) when out and about
  • Kindly abide by any request to have your temperature taken prior to entering an establishment (hotel, restaurant, café, bar etc)

Costa Rica also uses colored emergency alerts, divided up into green, yellow, orange and red. These are mostly used in times of crisis (like expected torrential rains or volcanic eruptions) and they have also been adopted to command the response of COVID-19 measures in differing regions.

The color-coded alerts are perhaps the most important things all visitors to Costa Rica should know – a quick glance at an updated map will tell you which areas of the country are open for tourism at the time you visit and which are not.

Green – The lowest level of emergency alert is meant to be primarily informative. This tells you that a region is open and operational although you should pay close attention to sudden changes

Yellow – In COVID-terms, a yellow code means infections are on the rise and authorities are preparing to take restrictive measures if the situation does not stabilize and/or improve

Orange – The first proactive response begins at regional levels and here you’ll see the first restrictions of crowd numbers, opening times for establishments and the isolation of suspected cases. In many countries, this would be considered a lockdown, with residents only allowed to go out for essential services, like food shopping, doctor visits and whatnot. Masks will now be mandatory in all public places

Red – By the time a red alert has been declared, you can expect the region in question to be in complete lockdown

During this last week of July, several regions are under red alert (San Jose, Alajuela, Puntarenas, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon and Cartago) whilst the rest of the country is on orange alert.

 

Plan Your Trip

 

What to do if you plan to visit Costa Rica as soon as borders open

Once Costa Rica opens its borders to foreign visitors, we will update this post with the latest news. It’s important you are aware of travel restrictions in your home country, first and foremost, before understanding how the new rules in Costa Rica will affect your travel plans.

As of right now, we are unsure if the government will demand a 14-day quarantine for certain nationalities but we’ll be sure to list all restrictions and/or conditions as they’re published by the Ministry of Health and Costa Rican government.

It’s also worth noting that there has never been a complete, countrywide lockdown in place in the country during this entire time. Planning your adventure vacation in Costa Rica, therefore, will be mostly about avoiding certain areas and, instead, exploring and enjoying the lowest-risk areas.

Please feel free to contact us at any time to inquire about the current situation, on the ground. In the meantime, take a look at our adventure vacation tour packages starting in September. We look forward to welcoming you…and so is fabulous Costa Rica!

 

costa rica rios

US & Canada: +1-888-219-3660 | UK: +44-800-014-8071

 

Plan Your Trip

Contact Us

[ssba]

NEWSFLASH – Coronavirus and Travel to Costa Rica – What You Should Know

Costa Rica Adventures, Costa Rica Rios, , ,

Heading to Costa Rica and wondering how the coronavirus outbreak could affect your trip? Read on to learn more about this latest global health crisis and what that means for your impending adventure vacation

The outbreak of the new COVID-19 coronavirus has had a huge impact on the travel industry, even in regions where no infections have been reported. People the world over are gripped by anxiety and fear with a wealth of contradicting news reports shedding no light on the real situation, leaving many to wonder if they should consider cancelling their trip to Costa Rica.

First of all, it’s important to know that as of today, the 4th March, 2020, Costa Rica has no reported cases of coronavirus, which is fantastic news for anyone heading to our shores for an exceptional adventure vacation

As of March 12th, 2020, there are 22 cases of coronavirus confirmed.

As of May 12th, 2020. borders are currently shut until June 15th. The government has done a very good job here at containing the outbreak. There are under 800 cases and only 6 deaths so far (last time I listened), so the country has managed the situation better than most. We have nor been told when we will reopen yet.

Dispelling wild speculation and, instead, highlighting the real facts should go a long way in easing your fears. Whether you already have a trip planned with us at Costa Rica Rios or were contemplating booking an adventure tour soon, there’s a host of info you should know before making any decisions, either to go ahead or cancel.

Naturally, your health and safety are of paramount importance but so is making an informed decision.

Here’s what you should know:

coronavirus

Contact Us

 

What Is The New Coronavirus?

The World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes coronaviruses as a family of illnesses that range from the common cold to more severe strains of respiratory illnesses which have, in the past, included SARS and MERS. This latest outbreak has seen a new strain emerge, one that has never before been recorded. Much of the confusion (and public panic) comes from the fact that the virus was unknown at first yet in the two months since the first infections were discovered, a lot of information has been obtained from international health and infectious disease centers.

From what is known, right now, around 80% of those infected with this new strain (now named COVID-19) display mild symptoms and recover on their own without the need for special medical treatments. Out of those 20% that do require more care, between 18 and 19% go on to recover fully, leaving a fatality rate of between 2% (in China) and 1% (elsewhere). Although the fatality rate is much (much) lower than other severe coronavirus strains (like the above mentioned SARS and MERS), the COVID0-19 seems easier to transmit.

This is why prevention is so important.

coronavirus
Courtesy of WHO

 

coronavirus
Courtesy of WHO

 

You’ll find a host of valuable information and travelling tips on the WHO Advice for the Public page.

Contact Us

 

Where Does Costa Rica Stand on the New Coronavirus Health Scare?

Costa Rica has NO reported cases of coronavirus at time of writing

As stated above, Costa Rica has remained blissfully coronavirus-free throughout this latest outbreak, and is one of more than 120 countries that haven’t been affected. The sheer number of direct flights from the US and Canada also means that the overwhelming majority of travelers will not need to transit through any coronavirus hot-spots, further minimizing their chances of contracting anything on their way south.

Although all countries seem to be doing a great job of isolating their affected regions, restricting flights and carrying out comprehensive pre-boarding scans, it’s comforting to know that we remain one of the safest and healthiest travel destinations in the world.

All major government travel advisory boards advice people against travelling to and through affected regions yet NONE are suggesting you cancel your travel plans to other regions.

There’s absolutely no reason to consider cancelling your vacation in Costa Rica.

What you should do, however, is to keep abreast of the latest updates.

What should you do?

  1. Avoid all non-essential travel to affected countries/regions – you’ll find an updated list on the CDC Website (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and you can also follow their daily updates on Twitter and keep abreast of their latest Costa Rica Advisory.
  2. As long as you haven’t traveled to/through affected regions in the fortnight prior to boarding your flight to Costa Rica, then you’re all set to go! If you have, you simply need to wait it out until you’ve passed the 14-day mark as directed by health authorities.
  3. Avoid sensationalist news outlets and, instead, follow the directives of the US Government Travel Advisory which is, at time of writing, focusing primarily on China and Asia, in general.
  4. Enroll your journey in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so you can get real-time updates as they’re published, specific to Costa Rica and any countries you may be transiting through.
  5. Maintain a high level of hygiene (wash those hands properly!) and simply keep a safe distance from anyone displaying obvious flu symptoms (cough, sneeze) whilst you travel. Remember that a mask is not necessary unless YOU are displaying symptoms of a cold.
  6. Keep perspective – at the end of the day, the precautions you should adopt to prevent being infected with coronavirus on your travels are the same you’d adopt at any time when travelling. Wash your hands, keep away from people who appear to be sick, and wash your hands.
  7.  wash hands

DOWNLOAD PHOTO HERE

That’s it!

Ready to put this mess behind you and come enjoy a vacation in the most exhilarating country on earth? Then why not check out our Costa Rica Adventure Vacation packages?! And remember, we are ready to chat to you about your travel plans and advice you on the best way forward for your specific situation.

Call us anytime!

costa rica rios

US & Canada: +1-888-219-3660 | UK: +44-800-014-8071

Plan Your Trip

Contact Us

 

 

[ssba]