Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful destinations in the Americas, due to its exotic wildlife and national parks. The many beaches and volcanoes will serve as a stunning backdrop to the wide variety of adventures you’ll find yourself on in Costa Rica.
Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, or simply a nature lover, today I’ll bring you all the information you need to choose the best travel insurance to Costa Rica.
Getting the right policy will allow you to enjoy your trip without fear! After all, even the most adventurous travellers visiting Costa Rica want some time to relax.
I’ll also be sharing with you a number of unmissable promotional offers on travel insurance to Costa Rica available now, so don’t miss out!
Best travel insurance to Costa Rica: comparison in 2026
Finding the best travel insurance to Costa Rica will depend on the type of traveller seeking travel insurance, and their specific needs while in the country.
To make the process easier, I’ve created this guide to help you get the correct level of coverage for your trip, and at a good price. By comparing policies and looking at their benefits and coverage, you’ll be able to find the right travel insurance for you.
I’ve also created a number of comparative tables of the main insurance providers, each suited to a specific traveller profile, including short holidays, long stays, working holidays, and digital nomads. Travel insurance made easy!
Best travel insurance to Costa Rica for short holidays (less than 3 months)
Before we get into the best policies for short holidays, I want to quickly take the chance to tell you about this great offer that you can take advantage of for a limited time only:
This 5% discount from Chapka is valid until 08/05/2026.
Click here: Activate Discount
- Fill in your info: country, coverage regions, and dates.
- Click on “Calculate Price”.
- Done! Your discount will be applied automatically.
Chapka’s most useful benefits for short holidays include:
- Extensive medical assistance at the destination
- Repatriation and early return
- Cover for loss or damage to baggage
When taking out travel insurance to Costa Rica, you need to carefully consider all the potential risks that may arise while there, so you can get the right amount of coverage, without paying for coverage that you don’t need!
There are countless fun activities waiting for you in this Central American hotspot, so it’s a good idea to opt for broad coverage.
Short-term travel insurance for families
Going on a family holiday to Costa Rica? If so, you need travel insurance that covers you and your loved ones during every step of the way.
This policy was designed for families, and is ideal for those travelling with children.
Until 08/05/2026, get 5% off Heymondo Insurance when you travel as a family.
If you’re seeking coverage for an adventure with the whole family, this is a great option. It offers medical assistance abroad, pharmaceutical expenses, repatriation of minors, and children’s liability.
Short-term travel insurance for solo-travellers and couples
If you need solo or couple’s travel insurance to Costa Rica in 2026, look no further! Here’s a policy with broad coverage, being offered at a discount for a limited time.
Get a 5% discount on Heymondo travel insurance valid until 08/05/2026!
This is the ideal option for travellers exploring the world on their own or as a couple. This policy offers good value for money, has broad equipment and medical coverage, insures you during sporting activities, and even covers pre-existing conditions.
Short-term travel insurance for backpackers and adventurers
Heymondo is the perfect insurer for adventurous travellers, and for travel to countries with high medical expenses. Its comprehensive coverage includes motor vehicle accidents and adventure sports.
Activate your coupon for a 5% discount on Heymondo, available now until 08/05/2026.
The best travel insurance to Costa Rica for long-term trips (over 3 months)
Costa Rica is generally a safe country to visit, but this doesn’t mean that you are immune from accidents and medical emergencies. I therefore consider insurance to be essential for long-term travel.
Luckily, there are plenty of good deals on long stay travel insurance to Costa Rica that provide the coverage you need, at reduced prices.
You have until the 08/05/2026 to get a 5% discount on Heymondo Insurance!
Click here: Activate Discount
- Fill in your info
- Click on “Calculate Price”
- You’re ready to go! Your discount will be applied automatically.
Remember, the longer the trip, the higher the chance that something will go wrong at some point.
For families travelling longer than 3 months
Choosing travel insurance to Costa Rica that is tailored to families’ needs is the best way to ensure that you get the right coverage, especially for the kids. With family travel insurance plans, you’ll rest assured that the whole family is fully covered.
Get a 15% Discount on Chapka Adventure for a family of 3 persons or more (valid until 08/05/2026).
This is a great option for long-term family trips. It includes a 24-hour medical chat, repatriation and early return, and pharmaceutical expenses because access to prescription drugs is crucial when travelling with the little ones.
For solo-travellers and couples travelling longer than 3 months
Solo-travellers and couples travelling have entirely different needs than families, for example. This is why it’s so important to contract your travel insurance to Costa Rica based on your traveller profile!
Activate 5% Discount at Heymondo Insurance (valid until 08/05/2026).
If you’re ready to dive straight into your next big adventure, either solo, or with a partner, you want peace of mind.
This insurance policy is ideal for long-term trips (from 1 to 12 months), as it includes a high level of medical costs, repatriation, and it allows for renewal whilst on the road.
For backpackers and adventurers travelling longer than 3 months
Costa Rica is a stunning country, and it’s rare that visitors run into major problems while there, but travel to Costa Rica still comes with its risks.
If you’re taking out long-term travel insurance to Costa Rica, make sure all your activities are covered by your policy. It’s impossible to contemplate every activity you’ll try, so I recommend playing it safe and opting for the broadest coverage possible!
If you’re an intrepid traveller who’s ready to leap into the unknown and experience the adrenalin and adventure of your next trip, this next long-term travel insurance is for you.
Until 08/05/2026, get a 5% discount on Heymondo Travel Insurance.
Perfect for backpackers, this policy includes a wide variety of high-risk activities, such as activities with undomesticated animals, jet skiing, and off-roading!
The best travel insurance to Costa Rica for digital nomads and businesses
As a digital nomad, I spend many months of the year on the road with my most prized possessions, like my electronic equipment, which I use to work. As such, I always make sure these things are covered by my insurance policy.
If you’re a digital nomad or business, there’s a great promotional offer on travel insurance to Costa Rica available now, so you can live and work with peace of mind while abroad.
Get a 5% discount on Heymondo until 08/05/2026. Get in quick!
Activate Discount Here
- Fill in your trip info
- Click on “Calculate Price”.
- All done! The discount will be applied automatically.
Some of the most useful benefits of Hey Mondo travel insurance for digital nomads include:
- 24/7 assistance platform.
- Repatriation and early return.
- Travel expenses for a family member if you are hospitalised for over a week.
The best travel insurance to Costa Rica for working holidays
In recent years, more and more foreigners are moving to Costa Rica to work, partly due to the impressive tourism boom that has taken place in the country.
If you want to live and work in Costa Rica, you need working holiday insurance. Working holiday insurance policies are designed to include coverage suited to your working lifestyle, so you can enjoy your time in Costa Rica hassle-free.
Enjoy a 5% discount on Chapka Working Holiday insurance (valid until 08/05/2026)
Click Here: Activate Discount
- Fill in your trip info
- Click on “Calculate Price”.
- Done! The discount will be applied automatically.
The most useful benefits that Cap Working Holiday gives those working abroad include:
- Coverage during short trips to your home country.
- Repatriation and early return.
- Medical expenses and hospitalisation abroad covered at 100%.
- This policy is renewable abroad, in case you decide to extend your stay.
Best annual travel insurance to Costa Rica
Do you travel a lot? Are you tired of contracting different insurance policies each time? I have a solution for you! Annual insurance plans make travel insurance easy, convenient, and cheap.
Annual insurance is essential for frequent travellers. This package insures you for all the trips you take in a year, so you can save time and money on insurance. Each trip under 60 days will include cancellation coverage and a 24-hour assistance platform.
Activate a 5% Discount on Heymondo Annual Multi-trip, only valid until 08/05/2026.
In my experience using annual travel insurance, there are some essential benefits you should look for when taking out travel insurance to Costa Rica:
- Strong coverage for medical expenses
- Repatriation and early return
- Covid-19 cover
- Luggage theft or damage
- Trip cancellation cover
Best travel insurance to Costa Rica for students
If you’re going to Costa Rica to study, the best thing you can do is get student insurance, as it is designed to meet the needs of students.
Getting student travel insurance to Costa Rica will allow you to focus on all the exciting experiences in front of you, and your studies too! Also, there’s a promotional offer available now for a limited time only.
Chapka Student is perfect for students heading abroad. This policy is especially useful for students studying in countries with high medical costs, such as the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
Get a 5% discount on Cap Student in May 2026:
Click here: Activate Discount
- Fill in your trip info (country of residence, travel dates, type of insurance).
- Click on “Calculate your Insurance”.
- All done! The discount will be applied automatically.
Cap Student also covers travel and accommodation costs for a family member to visit you if you are hospitalised for 2 days or more:
- Repatriation and early return.
- Chronic, pre-existing or congenital conditions.
- Dental expenses.
- Personal injury from motor vehicle accidents.
Useful tips for travelling to Costa Rica at the best price in 2026
As I have mentioned, Costa Rica’s tourism industry has seen a boom in recent decades, and so prices have risen in the country. Luckily, today I’ll be sharing with you my most effective money-saving travel hacks!
Choosing insurance that is tailored to your needs is vital, but remember that the following factors play a crucial role as well:
- Flights
- Accommodation
- The card you use
- How you book your activities
Here are a few tricks I’ve learned over the years, they’ll help you save money on your travels, so you can focus on the things you enjoy about travelling.
If you follow these tips, you might just find that by the end of your trip, you have enough money left over to explore an extra destination on your route home. Imagine that!
Fly at reduced prices!
You know, flights don’t cost the same from all countries! To pay for my cheapest flights, I use NordVPN.
Basically, it’s a private network that allows you to access Internet sites from locations other than your own, and this can have some serious benefits:
In May 2026, enjoy a 59% discount on NordVPN.
Click here: Activate Discount
Flights from Barcelona to Buenos Aires don’t cost the same if you buy them from Spain as from India, for example. So, once you’ve installed NordVPN, simply access websites like Skyscanner and compare prices by entering as if you were browsing from different countries.
The 8 countries from which it is cheapest to buy flights are: Malaysia, Bulgaria, India, Turkey, Romania, Indonesia, Portugal, and Thailand. Once you have NordVPN, head over to Skyscanner and start paying reduced prices for flights all over the world!
Stay at a discount all year round
Access Booking.com now and get discounts of up to 15% in May 2026 by becoming a Genius user.
There are also ways to save money when booking your accommodation with Booking. The first of which is becoming a Genius user, something you get from making 2 bookings (Genius level 1), and 5 bookings (Genius level 2).
As a Genius user in Booking.com, you can enjoy:
- Discounts on room rates.
- Free breakfast.
- Upgrades to superior room categories.
- Free parking.
- Late check-out.
- Welcome gifts.
In addition, there are hotels in Booking.com that directly offer you a 10 to 15% discount on your rate for being a Genius user.
Access to get discounts of up to 15% by becoming a Genius user.
Finally, Booking.com has a Minimum Price Guarantee program, so if you find a cheaper price for your hotel on any other website, they’ll match it!
Get the best travel card
If you travel frequently, the Revolut Metal Card is another great way to save money. For starters, they offer you unlimited currency exchanges without paying any fees!
This Card allows you to make unlimited domestic transfers free of charge, and withdraw up to £800 a month from international ATMs.
If you spent £650 abroad in a month using a standard card, and withdrew £350 at ATMs, you would have paid around £44 in fees.
With the Revolut Metal card, you would have paid £0 in fees.
Reserve your entertainment and sightseeing in advance
GetYourGuide is an indispensable tool for organising any trip to any destination. It’s a platform that helps you book tourism and leisure activities for your trip.
With GetYourGuide, you can book your activities online to avoid queues, and take advantage of a discount for online bookings. This way, you save time and money, so you can enjoy more activities during your trip!
Frequently asked questions
What are the entry requirements for Costa Rica in 2026?
As of 13 January 2023, there are no Covid-related travel restrictions to Costa Rica, unless you have recently visited China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, or Macao. For more information on entry requirements, check Costa Rica’s Official Tourism website.
Costa Rica allows visitors from certain countries to enter for up to 90 days without a visa, including: US, UK, Australia, EU citizens, and Canada.
However, you may be denied entry into Costa Rica if you cannot provide proof of a return ticket, so make sure you prepare this before you enter Costa Rica! It’s always a good idea to check your country’s official advice on travel to Costa Rica.
Is travel insurance to Costa Rica mandatory?
Since the Covid-related restrictions were lifted, there is no longer a requirement to have travel insurance to Costa Rica.
However, it is by no means advisable to travel to Costa Rica without insurance, as medical costs are high. We at Planet Nomad therefore strongly advise you to take out a policy that gives you the broadest coverage possible.
Costa Rica is an adventurers’ paradise, and with that, comes a certain level of risk, so better to be prepared!
What should my travel insurance to Costa Rica cover?
Here is a list of the main benefits that your travel insurance to Costa Rica should cover. This is to ensure that you are covered for any unforeseen events during your trip.
- Medical expenses: the insurer must cover your medical expenses if you get sick or have an accident in Costa Rica. This is critical for the adventurers and extreme sportspeople!
- Lost luggage: can be reimbursed in case of loss, or theft of luggage, personal belongings, or travel documents.
- Flight cancellations and delays: if you experience flight cancellations or delays, you will be entitled to a refund.
- Medical emergency (accident or illness). This is extra important if you will be exploring in nature and/or in contact with undomesticated animals in Costa Rica.
- Repatriation or funeral expenses abroad.
- Delayed baggage (and emergency replacement of essentials).
- Travel delays due to weather. The Caribbean climate brings with it many hazards, including hurricanes and flooding. Costa Rica also experiences earthquakes.
- Adventure sports add-ons. The following activities are popular in Costa Rica, and may or may not be included in your policy: zip-lining, surfing, white-water rafting, and mountain biking.
Make sure you read the terms and conditions of your policy carefully, to ensure that you’re covered for the activities you want to try in Costa Rica. You’ll also be prepared, if you need to make a claim.
How do I choose the right travel insurance to Costa Rica?
Here are a few tips that I’ve gathered from my experiences travelling to Central America:
Firstly, your itinerary. Select one of two options:
- A simple round-trip, with certain dates and scheduled destinations.
- A trip with multiple destinations, common among backpackers and digital nomads travelling to different destinations in the same year.
Make sure that the coverage is correct and that it is consistent with the activities you plan to take part in.
In addition, it is important to check:
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Natural disaster coverage
If you have a pre-existing condition, such as a chronic disease or allergies, it’s essential to keep a medical record from your doctor. This must contain:
- Summary of all the details of your current state of health
- Medications that you take
- Any other aspect that you consider necessary
How much does insurance cost to travel to Costa Rica?
The price of travel insurance to Costa Rica will depend on a variety of factors. In particular, prices will depend on the duration of the trip, the level of coverage chosen, the type of insurance, and the people being insured.
Saving money on travel insurance means more money leftover for you to explore beautiful Costa Rica! That’s why it’s important to compare travel insurance and look for discounts to find the cheapest options in relation to their coverage.
To receive your quote and find exact prices, simply visit the official websites of the companies I’ve mentioned.
Where to buy insurance for travel to Costa Rica?
Remember, getting adequate travel insurance to Costa Rica is a must due to the high cost of health care in the country. But where is the best place to buy this insurance?
Ideally, you purchase your policy directly from the official website of each insurer, but not without first informing yourself about the coverage and benefits of the different insurers. You can find more information on travel insurance throughout our blog!
How to take out travel insurance to Costa Rica
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to contract your travel insurance to Costa Rica:
The websites of the insurance providers we’ve mentioned are straightforward and intuitive, so don’t worry!
Before you purchase, think carefully about what your needs are, not only in terms of budget, but also in terms of coverage. In the end, the goal is to find the insurance that suits the type of trip you are going to make.
- Go to the website of the insurer of your choice and click on the insurance plan that you want to contract.
- Once you have selected the insurance, you will see a “Contract” button, or something similar. Click to start the contracting process.
- Once there, fill in your trip details. Firstly, the duration of the trip. Remember to check the policy’s renewal terms, for trips lasting longer than 12 months. Secondly, the number of travellers. Finally, the countries you will be visiting. For travel insurance to Costa Rica, select the option that says either, “Central America,” or “World excluding US/Canada.”
- Fill in the details of each traveller and add a supplement if necessary. This is usually the cancellation or adventure sports option.
- Read the insurance conditions carefully, and that’s it. You now have your travel insurance to Costa Rica!
Is it safe to travel to Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has positioned itself as one of the safest countries in Latin America, and you shouldn’t have any problems in the country.
However, petty crime and violent crime exist, and caution should be exercised at night in the crowded areas of San José, Tárcoles, Jacó, Quepos, Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo.
Always check official travel advice before arriving, and if you run into trouble, contact your country’s embassy in Costa Rica.
I had an absolutely incredible time in Costa Rica, and I’m sure you will too! ✈️🇨🇷
