What Medication Or Vaccines/Immunizations Do I Need To Travel To Costa Rica?

Written by Nikki Solano

Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️

You asked…

What medication or vaccines/immunizations do I need to travel to Costa Rica?

We answered…

We hesitate when answering this question only because we are not medically trained to do so and the medical tourism requirements are always changing. However, to date, no specific vaccines or medication are required to travel to most Costa Rican destinations (there are some areas along the Caribbean coast where exceptions apply, however these exceptions do not apply to most other popular tourism areas where most travellers plan to visit, such as the La Fortuna/Arenal, Monteverde, Guanacaste, Nicoya Peninsula, Central Pacific Coast, and Osa Peninsula regions). For more specific information regarding this topic (including recommended medication/vaccines although they may not be required) we re-direct Canadian and American travellers to either/both of the following websites (we re-direct travellers visiting Costa Rica from other nations to verify the regulations set forth by their home country): The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (US) and The Government of Canada’s website (CAN) click on the “health” tab.

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