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Costa Rica General Info

Costa Rica General Information


Traveling from the U.S.


Information for travelers on health precautions, immunizations and areas with specific health issues can be obtained from local health departments, private doctors, travel clinics or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta , Georgia (CDC). The CDC can be reached by telephone at 404-332-4559, or, you can visit their home page on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov. General guidance can be found in the U.S. Public Health Service book, Health Information for International Travel, available for $14.00 from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington , D.C. 20402 .

Any further information before you start your trip from the US can be obtained from:

Embassy of COSTA RICA in the U.S.
2112 S St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Phone (202) 328 6628
Fax (202) 234 6950
E-mail: consulate@costarica-embassy.org 

What to pack: First aid kit and medications

  • Personal prescription medications: make sure you have enough to last during your trip, as well as a copy of the prescription(s) or letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you.
  • Flying-insect spray to help clear rooms of mosquitoes.
  • Antidiarrheal medication (e.g., bismuth subsalicylate, loperamide) and an antibiotic prescribed by your doctor to self-treat moderate to severe diarrhea. Butterfly closures (useful to close deep cuts)
  • Neosporin or similar to prevent infection of insect bites, small cuts, etc….
  • Sun screen (at least SPF 15, waterproof)
  • Antibiotic for self-treatment of moderate to severe diarrhea
  • Antihistamine
  • Decongestant, alone or in combination with antihistamine
  • Antimotion sickness medication
  • Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, or other medication for pain or fever
  • Mild laxative
  • Cough suppressant/expectorant
  • Throat lozenges
  • Antacid
  • Antifungal and antibacterial ointments or creams
  • 1% hydrocortisone cream
  • Epinephrine auto-injector (e.g., EpiPen), especially if history of severe allergic reaction. Also available in smaller-dose package for children.
  • Disinfecting agent
  • Always carry medications in their original containers, in your carry-on luggage.

What to pack: Other important Items


  • Sunscreen (preferably SPF 15 or greater)
  • Aloe gel for sunburns
  • Digital thermometer
  • Oral rehydration solution packets
  • Basic first-aid items (adhesive bandages, gauze, ace wrap, antiseptic, tweezers, scissors, cotton-tipped applicators)
  • Antibacterial hand wipes or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Moleskin for blisters
  • Lubricating eye drops (e.g., Natural Tears)
  • First Aid Quick Reference card
  • Insect repellent containing DEET (up to 50%)

Travelers should be advised that the possibility of adverse reactions to DEET will be minimized if they take the following precautions:

Use enough repellent to cover exposed skin or clothing. Do not apply repellent to skin that is under clothing. Heavy application is not necessary to achieve protection. Do not apply repellent to cuts, wounds, or irritated skin. After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water. Do not spray aerosol or pump products in enclosed areas; do not inhale the aerosol. Do not apply aerosol or pump products directly to the face. Spray your hands and then rub them carefully over the face, avoiding eyes and mouth. When using repellent on a child, apply it to your own hands and then rub them on the child. Avoid the child's eyes and mouth and apply sparingly around the ears. Do not apply repellent to children's hands. (Children tend to put their hands in their mouths.) Do not allow children 10 years old to apply insect repellent to themselves; have an adult do it for them. Keep repellents out of reach of children. Protect infants 2 months of age by using a carrier draped with mosquito netting with an elastic edge for a tight fit. Bed nets, repellents containing DEET, and permethrin should be purchased before traveling and can be found in hardware, camping, sporting goods, and military surplus stores. Overseas, permethrin or a similar insecticide, deltamethrin, may be purchased to treat bed nets and clothes.