Costa Rica Eliminates Testing Requirement For Visitors, Welcomes All Americans

Lucky, can I place an external link here? It would be to my former property management company in CR, they sent me a very comprehensive guide the other day. This is a tiny excerpt: 'One new requirement for international visitors is that they must buy travel insurance that would cover medical expenses of $20,000 and lodging expenses of $2,000 in case they contract the coronavirus in Costa Rica.
At first, Costa Rica said it would accept insurance only from its own National Insurance Institute (INS), at costs ranging from $275 for minors to $965 for people over 70 years old for a two-week stay. But an uproar from business owners dependent on tourism led to a substantial reduction in these costs, so that a 45-year-old would now pay about $131 for a two-week stay, while a traveler over 71 years old would pay $252.
Also, authorities decided to allow travelers to purchase travel health insurance in their home countries, as long as it meets Costa Rican requirements.'
By the way, I had found a US based insurance via google fulfilling the requirements that was just slightly more than other good travel insurance.

stogieguy7 - sorry, your argument is total bunk. Other countries - like Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Canada, Vietnam, Norway, Laos, Denmark, Finland, Indonesia, Myanmar, Australia, Cambodia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, and others also stopped Chinese nationals from arriving their countries. And yet, look at the infection rates and deaths per capita. The United States is staggeringly - unimaginably - high as compared to these countries. Considering its wealth and scientific capital of the USA, it's a disgrace. The lack of federal leadership here is indisputable. In Canada, where Chinese nationals are permitted to come and go, infections and deaths per capita are still not even close to what the United States is looking at. But sure, keep throwing out these racist dog whistles - it's China! Lordy, some folks will twist themselves into pretzels and even throw themselves off the COVID cliff to defend their political position and Trump, but at the end of the day, the USA is truly what every other country in the world is saying they don't want to become. Without a national plan or a culture that cares for the good of all, this is what happens. Hope it's worth it!

I own a beautiful condo in CR, but you could not pay me to go down there now, especially with no more test required. Whenever you give the virus the smallest gap, it explodes. Haven't we learned that yet from the party goers, wedding guests, church choirs? Guess what will happen now with the flood gates wide open? They are not only giving in to the usual 'Economy or death Russian roulette', that tourism dependent countries see themselves forced to play. They are asking for trouble. Big trouble. Sad for such a beautiful country.

I think this is a move to right direction. "Industry standard" 72-hr PCR test requirement is nothing more than a bandage put in a wrong place on a body to fight the pandemic. If you are in NZ it makes 100% sense to require PCR test and quarantine because there are virtually no local virus carriers. In Costa Rica the number of cases per capita is higher than in USA (and they are likely doing less testing per capita). With no symptoms the fraction of tourists entering the country and carrying Covid-19 would be much less than the probability of a local to have the disease and the number of travelers is relatively small. So with test or no tests or tourist and no tourists the course of pandemic will not change at all.
And talking about testing and statistics here is a story told by my coworker born in Russia. A family patriarch is having 80th birthday in a town in Siberia this summer. Due to Covid-19 about dozen friends and relatives come together. Next week almost all got sick including 80th year old. One of the group (50 year old) is one who always worries. She gets tested and yes, she is positive. Rest of the group did not go to crowded hospitals and stayed home to recover. All of then did fine after ca. a week of being sick for 80 year old. Another person from the group returns to Moscow and gets tested to antibodies to learn that she survived Covid-19. Rest never got tested. Reported Cpovid-19 tests are 1 out actual 10. I believe that India and Costa Rica are not much better in this.

This whole thing is pretty interesting. I am not opposed to specific states being able to travel to different places. In theory it makes sense because there is no united effort/restrictions nation wide.

With that said, can someone explain to me how states are chosen. I live in Washington. We have a pretty low infection rate, but places like Texas and Florida can travel to Costa Rica, where I cannot. Washington has the 9th lowest infection rate in the country. So someone, please explain this to me if it is "data based."

Why worry about CR at all, if you can't go from your state then don't go. If you can from your state and you want to go then go. If it's neither one of those then shut up. CR has their rules and that's that, good or bad right or wrong it's their choice get over it. I for one am trying to be safe and nice to all people from where ever they live or have lived, we all need to be safe and kind not worry about who did what and what country is right or wrong, it is about you doing the right thing as much as you can to try and control what you can, NOT WHAT OTHERS DO. As far as the politics go they are going to do what they do so lets not just be cattle to the slaughter by thinking they know what's best just try to do your part to be safe in your country and your home and your life to help protect others. No matter what any movement may or may not say (ALL) lives matter and science tells us that large gathers is not good so don't do it, it also says masks help so wear them, and it has been proven to show that travel outside the country should be avoided if possible, and the travel is controlled by those country's by what ever means they prefer NOT YOU or your opinion of how they should do it. We all have the right to opinion's but that is all it is (your opinion) just as this is mine, take care of you and yours, try to help others if you can ,be kind, be safe, spread happiness not corona-19, unless it is in a bottle of beer as a toast to living your life as kind safe and caring as you can.

I’m sorry folks, but this is the future for the time being. Other countries watched in absolute horror the complete lack of federal plan in the US and still no plan. This is why I keep telling everyone, NY will be fine long term. Our image internationally has been completely destroyed the last 4 years and governments and corporations looking to do business in America are going to look to states that have a science based plan and some sort of government that isn’t being run like a zoo. This constant open/close/open/close, people shooting others over a mask, put kids in school one week and then take them out abruptly later, etc is absolute chaos. NY and the northeast have strict measures now but companies can invest knowing there will be a stable business environment - no matter the rules. But people and companies can’t invest long term if they have no idea what the state is doing. Don’t be mad at CR for being proactive, be mad at your local state leaders. If this is successful, I see this being implemented with many other countries where they partner with states that meet their criteria. The federal government doing a complete hands off approach has left the United States a muddle mess of uncertainty and chaos and any state that is run by right-wing coocoo’s (not moderates leaning right but the crazy right) is going to be left behind from global recovery.

I live in Costa Rica in winter (their summer). I also read the news in Costa Rica everyday regarding the coronavirus. The country did a marvelous job in the beginning controlling the virus, but unfortunately due in large part to the influx of Nicaraguans entering the country to the north, the situation deteriorated. Like most countries, they are weighing the health risks as against the economic and psychological impacts. Certainly, not an easy challenge. I have many friends in the CR tourism industry who are and have gotten crushed, if not virtually starving now. Alternative employment is scarce, at best. So, it appears to me, this is a reasonable step in the right direction, albeit not perfect. My New Jersey driver’s license allows me access to a place that presumably is no more or less dangerous than where I live now, although traveling with people who tested negative in the last 48 hours, presumably masked, gives me solace. ( I might add for reasons already articulated, the specific state allowances seem a little silly although it does limit the number of arriving tourists). My ultimate destination in CR is in a provence with an extremely low rate of infection. Given all the circumstances, I feel reasonably confident and also am hopeful that the their local economy will get some kind of jump start and that people there can survive.

We have a week booked end of January for the family.

The Five flights a week could be an issue.

The 48hr test is fine - both my daughters have been tested (PRC) after contact with positive individuals, test results next day.

Which bodes well for a family trip to Alaska for a week next month (fast test turn around) requires PRC within 72hrs.

The six states could be an issue - I do question criteria -

Oregon has about 1M less people than CR has had fewer postive tests than CR but slightly higher number of deaths than CR.

As someone who lives and works in Costa Rica, I can say the government has had a very coherent, transparent, data-based approach to the pandemic from the outset. Daily news conferences are our lunch time ritual (7 days a week, without fail).

As noted, we were in very, very good shape until around early July when cases and deaths began spiking. We are hoping we have peaked, and there's some indication that may be true. In global terms, Costa Rica is still way down the list (in a good way) in both cases per capita and deaths per capita.

Testing is focused almost entirely on symptomatic/sick, which accounts for the testing/positivity-rate discrepancy mentioned. We're also severely lagging in certifying recovered patients, so the active case numbers are also off.

As everywhere, pandemic fatigue is setting in, and the tourism industry is clamoring for opening (which will inevitably bring COVID spread). The government is trying to be cautious and pragmatic, and I applaud them. By Sept 1, borders will be open to travelers from Canada, UK, European Union, Japan , Thailand, Uruguay, Australia and New Zealand, as well as the 6 US states mentioned.

Living in NH, I'm glad I'm here - That being said masks are not mandatory and it's not that our Governor has done anything special -I mean we're hosting 20K bikers this week and hosted Nascar a few weeks ago - How Idiotic is that? We've just been very lucky - We're physically spaced out - This state is all about being outdoors and outdoor activities - We've had 10-15 cases a day for the last few days which is great - I for one am happy that I can travel somewhere and be safe- But again I'm coming from a safe place.

@JMM,

Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Red states are huge recipients of Federal assistance, whereas blue states often pay more to the Feds than they receive back.

Why are you accusing the northeastern states of setting up their own foreign relations when they had no part in the decision by the government of Costa Rica?

As for seceding, the only states that have ever attempted that, or even expressed a desire to do that, are the former slave states.

Sure folks, happy to let individual states set up their own foreign relations, once they sign away all rights to my federal tax money.

But as long as my taxes can be used to bail out NY City/State's bloated, soon-to-be-bankrupt pensions, or Hawaii's inadequate healthcare system, or any other number of stupid decisions made by governors and legislators I had no say in, I'll be damned if I let myself be treated like a lower-class citizen because of my place of residence.

Of course you're welcome to secede if the concept of national unity is too much to swallow.

Hopefully other countries will follow the lead of Costa Rica and only close off travel to those whose states do not have the situation under control. That being said I am not optimistic Costa Rica will remain low COVID. I see several European countries that they allow people to come from that are currently seeing a resurgence of the virus. I'll consider going somewhere if its a the same level of COVID risk that I have at home or lower. However, if I am more likely to get COVID by going to a country than I would be if staying home I will just wait. It would be devastating to come down with COVID in a foreign country. The problem with this virus is you dont discover the spread until a few weeks after it happened. Costa Rica's plan could work, but I think we need more accurate tests for it to be successful. Once false negative super spreader could seed a large population.