Visa/Entry

Required documents

​Travelers, including minors, need a passport valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry. The national driver's license is not a valid border document.

 

Entry without visa

No visa is required for entry. The personal entry is easy and after a short conversation with the border official you get a stamp for 90 days in your passport.

 

Departure

An $8 exit fee must be paid online upon departure.

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Vehicle Documents

Driver's License

The Austrian driver's license is recognized in conjunction with the valid passport. Nevertheless, the additional carrying of an International Driving License (available at ÖAMTC) is strongly recommended.

 

Vehicle Importation

After completing the insurance, you go one counter further and get your Temporary Import Permit. This is completely electronic and you only get a QR code with which the authorities can check the TIP. This can also be retrieved via the name, license plate number or VIN.

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Car insurance

Costa Rica requires its own insurance at the border, which costs about $40 for a motorcycle. As the only country in the world this insurance also covers damages if you drive drunk.

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Camping

• Wild camping is basically possible in Costa Rica and in some areas it is also allowed. 
  There are also campsites. In addition, many Finkas/Loges offer besides rooms and cabins also the possibility to camp.

 

Road network

The road network has a total length of about 36,000 km; only about 6,500 km are paved.
The two-lane Pan-American Highway crosses all of Costa Rica from the border with Nicaragua to the border with Panama, passing through San José. Well-developed roads connect San José with all major cities.
The Panamericana and the roads from San José to other larger towns are paved. Numerous potholes are to be expected on secondary roads; four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended here.

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Sim cards

Cell phone network is well developed. Sim cards are already available at the border for tourists.

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Security

Security levels vary by area, but are higher than in other Central American countries. Crime consists mainly of petty crime.  
Basically, we felt safe everywhere. 
However, general precautions must be strictly observed.

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WLan

WiFi is available throughout the country. However, depending on the region, it is often extremely slow. 
Besides hotels, there is acceptable internet in many cafes and restaurants.

 

Spare parts

Spare parts and workshops can be found in San Jose for virtually all European brands. Smaller repairs can also be carried out in other cities. Prices for spare parts are sometimes significantly higher than in Europe.

 

Cost of living

Cost of living in Costa Rica is significantly more expensive than in the rest of Central America and is partly on European or U.S. level.

 

Miscellaneous

Payment by credit card is not possible everywhere and often a surcharge of up to 15% is added. Cash is still king, especially in smaller stores.