No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaNews briefs: Costa Rica continues to be country of choice for Swiss...

News briefs: Costa Rica continues to be country of choice for Swiss visitors

The coronavirus crisis has transformed life in Costa Rica, which has enacted measures to protect the capacity of its health system.

Here’s what you should know as a new day starts in Costa Rica:

Costa Rica still ‘my paradise,’ visitors say

A pair of Swiss visitors were among the first to arrive in Costa Rica after the country reopened its borders to international guests.

Ruth and Andreas Perracini are no strangers to Costa Rica. The couple first visited the Central American country 33 years ago, on their honeymoon, and are now in the process of purchasing a house.

“Here we feel safe,” Ruth said, calling a terrace surrounded by birds of paradise flowers “my paradise.”

We don’t have to be afraid if we’re here.” 

While Ruth and Andreas’s story is an encouraging harbinger for the potential reactivation of Costa Rica’s tourism industry, that may still be many months away. Costa Rica is currently welcoming a limited number of flights from a limited number of countries, and visitors must meet several requirements before entering.

Update on Costa Rica flights

According to Aeris, the company that operates Juan Santamaría International Airport, the following airlines plan to fly to SJO in the coming weeks:

  • Air Canada on Sept. 12 to/from Toronto.
  • Air France on Oct. 14 to/from Paris.
  • American Airlines will offer repatriation flights to/from Dallas on August 20 and 27.
  • Avianca on Sept. 1 to El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama and Peru.
  • British Airways on October 27.
  • Copa Airlines will offer repatriation flights throughout August.
  • Delta Air Lines on September 18 to/from Atlanta.
  • Edelweiss on October 15 to/from Zurich.
  • Iberia and Lufthansa have already resumed flights (Madrid and Frankfurt).
  • Southwest in 2021.
  • Spirit will offer a repatriation flight on August 28.
  • United Airlines will offer repatriation flights 3x weekly through August.
  • Volaris will offer repatriation flights to/from Mexico City on August 25 and 29.
  • Wingo on Sept. 1 to Panama and Colombia.

It’s important to note that these dates are subject to change due to the current complexities of international travel. For instance, Wingo will not operate its route to Colombia until Costa Rica authorizes commercial flights from the South American country.

Costa Rica currently allows visitors (via commercial flights) from 44 countries. Click here for a full list. Authorities will adjust the list every two weeks; the latest changes were made August 13.

Contact the respective embassy or airline for further information on repatriation flights.

 

Trending Now

Costa Rica Rescues Endangered Amphibians and Turtles in Store Bust

The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), through its Specialized Section Against Environmental Crimes, carried out an operation at a store in Vázquez de Coronado, San...

Costa Rican Economists Raise Alarm Over U.S. Cash Transfer Tax

In 2026, the U.S. government will impose a 1% tax on cash remittances sent from the United States to Latin America. Electronic transfers will...

Starbucks Expands in Guanacaste with New Store Opening in Tamarindo

Starbucks continues to strengthen its presence in Costa Rica with the opening of its second store in the province of Guanacaste, specifically in Tamarindo....

Costa Rica’s Religious Culture Through the Eyes of a Non-Religious Expat

Costa Rica is the only country in the Americas that has an official religion—Catholicism—enshrined in its constitution. While the Constitution recognizes freedom of worship,...

Costa Rica’s Olympic Hero Claudia Poll Alleges Abuse by Famed Swim Coach

Claudia Poll, Costa Rica's only Olympic gold medalist, and two other former swimmers from the country, alleged on Monday that they suffered psychological, physical,...

Costa Rica Reports Surge in Human Trafficking Cases

The General Directorate of Immigration (DGME) has reported 36 confirmed victims of human trafficking for commercial or sexual purposes in Costa Rica during the...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica