No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCosta RicaCosta Rica Ending Driving Restrictions and Tourist Requirements

Costa Rica Ending Driving Restrictions and Tourist Requirements

The elimination of restrictions starts with driving on March 7

President Carlos Alvarado announced the news Wednesday via social media and the presidential website:

“We are monitoring data on infections and hospitalizations and we realize that there is a slow down in the number of infections. We have made progress with the vaccinations and there are already some nine million vaccines that have been applied, that is why we made this decision,” said President Alvarado.

Costa Rica first established national driving restrictions in April 2020 to reduce non-essential travel and the spread of the coronavirus.

Costa Rica’s driving restrictions will be reduced and then eliminated starting March as follows:

March 1-6:

The driving restrictions for all of Costa Rica will be from Monday to Sunday from 12:00 m.n. to 5:00 a.m. during the day and during the week applies only to the San José ring road. (Exception letters apply)

As of March 7:

Vehicle restrictions are eliminated as well as the health pass for nationals arriving in Costa Rica. Only random checks will be done on foreigners.

Businesses and Activities for the month of March:

The voluntary use of the QR Code continues for stores, restaurants, bars, cinemas, theaters and social events are maintained.

For sports, cultural, academic and business activities, as well as discotheques, dance halls and nightclubs, the capacity can now be 100% when requesting the QR Code and to 50% without the use of the QR Code.

As of April 1

For all tourists coming to Costa Rica, the health pass and the insurance requirement for unvaccinated foreigners will be eliminated and all activities and events will be able to operate at 100% capacity without requiring the use of a QR Code.

The President also wanted to make clear that although the health measures will undergo some changes, the use of a facemask will stay in place until further notice.

More information regarding the alleviating of restrictions can be found here (Spanish Only)

Trending Now

Latin American hopes fade in Munich as Cerundolo falls to Zverev

Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo let an early opening slip away Friday as top seed Alexander Zverev fought back from a set down to win 5-7,...

Costa Rica Report Says Gentrification Is Reshaping Guanacaste

A new study from the National University’s Observatory on Tourism, Migration and Sustainability in the Chorotega Region says development in some of Guanacaste’s best...

American Flamingo Rescued in Costa Rica Continues Recovery

An American flamingo rescued in Limón in June 2025 is still recovering under specialized care after arriving in critical condition, and the latest update...

Costa Rica Rainy Season 2026 Expected to Start Unevenly and Stay Drier

Costa Rica is heading into a rainy season that may begin on schedule on the calendar, but not in the usual pattern. The Instituto...

Costa Rica’s Hello Brete Program Promises Free English Training

Outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves Robles stood before a crowd at the historic Antigua Aduana in San José, the venue for our country’s Hello Brete...

Costa Rica Real Estate Escrow Rules Explained for Foreign Buyers

There is a big difference between an escrow contract and a trust contract. In the escrow contract one party places certain funds in the...

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel