Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Everything you need to know before your trip
Healthcare Cost Level
High
Avg. ER Visit
$800
Recommended Coverage
$250,000
Evacuation Risk
Moderate
Healthcare in Costa Rica
What to expect if you need medical care
Costa Rica's healthcare quality is good, with many English-speaking doctors in tourist areas. However, you'll need private care as a visitor. Expect to pay $800 for an emergency room visit and $1,200 per day for hospital stays. While major cities like San José have excellent facilities, remote areas have limited access. The good news is that medical staff often speak English well, in popular destinations like Guanacaste and Manuel Antonio, making communication easier during treatment.
What Your Policy Should Cover
Country-specific considerations for Costa Rica
Your Costa Rica travel insurance must include adventure sports coverage since zip-lining, white-water rafting, and volcano hiking are popular things to do in Costa Rica. Standard policies often exclude these activities. Add water sports coverage for surfing injuries at Costa Rica's famous beaches. Ensure your policy covers mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue fever and Zika virus, which pose moderate risks year-round. Given Costa Rica's diverse terrain from cloud forests to remote Osa Peninsula, evacuation coverage is important for accessing quality healthcare.
Dengue_fever
Moderate Risk
Peak: year-round
Zika_virus
Moderate Risk
Peak: year-round
Malaria
Low Risk
Peak: year-round
Adventure_sports_injuries
High Risk
Peak: year-round
Activity-Specific Coverage
Zip_lining: Often excluded from standard policies; requires adventure sports coverage
White_water_rafting: May require specific adventure sports rider
Volcano_hiking: Check for volcanic activity exclusions
Surfing: Water sports coverage needed for surfing-related injuries
How Much Coverage Do You Need?
Our recommendation based on Costa Rica's healthcare costs
The recommended $250,000 coverage reflects Costa Rica's high healthcare costs and moderate evacuation risks. With hospital days costing $1,200 each, a serious surfing injury or zip-lining accident could require extended stays and multiple procedures. Remote locations like Corcovado National Park might need helicopter evacuation, adding thousands more. This coverage amount provides adequate protection for worst-case scenarios while enjoying Costa Rica's adventure activities, ensuring you're not forced to cut your trip short due to medical expenses.
Minimum
$100,000
Basic emergencies only
Recommended
$250,000
Full protection
Making a Claim in Costa Rica
Tips for smooth claims processing
Documentation Required: Medical reports in Spanish or English, itemized bills, proof of payment, police reports for adventure activity incidents
- Request medical reports in English or Spanish from Costa Rica hospitals - both languages are accepted for claims
- Keep all itemized bills and proof of payment from Costa Rica restaurants and hotels if you need medical treatment while dining or staying there
- Get police reports for adventure activity incidents, from popular things to do in Guanacaste Costa Rica like zip-lining or volcano hiking
- Document everything immediately - Costa Rica claims have moderate difficulty, so thorough documentation improves your chances
- Save emergency numbers before exploring non-touristy things to do in Costa Rica, as remote areas have limited phone service for reporting incidents
Get Covered for Costa Rica
Protect your trip to Costa Rica with complete coverage from a trusted provider.
Get a Quote from World NomadsCoverage for 200+ countries • 24/7 emergency assistance • We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.