10 Tips for Getting Travel Coverage in Costa Rica

Be sure to buy your travel insurance as soon as you can, get adventure sports coverage for all the activities on your trip itinerary, and secure coverage for your pre-existing medical conditions when you purchase travel coverage for your Costa Rica trip. Follow these and more tips before you buy!

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Are you looking for some help to get the best travel insurance plan you can for your Costa Rica trip? Are you wanting to make sure you don’t miss something obvious before you click “confirm” for your purchase?

Pacific Prime is here to help! This post will teach you 10 valuable tips and insights for things to remember and consider before spending your money on a travel insurance plan that doesn’t meet all of your needs.

In addition to the 10 tips, we’ll also teach you who the best providers are that cover Costa Rica, and we’ll share how consulting a broker about your insurance can save you time and money.

It may also be helpful for you to better understand how the healthcare system works in Costa Rica and to read our core article introducing The 5 Best Travel Insurance Companies before you choose.

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10 Tips for Picking Travel Insurance to Costa Rica

Image of Historic Catholic Church Surrounded By A Lush Garden Under A Blue Sky with text overlay of "Tips for Picking Travel Insurance"

Travelers heading to Costa Rica should follow these 10 tips when picking their travel insurance plan:

Buy Travel Insurance Early
Check Medical Limits
Include Emergency Evacuation Coverage
Cover Adventure Activities
Look for Rental Car Insurance
Consult a Broker to Compare Plans
Check for COVID-19 Coverage
Understand the Exclusions
Consider Getting Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR)
Read Customer Reviews

Let’s review each in more detail below.

1. Buy Travel Insurance Early

Purchase travel insurance to Costa Rica as soon as you book your trip to ensure you’re covered for trip cancellations, medical emergencies and delays before departure. It is best practice to purchase travel insurance immediately after your first payment for a trip, such as flights or accommodations.

If that is not possible, within 14 days of your first payment is acceptable as well. Many policies offer better benefits when purchased early, such as pre-existing condition waivers, and your benefits to cancel your trip before departure only apply if you have already purchased insurance before the cause for your cancellation occurs.

2. Check Medical Limits

Healthcare in Costa Rica is affordable compared to the U.S., but serious medical issues can still be expensive. Look for a policy with at least USD $50,000 in medical coverage to cover hospital visits, doctor fees, and prescriptions. More coverage is better, especially if your stay is long.

If you plan to travel to Costa Rica for less than a year, short-term health insurance plans are sufficient. If you’ll be abroad for over a year, a long-term international health insurance plan will better meet your needs.

3. Include Emergency Evacuation Coverage

Medical evacuation can cost tens of thousands of dollars if you need to be airlifted to the U.S. for advanced care. Travelers to Costa Rica must ensure their policy covers at least USD $100,000 in evacuation and repatriation costs to avoid massive expenses in case of a medical emergency.

4. Cover Adventure Activities

Costa Rica is known for adventure sports like zip-lining, whitewater rafting, surfing, and hiking. Many standard policies exclude high-risk activities, so check that your plan specifically covers these if you plan to engage in outdoor adventures.

If you get injured while participating in a hazardous activity without adventure sports coverage, your plan will not cover a penny of your emergency medical care services or transportation. To avoid that, insure up!

Here are some of the most common adventure sports that need additional coverage:

MotoCross
Paragliding & Kitesurfing
Rock Climbing
Mountain Biking
Skydiving
Trekking
Surfing
Skiing
Snowboarding
Bungee Jumping
Hang Gliding
Kayaking
Motorcycle, Motor Scooter, and Electric Scooter Riding
Parachuting
Snowmobiling
Spelunking
Wakeboarding
Water skiing
Windsurfing
Ziplining

5. Look for Rental Car Insurance

Travelers who plan to rent a car must be aware that Costa Rica requires specific insurance for rentals. Some travel insurance plans include rental car protection, but many don’t. Confirm if your policy covers damage, theft, and liability, or consider purchasing coverage through the rental agency.

6. Use a Broker to Compare Plans from Different Providers

It is wise to consult an insurance broker who specializes in international travel when comparing policies from different providers. Their knowledge and expertise in the field can enable you to decide which provider and plan best fit your unique needs and trip.

Brokers can help you compare coverage limits, exclusions, costs, and much more to find the best plan for your needs, and they stick around throughout your policy period to assist with claims processing if the need arises.

Pacific Prime has over 20 years of experience in this industry. Let us support you at no cost to you!

7. Check for COVID-19 Coverage

Some travel insurance policies in Costa Rica cover COVID-19-related expenses, including medical treatment, quarantine costs, and trip cancellations due to illness. However, not all insurance covers pandemics, so make sure your policy explicitly includes COVID-19 protection before buying.

8. Understand the Exclusions

Travel insurance doesn’t cover everything. Many policies exclude pre-existing conditions, extreme sports, injuries due to alcohol use, and civil unrest. Read the fine print carefully so you’re not caught off guard by a claim denial after you return from your trip to Costa Rica.

If needed, look for plans that offer pre-existing condition waivers.

Some travel insurance providers that are willing to cover existing medical conditions include:

9. Consider “Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) Coverage

If you want the flexibility to cancel your trip to Costa Rica for any reason (beyond covered reasons like illness or emergencies), opt for CFAR coverage. This add-on reimburses up to 75% of non-refundable costs, but must be purchased soon after booking (typically within 14-21 days).

10. Read Customer Reviews & Choose a Reputable Provider

Check customer reviews, claims processing times, and customer support reputation before purchasing any travel insurance plan to Costa Rica. Not all travel insurance companies are reliable, so you will only want to work with reliable providers like Allianz, Travel Guard (AIG), AXA, GeoBlue, and IMG.

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Costa Rica?

Travel insurance for Costa Rica is not mandatory for most travelers, but it is highly recommended. While not required, travel insurance can save you thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost trip costs, or emergencies.

In the long run, it’s a small investment for peace of mind—especially if you’re doing outdoor activities or traveling in hurricane season.

Reasons to Get Travel Insurance for Costa Rica

Travel insurance can be worth getting for a Costa Rica trip if you plan to engage in adventure sports and if you plan to go between June and November. Insurance is also beneficial for its medical coverage, emergency evacuation coverage, trip cancellations and delay coverage, and luggage coverage.

Medical Emergencies: U.S. health insurance (including Medicare) usually doesn’t cover international medical expenses, so if you need a hospital visit, you’ll pay out of pocket. A good policy provides at least $50,000 in medical coverage.
Emergency Evacuation: If you need to be airlifted to another country for medical care, the cost can be $100,000 or more. Insurance helps cover this.
Adventure Activities: Costa Rica is known for zip-lining, surfing, hiking, and whitewater rafting. Standard insurance often excludes adventure sports, so you need a policy that covers them.
Trip Cancellations & Delays: If your trip is interrupted by illness, natural disasters, or airline cancellations, travel insurance can reimburse your non-refundable costs.
Lost or Stolen Belongings: Petty theft can happen, especially in tourist areas. Insurance can cover lost luggage, passports, and valuables.
Hurricane Season Risks: If you’re traveling between June and November, storms can disrupt flights and accommodations. A policy with trip interruption coverage can reimburse costs.

When You Might Skip Travel Insurance

Travelers heading to Costa Rica may not need to purchase a travel insurance plan if you:

Have credit card travel insurance with strong medical and cancellation benefits
Have health insurance coverage for emergencies abroad (rare, but possible)
Are willing to cover all potential costs yourself, including medical care, cancellations, and theft (which can be over a hundred-thousand dollars)

Top Travel Insurance Providers for a Costa Rica Trip

Travel Guard, Allianz, AXA, Generali, IMG, and VUMI are the top travel insurance providers for a trip to Costa Rica. Each are leading international companies with a plethora of insurance options for you to choose from to customize your own coverage.

Travel Guard by AIG

AIG Travel Guard is a leading travel insurance provider who covers Costa Rica. Travelers can choose from their Essential, Preferred, and Deluxe plans. If you have a spontaneous trip, you may want the Pack N’ Go plan, and if you have multiple trips this year, the Annual plan is for you.

Allianz Travel

Allianz Travel is a world-renowned international insurance provider, and they offer 5 single trip travel insurance plans and 4 multi-trip plans to Costa Rica. Allianz’s coverage focuses on trip expenses, such as trip cancellations, interruptions, lost baggage, trip change protector, and more.

AXA

AXA has more than 55 years of experience as a leading global company in the travel and health insurance industry. Travelers to Costa Rica can choose from their Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans that vary in coverage for trip cancellation, emergency evacuation, baggage loss, and much more.

Generali

Standard, Preferred, and Premium are the travel insurance plans to Costa Rica available from Generali. These plans include benefits for trip cancellation and interruption, travel delay, baggage, missed connection, dental & vision, and more. Generali has over 190 years of experience.

IMG

IMG’s iTravelInsured series offers travel coverage plans Lite, Choice, SE, and LX options for travelers heading to Costa Rica. The iTravelInsured Sport plan is designed for adventures. IMG’s plans include coverage for common mishaps like trip cancellation, interruption, delay, and more.

VUMI

VUMI offers several travel insurance plans to cover travelers in Costa Rica, including their Single Trip, Annual Trip, Non-Medical Rider, and Trip Cancellation Rider products. VUMI has over 35 years in the international insurance industry selling travel and health insurance.

Benefits of Using a Broker When Getting Travel Insurance

Brokers can save travelers time and money in the research and comparison process and by using their market knowledge to find you the best deals available. Travelers heading to Costa Rica should purchase their insurance plans through a broker instead of from the insurance company.

Here are some benefits travelers get from using an insurance broker:

You get access to more insurance choices.
You get experienced insurance experts researching your situation for you.
You get access to the most cost-effective plans available.
You get assistance when submitting claims for reimbursement.
You get expert advice designed to help you find the right plan for you, not to be led to the plan an insurance agent wants you to choose.

There are many more benefits to using a broker, and Pacific Prime is your broker of choice. Let us help you find the right Costa Rica travel insurance plan for your budget and needs. Contact us to learn more!

Frequently Asked Questions

What travel insurance should I get for a trip to Costa Rica?

Get travel insurance that covers medical emergencies ($50,000+), trip cancellations, lost baggage, and emergency evacuation ($100,000+) for a Costa Rica trip. If renting a car, add rental car insurance. Adventure travelers should ensure coverage for activities like hiking, zip-lining, and surfing.

What I wish I’d known before going to Costa Rica?

Before going to Costa Rica, know that weather varies; the dry season (Dec-Apr) is best, but the rainy season (May-Nov) is lush and cheaper. U.S. dollars are often accepted, but local colones get better deals. Roads can be rough, so 4×4 rentals help. Tap water is safe in most areas and use bug spray.

What is the best travel insurance to Costa Rica?

The best travel insurance for Costa Rica depends on your needs. Allianz Travel and Travel Guard offer strong trip protection and medical coverage. World Nomads is great for adventure travelers, covering activities like hiking and surfing. Trawick and IMG provide high medical and evacuation limits.

Will my U.S. health insurance work in Costa Rica?

Most U.S. health insurance plans do not cover you in Costa Rica unless you have a specific international travel rider. Medicare does not cover international travel. It’s recommended to get travel insurance with medical coverage for emergencies, treatments, and medical evacuation.

When should you buy travel insurance for Costa Rica travel?

It’s best to buy travel insurance for Costa Rica as soon as you book your trip or at least 7-10 days before travel. This ensures you’re covered for trip cancellations, delays or unforeseen events before departure. If hiking or zip-lining, purchasing early ensures you’re covered for those adventures.

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Conclusion

In this article, we’ve now armed you with 10 tips for getting travel insurance to Costa Rica, plus we’ve discussed the benefits of getting insured, when you might choose not to get insured, who the top providers are, and how a broker can simplify the comparison process for you.

We hope this page has been useful for you, and if you’re ready to begin comparing travel insurance quotes, we recommend contacting one of our insurance brokers.

If you’re not set on traveling to Costa Rica or want to tour other countries, read our articles A Complete Guide to Travel Insurance for Mexico and Travel Insurance to Canada: Coverage and Options.

Costa Rica travelers may also want to read these articles:

Author
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Serena Fung

Head of Content at Pacific Prime

Serena Fung is the Head of Content at Pacific Prime, a global insurance brokerage and employee specialist serving over 1.5 million clients in 15 offices across the world. With 6+ years of experience writing about the subject, she aims to demystify the world of insurance for readers with the latest updates, guides and articles on the blog.

Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).

Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.