Entry and Exit
ENTRY
Citizens of all countries require a passport to enter Costa Rica. Children must have their own passports; they may not enter on their parents’ documents. Passports must have at least six months’ remaining validity. Visas are not required if you are a citizen of United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel or South Africa; you can stay a maximum of 90 days with an instant tourist visa that will be stamped in your passport when you go through immigration. If you plan on staying in Costa Rica for longer than 90 days, be prepared to leave and re-enter, but remember that upon each entry you must show that you possess a paid plane ticket out of Costa Rica. Those arriving by bus must show either a bus or plane ticket out.
Juan Santamaria International Airport is 16 km northwest of San Jose on the southern outskirts of the town of Alajuela. After clearing with customs but before leaving the customs hall, there is a tourist desk which provides maps and information, as well as book hotel accommodation and taxi transport to San Jose or other areas, Banco Nacional has a branch here that opens for service whenever there is an incoming international flight, car rental companies too open their service counters when they are expecting customers who have pre-booked cars with them. Outside, other than an army of taxi and bus drivers, a hotel courtesy bus turns up regularly to pick up guests heading for the several airport hotels located close by, including the Hampton Inn by Hilton which is an excellent option for those who prefer to start their vacation the next day after an overnight rest.
The Daniel Oduber International Airport, located in the northwest of the country 13 km from Liberia, the provincial capital of Guanacaste, is Costa Rica’s second most important airport. It is a modern terminal with full customs and immigration services, a small café, a bank and taxi services. This is the preferred landing point for tourists headed for the beaches of Guanacaste.
EXIT
Travelers are required to be at the airport three hours before departure time. There is a uniform departure tax of US$26 for all passengers, which can be paid in US dollar cash or with a major credit card in the departure hall. Departure taxes must be paid before checking in with the airlines. In Juan Santamaria International Airport, the departure lounge offers facilities such as currency exchange, ATMs, a few shops and a restaurant; but after going through customs and passport control, more facilities are available, including a food court with wireless hotspots, a newsagent, a liquor store, souvenir and gift shops. More services and facilities are in the pipeline with the current airport redevelopment and expansion plan.
More details on Exiting Costa Rica.
