Finca Rosa Blanca, a hotel with Onsite COVID Testing
June 2022 Update:
Please see our current COVID-19 protocols, which detail current Costa Rican COVID requirements and restrictions, Finca Rosa Blanca protocols, and onsite testing options.
Costa Rica Coronavirus Travel:
Hotels with Onsite COVID Testing, Travel Requirements, Vaccine Passports & Other Coronavirus Travel FAQs
Did you know that Finca Rosa Blanca has joined the list of hotels with onsite COVID testing? Did you also know that Costa Rica is one of the only countries currently open to international travelers? You do not need to be fully vaccinated and you do not need a COVID test to enter. (More on what you will need, below.)
It’s tempting, isn’t it? We know you’re eager to travel again – and simultaneously, not sure if you’re ready. Because, while the CDC may have recently updated its air travel recommendations and while you may even be fully vaccinated, does that mean you can (or should) travel?
That decision is personal. So, while we can’t help you make it, we can keep you up-to-date on Costa Rica’s coronavirus protocols, COVID-19 testing requirements, current travel restrictions, and other relevant information. So you can make an informed decision.
We’ve sprinkled in tips, how-to info, and FAQs throughout this guide. Just look for the lightbulb!
Costa Rica Hotels with Onsite COVID Testing: Finca Rosa Blanca
At Finca Rosa Blanca, our #1 job has always been to keep you safe and make your trip as enjoyable as possible. Today, that means offering onsite COVID testing at our hotel (prior to your flight home).
So, what does that mean? It means we’ll make all the arrangements and your COVID test will take no more than 15 minutes out of your day. That’s it.
Onsite COVID-19 Testing at Finca Rosa Blanca
We offer two types of COVID tests onsite at Finca Rosa Blanca, through a verified and approved local laboratory. Test results are delivered in both English and Spanish.
Please note that we do not upcharge or add any fees for onsite testing. You will pay the lab directly.
Antigen Test
Taken via nose swab, with results available in 3-4 hours. Total Cost: ¢38,000 (about $60), including the lab’s onsite fee. Credit cards are preferred.
PCR Test
Taken via nose swab, with results available 24-48 hours after your sample is taken. Total Cost: ¢68,000 (about $110), including the lab’s onsite fee. Credit cards are preferred.
Costa Rica Coronavirus Travel: 2021 2022 Entry Requirements
Costa Rica’s borders have been open to international travelers since mid-2020. Since then, entry requirements have evolved and distilled down into their current, simplified version:
- No COVID Test Required (to Enter Costa Rica): As of November 1, 2020, no COVID test is required to enter Costa Rica. (You will likely need a test before you leave, though; see below.)
- As of April 1, 2022, there are no requirements to enter Costa Rica as a tourist.
Masks are still required indoors and in public places. If You are Fully Vaccinated: As of August 1, 2021, if you are fully vaccinated (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, or AstraZeneca), then you are exempt from traveler's medical insurance requirements(see below). Vaccination certificates, vaccination cards, and the U.S. "COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card" may be used to demonstrate your vaccination status.COVID-19 Vaccination OR Traveler’s Medical Insurance: An international or Costa Rican travel insurance policy that covers COVID-19 medical expenses ($50,000 minimum) and accommodations ($2,000 minimum), in the case of quarantine.A Completed Health Pass: Fill out the official Health Passbefore your trip, for a streamlined arrival process.
Read more about Costa Rica entry requirements.
COVID Testing Requirements – Returning Home After Your Trip
While Costa Rica has made it easy to enter the country as a tourist, return requirements are dependent on your country of residence.
At Finca Rosa Blanca, we work to stay up-to-date on return entry requirements for our guests. Often, that means re-verifying with embassies, making calls, and sending emails. The information published below is current as of early August 2021.
However – and we cannot stress this enough – requirements, policies, and restrictions are constantly changing around the world. You must verify current testing requirements and travel restrictions to/from your home country, before planning travel. If you need any help, please get in touch.
Coronavirus Testing Requirements for the U.S.
Update: As of June 12, 2022, anyone traveling to the U.S. will no longer be required to present a negative COVID test.
As of August 2021, all travelers to the U.S. are required to present a negative antigen or viral test (travelers aged 2+). To fulfill this requirement from Costa Rica, you will need to take an antigen or PCR-RT test within 72 hours of your return flight.
The U.S. also requires a passenger disclosure and attestation before departure, verifying that you have received a negative COVID-19 test result OR recovered
from COVID-19 in the past three months. Travelers are advised to get
re-tested 3-5 days after arrival in the U.S. and are asked to
self-isolate for 7-10 days.
Restrictions are ever-evolving. Verify with the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica, current entry/return requirements before travel.
Coronavirus Testing Requirements for Canada
Canadian citizens and residents (age 5+) are required to provide a negative PCR-RT test within 72 hours of your return flight.
Additionally:
- Travelers are required to submit all required information – contact information, a quarantine plan, and COVID-19 symptom self-assessment – via the ArriveCAN app, prior to their flight.
- You may be subject to additional health screening prior to your flight.
- If you are flying into Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), you will be required to take an additional COVID-19 test upon arrival.
- Upon arrival, all international passengers are required to quarantine for 14 days. Quarantine must include a mandatory 3-night pre-paid booking at a government-authorized hotel.
Restrictions are ever-evolving. Verify with the Government of Canada website for more information.
Coronavirus Testing Requirements for Europe
As of August 2021, most EU residents and citizens are required to provide a negative viral test. To fulfill this requirement from Costa Rica, you will need to take a PCR-RT test within 72 hours of your return flight.
Additionally, your home country may require:
- A sworn statement verifying that you have no COVID-19 symptoms and have not been in contact with a confirmed COVID case in the past 10-14 days.
- Self-quarantine/isolation upon your return.
Please note that there are exceptions to these very general rules. You must verify entry/return requirements for any country of transit and/or arrival, including your country of residence. (If you need help identifying current requirements, your local embassy in Costa Rica / Central America is a great place to start.)
Tip: If You’re Flying on American Airlines, British Airways, or Iberia Airlines…
Consider downloading the VeriFLY app. This secure app pulls together all your day-of-travel information, pre-verifies your COVID test results, and helps you complete the required attestation (U.S. travelers), to make for super simple travel home. You can delete your account and all personal information after travel.
What Does the Nose Swab Feel Like?
Saliva COVID tests are not available in Costa Rica; all antigen and PCR tests are done via nasopharyngeal swabs (aka nasal swabs). So, what does that feel like?
Well, obviously it’s different for everyone and every lab technician has their own touch. That said, we can tell you (from recent experience, with this specific lab) that the sensation can be described as similar to a nose itch: You’ll feel like you have to sneeze, from somewhere deep within. You know the feeling – when you want to sneeze but can’t. It’s like that.
From start to finish, the test takes just a few seconds. And the nose “itch” will ease within a few minutes and then dissipate entirely.
What Happens if I Test Positive for COVID-19 in Costa Rica?
If you were to test positive, we will be on hand to help you verify current requirements/steps to take and to make any arrangements you require. There are several excellent private hospitals in our area, many with English-speaking staff. We’ll also get in contact with the Costa Rican Ministry of Health and/or your embassy, to keep you apprised of current quarantine requirements.
We hope this COVID testing & coronavirus travel guide has been of help. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an onsite COVID test at Finca Rosa Blanca, please get in touch.
