Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Typhoid
- Rabies for prolonged rural stays
Notes
- Dengue endemic in lowland coastal areas.
Practical guidance
When to book the clinic
Book a travel-health clinic appointment 6 to 8 weeks before departure for Costa Rica. Several recommended vaccines (Hepatitis A and B, Japanese Encephalitis, rabies pre-exposure) need a multi-dose schedule that does not compress; the full course can take 4 to 6 weeks. Yellow fever specifically takes 10 days to confer immunity and certificates are only valid 10 days after the shot, so this one is non-negotiable on timing.
Yellow fever specifics for Costa Rica
Yellow fever proof is required only if you have transited or stayed in a yellow-fever-endemic country in the 6 days before arriving in Costa Rica. If your itinerary is direct from a non-endemic country, no certificate needed; if you are routing via Brazil, sub-Saharan Africa, or northern South America, carry the ICVP.
What “recommended” actually means
The 3 recommended vaccines above are the CDC and WHO guidance for typical travellers to Costa Rica. They’re not mandatory at the border; they protect against the diseases endemic to the region. Routine immunisations (MMR, dTaP, polio, COVID-19, annual flu) should already be current regardless of destination. Hepatitis A is the single highest-value travel vaccine for most destinations, transmitted through contaminated food and water, and worth getting even if you only plan to eat in established restaurants.
Cost and where to get them
UK NHS travel clinic is free for routine vaccines, charged at cost for travel-specific ones (yellow fever, Japanese Encephalitis, rabies). US travellers should expect $100 to $300 per dose at a travel clinic; many are not covered by standard health insurance. Cheaper option in some destinations: get yellow fever locally at a government clinic on arrival ($20 to $50 in most South American and African capitals) if your itinerary allows the 10-day window before your next entry. Always ask for the official yellow ICVP booklet, not a generic clinic slip.
Related for Costa Rica
More on Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of the safer destinations in Latin America and the most developed eco-tourism economy in Central America. The country abolished its army in 1948, runs a strong public-health system, and consistently ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world. The structural risks are concentrated and addressable: the San José petty-crime and smash-and-grab pattern, beach-area car break-ins and bag theft at Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo, Jaco, and Dominical, Pacific rip currents that kill several foreign tourists each year, the OVSICORI volcano monitoring picture (Poás, Arenal, Irazú, Turrialba, Rincón de la Vieja all active), the Caribbean coast (Limón) higher crime baseline, and the standard tropical-disease considerations (dengue endemic). This guide unpacks the entry mechanics, the regional risk map, the volcano and beach safety logic, and the practical contacts for a Costa Rican itinerary.
Frequently asked about Costa Rica
What vaccinations do I need for Costa Rica?
Recommended vaccines for typical travellers to Costa Rica: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Rabies for prolonged rural stays. Yellow fever is required if arriving from a country with yellow-fever transmission. Routine immunisations (MMR, dTaP, polio, COVID-19, flu) should be current regardless of destination. Verify with a travel-health clinic 6 to 8 weeks before departure.
Is yellow fever vaccination required for Costa Rica?
Only if you have transited or stayed in a yellow-fever-endemic country in the 6 days before arriving in Costa Rica. If your itinerary is direct from a non-endemic country, no certificate is needed.
When should I get my travel vaccinations for Costa Rica?
Book a travel-health clinic 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Several recommended vaccines (Hepatitis A and B, Japanese Encephalitis, rabies pre-exposure) need a multi-dose schedule that does not compress; the full course can take 4 to 6 weeks. Yellow fever specifically takes 10 days to confer immunity and certificates are only valid after that window.