Visa from South Africa to Costa Rica
- South Africans visiting Costa Rica can visit for 90 days without a visa.
- Intending visitors are required to show proof of yellow fever vaccination on arrival.
- South Africans visiting Costa Rica must have a return/ onward ticket and a proof of sufficient fund to sustain them through their stay in Costa Rica.
- South Africans visiting Costa Rica should have a valid passport for a duration of six months.
- South Africans visiting Costa Rica can extend their stay on arrival.
- South African visiting Costa Rica should note that a visa application typically takes six working days.
- South African passport holders do not need a visa to travel to Costa Rica for a period of 90 days but a visa will be acquired on arrival if the stay will exceed 90 days.
- Intending visitors can get to San Jose, Costa Rica from any international airport in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Cape Town.
- South African Airways, Delta, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Emirates are some of the carriers that fly from South Africa to Costa Rica.
- The estimated flight time from Johannesburg to San Jose is 23 hours, 28 minutes, 1 day, 3 hours from Cape Town and 1 day, 2 hours from Bloemfontein.
- The colon is Costa Rica’s official currency and can be obtained from banks and ATMs. For visitors travelling with US Dollars, it is best to know that while the USD is widely accepted in Costa Rica, it can be limiting in some places.
- ATMs are available in Costa Rica and can help visitors access money in the local currency using their debit cards.
- The exchange rate is currently at 1 EUR= 642.41 CRC, 1 USD= 571.41 CRC, and 1 ZAR= 41.04 CRC.
- Costa Rica has a hot climate all year round in the plains and along the coasts, and a milder temperature in the plateau.
- Costa Rica’s numerous natural beauties and attractions make it a prime spot for tourists and visitors looking to experience the richness of nature and discover new ways of life while at it.
- Costa Rica uses the Central Standard Time (GMT-6) which makes South Africa eight hours ahead of it.
- Power sockets and plugs used in Costa Rica are of type A and B. The standard supply voltage is 120 V, with a standard frequency of 60 Hz.
- Christianity ranks high in Costa Rica’s religious demography, with a large number of this population adherents to the Roman Catholic doctrine and others Protestants.
- Renting a car is one of the best and hassle-free ways to get about in Costa Rica, along with public buses, taxis, private bush planes, etc with their fees ranging from $20 to $700.
- Spanish is Costa Rica’s official language and is also widely spoken. Visitors can find English speakers mostly at tourists sites, but picking up a few Spanish phrases would help visitors navigate communication with strictly Spanish speaking locals in rural areas.
- Costa Rica is home to an interesting, unique and fascinating culture and history. Visitors are expected to be courteous and conscious of existing rules and customs as they go about their activities.
