Immunizations

No specific immunizations or vaccinations are required for visits to Costa Rica from the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all travelers to Costa Rica be up to date on routine immunizations, namely seasonal influenza, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). (Measles reappeared in Costa Rica in 2019, imported by an unvaccinated visitor. The country had been measles-free for many years.) The CDC also suggests being immunized against typhoid and hepatitis A, especially if you’re headed off the beaten path or staying a few weeks. The agency no longer recommends malaria prophylaxis for travel to Costa Rica for most visitors, except for a couple of small pockets near the Nicaraguan border. The CDC does suggest taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites. You must have the yellow fever vaccination if arriving directly from certain countries in South America and Africa.