Exit Costa Rica
 

We are traveling to Costa Rica very soon and just noticed that CR wants to see an exit flight plan. We were planning on leaving by bus. Can you tell me if they will accept a bus ticket, or does one have to fly to get out of CR?

Land borders in and out have been closed to tourists for a year now. They will reopen April 5, the day after Easter. When you say "very soon," I hope you mean after that date.

The problem is that enforcement of the "ticket out" rule will take place when you check in for your flight to Costa Rica. The check-in agent will want to see your ticket out of CR. If you plan to leave by bus, will you have that ticket at that moment? If not, it could create problems for you. Would you be denied boarding? It has happened.

Before someone says, "No one has ever asked to see my return ticket when I arrive in CR," I agree. No one has ever asked for mine either. The immigration people at the airport assume that if you don't have one, the airline would never have let you board.