Costa Rica closes its borders
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Costa Rica closes its borders
The government just announced that Costa Rica will close its borders Wednesday night, and the closure will run through "at least April 12." Only citizens and foreigners with residency can enter and they must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival. No other foreigners will be allowed to board flights to CR.
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The ban will encompass Semana Senta (Holy Week), the biggest tourist week of the year. If it keeps people safe, then it has to be done.
All bars and nightspots are closed. Restaurants can remain open, but they can't exceed 50% capacity. All schools are closed too.
All bars and nightspots are closed. Restaurants can remain open, but they can't exceed 50% capacity. All schools are closed too.
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It is actually quite different, as many of these boats are USA citizens living aboard on a vessel that is registered and domiciled in the USA. They are not being allowed to obtain a ZARPE which allows the yacht to depart to the next port IE Home to America. In effect, they are stranded. Many have been quarantined on their vessel far more than 14 days. Some have decided to leave without the required paperwork in hopes of a sympathetic Panama Canal transit committee.
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All ports of entry have been closed to foreigners for four weeks, so they weren't supposed to come to Costa Rica at all. Only citizens and foreigners with permanent residence are allowed in, and they have to quarantine for 14 days. If these people arrived after March 17, they were in violation of the ban on entry.
Last edited by Jeff_Costa_Rica; Apr 13th, 2020 at 10:20 AM.
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Los Suenos is not typically a port of entry, you are suggested to use Golfito when entering by a private yacht. The annual tournament there boats typically arrive in November and December No restrictions were published on yacht departure nor have they been since. None of these teams / vessels violated anything.
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Los Suenos is not typically a port of entry, you are suggested to use Golfito when entering by a private yacht. The annual tournament there boats typically arrive in November and December No restrictions were published on yacht departure nor have they been since. None of these teams / vessels violated anything.
Last edited by Jeff_Costa_Rica; Apr 13th, 2020 at 03:24 PM.
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While it is an official Port of Entry, the law requires you to make call at the NEAREST port of entry once entering territorial waters of Costa Rica. That would be Golfito coming from the canal. You can stay more than 90 days with a temporary import permit for the yacht, I have done so for years. The 90 days is for the person not the vessel. Most of us simply go to Nicaragua or Panama for a few days and re-enter. The issue I am discussing is not the departure of the person, it is that they have loved down the vessels and are prohibiting them from departing as I eluded to. Several have already left, despite the ban and encountered no problems from canal authorities.
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Just read that the government of Costa Rica has extended the restrictions until June 15, and would apply to all land, sea and airports. There are also vehicle restrictions until the end of the month.
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This will make three months of the country being closed to entry by foreigners.
All private vehicles have to be off the road by 10 pm on weeknights and 7 pm on weekends. The driving curfew lasts until 5 am the next morning. On weekends during daylight hours, vehicles with license plates ending in odd numbers can drive on Saturday and even numbers on Sunday.
All private vehicles have to be off the road by 10 pm on weeknights and 7 pm on weekends. The driving curfew lasts until 5 am the next morning. On weekends during daylight hours, vehicles with license plates ending in odd numbers can drive on Saturday and even numbers on Sunday.
Last edited by Jeff_Costa_Rica; May 15th, 2020 at 12:53 AM.