Most travelers from the U.S., Canada and Europe can fly to Costa Rica without a single required shot. What you should get depends on where you’re coming from, where you’re going in the country and how you travel.
Costa Rica vaccinations come in two groups. The only required vaccine is yellow fever, and only if you were in a yellow fever risk country in the six days before you arrive, such as Colombia, Brazil, Peru or parts of Africa. Arriving directly from the U.S., Canada or Europe, you need no vaccine at all. The CDC recommends that visitors be up to date on routine vaccines, including measles (MMR), and get hepatitis A, hepatitis B (if unvaccinated and under 60) and typhoid. Rabies and chikungunya vaccines are for some travelers only. There’s no vaccine for dengue, the most common mosquito-borne illness here, and the CDC recommends antimalarial pills only for the provinces of Alajuela and Limón.
This guide covers what each vaccine is for, who needs it, the malaria and mosquito picture, and when to see a doctor before your trip.
| Vaccine | For Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| Yellow fever | Required only if you were in a risk country in the 6 days before arrival |
| Routine vaccines, including MMR | Recommended for all travelers |
| Hepatitis A | Recommended for unvaccinated travelers 1 year and older |
| Hepatitis B | Recommended for unvaccinated travelers under 60 |
| Typhoid | Recommended for most travelers |
| Rabies | Decide with your doctor; mainly for wildlife, caving or long rural stays |
| Chikungunya | Consider for some older travelers and long stays |
| COVID-19 | Not required for entry |
| Malaria pills | Recommended only for Alajuela and Limón provinces |
Required
Costa Rica Vaccine Requirements: Yellow Fever
Under rules updated in 2025, Costa Rica requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate from foreign travelers who were in a listed risk country during the six days before arriving. The list covers Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, plus more than 30 countries in Africa. Panama and Argentina are not on the list.
- Timing: get the shot at least 10 days before you travel. The certificate isn’t valid until then.
- Proof: carry the International Certificate of Vaccination, the yellow card. Without it, you can be refused entry.
- Exemptions: babies 9 months and younger, people with a severe egg allergy, immune suppression or thymus disease, and, after medical evaluation, people 60 and older and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Carry a doctor’s letter if you’re exempt.
- Layovers count: if your route to Costa Rica passes through a listed country, check the current rules with the Costa Rican Ministry of Health or your airline before you fly.
Only some clinics carry yellow fever vaccine, so book early. Our passport tips and travel checklist cover the rest of your entry paperwork.
Recommended
Recommended Shots for Costa Rica
Routine vaccines and measles
Start with the basics: MMR, Tdap, chickenpox, polio, flu and COVID-19. The CDC recommends that every international traveler be fully vaccinated against measles, including an early dose for babies 6 to 11 months old. Measles has been spreading in parts of the Americas, so check your records before you go.
Hepatitis A
Recommended for unvaccinated travelers 1 year and older. Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated food and water. One dose before you travel protects most people, and a second dose later gives long-term protection. Babies 6 to 11 months old should also get a dose before travel.
Hepatitis B
Recommended for unvaccinated travelers under 60. Hepatitis B spreads through blood and body fluids, including medical or dental care, tattoos and sex. Most people born after the early 1990s in the U.S. got it as children. Travelers 60 and older can choose to get it.
Typhoid
Recommended for most travelers, especially if you’re visiting friends or relatives, staying in smaller towns or traveling rurally. You can get a shot, which lasts about two years, or oral capsules, which last about five. Neither is fully protective, so food and water care still matters.
Rabies
Talk to your doctor. Pre-travel rabies shots make sense for people who’ll work with animals, explore caves, spend long periods in remote areas or travel with young children, who are more likely to be bitten and less likely to report it. If you’re bitten or scratched by a dog, bat, monkey or other mammal, wash the wound with soap and water and get medical care the same day. Rabies treatment after a bite may only be available at larger hospitals.
Chikungunya
A vaccine exists, but the CDC suggests it only for some travelers: those 65 and older with health conditions who’ll spend at least two weeks where mosquitoes are active, and anyone staying six months or more.
COVID-19
Costa Rica dropped all COVID-19 entry requirements in 2022. The CDC still advises eligible travelers to be up to date.
Mosquitoes
Malaria, Dengue and Other Mosquito Risks
Malaria
There’s no vaccine, but there are prevention pills. The CDC recommends antimalarial medicine for travelers to Alajuela and Limón provinces. It expanded that advice in 2023 after an outbreak in Limón. Those provinces include popular stops like La Fortuna and Arenal, Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo. Elsewhere in the country, the CDC advises mosquito protection only. Malaria cases in Costa Rica are rare, so ask your doctor about your specific route rather than skipping the conversation.
Dengue
Dengue is the mosquito-borne illness you’re most likely to hear about in Costa Rica. Cases rise in the rainy season, from May to November. There’s no dengue vaccine available for most travelers, so the only protection is avoiding bites. The mosquitoes that carry it bite during the day.
Zika and chikungunya
Both spread through the same mosquitoes as dengue. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, check the CDC’s Zika guidance and talk to your doctor before you book.
Plan ahead
When to Get Vaccinated
- Four to six weeks out: see your doctor, a travel clinic or a pharmacy that offers travel vaccines. Some vaccines need time to work, and some come in a series.
- At least 10 days out: the deadline for yellow fever, if you need it.
- Last minute: it’s still worth going. Hepatitis A vaccine, for example, can still help when given close to departure.
- Bring: your vaccination records, your itinerary and any health conditions or medicines your doctor should know about.
On the ground
Staying Healthy in Costa Rica
- Water: tap water is safe to drink in most cities and tourist areas but not everywhere. See our guide to Costa Rica drinking water.
- Animals: don’t feed or touch monkeys, strays or other wildlife.
- Medicine: bring prescriptions in their original containers. Our pharmacy guide explains what you can buy locally.
- Insurance and emergencies: read our guide to travel medical insurance, compare plans on Squaremouth (affiliate link), and save the emergency numbers before you land.
Good to know
Costa Rica Vaccinations FAQ
Are any vaccines required to enter Costa Rica?
Only yellow fever, and only if you were in a listed risk country, such as Colombia, Brazil or Peru, during the six days before arriving. Travelers coming directly from the U.S., Canada or Europe don’t need any vaccine to enter.
What shots do I need for Costa Rica?
None are required for most visitors. The CDC recommends routine vaccines including MMR, plus hepatitis A, hepatitis B for unvaccinated travelers under 60, and typhoid for most travelers.
Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine to visit Costa Rica?
No. Costa Rica dropped all COVID-19 entry requirements in 2022.
Do I need malaria pills for Costa Rica?
The CDC recommends them for travelers to Alajuela and Limón provinces, which include La Fortuna, Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo. Elsewhere, mosquito protection is enough. Ask your doctor about your route.
Is there a dengue vaccine for travelers?
Not for most travelers. Avoiding mosquito bites is the main protection, especially in the rainy season.
Do kids need extra vaccines for Costa Rica?
Children should be up to date on routine vaccines. The CDC also recommends an early MMR dose and a hepatitis A dose for babies 6 to 11 months old. Ask your pediatrician about typhoid and rabies.
The short version
Coming from the U.S., Canada or Europe, you need no vaccines to enter Costa Rica. Yellow fever is required only if you were recently in a risk country.
Get routine shots, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid, ask about malaria pills if you’re heading to Alajuela or Limón, and pack good repellent.