Costa Rica’s plastic ban affects travelers in two main ways. Single-use plastics, including disposable bottles, bags, straws and cutlery, are not allowed into national parks and other protected areas, and stores and restaurants are no longer allowed to sell or hand out plastic straws or most plastic bags. Bring a reusable water bottle and a tote bag, and refill from the tap where the water is safe, which is most of the country. Recycling exists, but it’s patchy outside the main towns, so the most useful thing you can do is create less waste in the first place.
This guide is for travelers and new residents who want to know what the plastic rules mean on the ground and how to handle trash and recycling during a trip. For more planning advice, see our Costa Rica travel tips.
| Plastic and recycling | At a glance |
|---|---|
| National parks | No single-use plastics: disposable bottles, bags, cups, cutlery, straws |
| Stores and restaurants | No plastic straws; most plastic bags no longer handed out |
| Foam containers | Expanded polystyrene (estereofón) food containers are banned |
| Tap water | Safe to drink in most of the country; refill a reusable bottle |
| Recycling | Bins in many hotels, malls and towns; limited in rural areas |
| What to pack | Reusable bottle, tote bag, reusable cutlery or a small container |
The rules
Costa Rica’s Plastic Ban: What It Covers
In national parks and protected areas
Since 2020, visitors, guides and staff have not been allowed to bring single-use plastics into Costa Rica’s national parks, biological reserves and other protected areas. That includes disposable plastic bottles, bags, cups, plates, cutlery and straws. Rangers may check bags at the entrance, and SINAC, the parks agency, still reminds visitors of the rule. Carry water in a reusable bottle and pack snacks in a reusable container, especially on longer hikes. Some parks have their own extra rules; Manuel Antonio, for example, doesn’t allow food at all.
In stores and restaurants
A 2019 law against plastic pollution banned the sale and free handout of plastic straws and of plastic bags at supermarkets and other shops, with the main rules in force from April 2024. Reusable bags and certain small or biodegradable bags are still allowed, so you may still see some. In practice, bring your own shopping bag and don’t expect a straw unless it’s paper or another alternative. A separate law bans expanded polystyrene food containers, so takeout often comes in paper, cardboard or compostable packaging.
Plastic bottles
Bottled water and drinks are still sold everywhere. The law requires bottle producers and importers to use recycled content or run collection programs, but it doesn’t ban bottles outside protected areas. You’ll save money and waste by refilling.
Water
Skip Bottled Water Where You Can
Tap water is safe to drink in most of Costa Rica, including San José and most tourist towns, so a reusable bottle covers most of your needs. Quality varies in some beach towns and rural areas; ask your hotel, and use a filter bottle or the refill jug many hotels provide. See our guide to drinking water in Costa Rica.
Recycling
Does Costa Rica Recycle? How It Works for Visitors
Costa Rica recycles, but the system depends on each municipality, and collection is far better in the Central Valley and larger towns than in rural areas. Many hotels, malls, airports and parks have separate bins, usually for plastic, aluminum, glass, paper and general waste. Some towns also have centros de acopio, collection centers that take sorted recyclables.
- Use the separate bins where you see them, and rinse containers first.
- Ask your hotel or host how they sort trash; many eco-lodges compost and recycle on site.
- In remote areas, pack it out. If there’s no bin, carry your trash back to town.
- Staying longer? Ask your municipality about recycling pickup days or the nearest collection center.
Packing
What to Pack to Cut Plastic
- A reusable water bottle, ideally insulated or with a filter.
- A foldable tote bag for groceries and markets.
- Reusable cutlery and a small container for park picnics and takeout.
- A dry bag or reusable zip bags for wet swimwear and electronics.
- Refillable toiletries to avoid hotel minis.
See our full Costa Rica packing list.
Beaches
Plastic, Beaches and Wildlife
Plastic that washes into rivers and the sea ends up on beaches and in the stomachs of turtles, seabirds and fish. A lot of it arrives after heavy rains, when rivers carry trash to the coast. If you visit Costa Rica’s beaches or turtle nesting sites, take your trash with you, and if a local group is running a beach cleanup during your stay, joining one is an easy way to help. For more low-impact travel ideas, see our Costa Rica ecotourism guide.
FAQ
Costa Rica Plastic Ban: FAQ
Is plastic banned in Costa Rica?
Not completely. Single-use plastics are banned in national parks and protected areas, plastic straws and most plastic bags can no longer be sold or handed out, and polystyrene food containers are banned. Plastic bottles are still sold.
Can I bring a plastic water bottle into a national park?
Not a disposable one. Bring a reusable bottle instead; single-use plastics are not allowed in protected areas.
Are plastic bags banned in Costa Rica?
Stores can no longer sell or give out most plastic bags. Reusable and some small or biodegradable bags are still allowed, so bring your own bag.
Does Costa Rica recycle plastic?
Yes, but collection depends on the municipality. Use separate bins in hotels, malls and towns, and pack out trash from remote areas.
Can I drink the tap water instead of buying bottles?
In most of the country, yes. Quality varies in some beach towns and rural areas, so ask your hotel.
Are plastic straws allowed in Costa Rica?
No. Businesses can no longer sell or hand out plastic straws, so expect paper or other alternatives.
The short version
No single-use plastics in national parks: bring a reusable bottle.
No plastic straws or most plastic bags in shops: bring a tote.
Refill from the tap where it’s safe, and pack out your trash.