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Stay healthy in paradise: vaccination advice for Costa Rica travellers
- Dr Ravi Gowda
- 13 hours ago
- 6 min read
Costa Rica is well known for its sustainable tourism, with lush green rainforests and a wide variety of flora and fauna.
Despite its unspoiled natural beauty, travellers are at risk of serious infections and will need to consider several vaccinations for Costa Rica. Common vaccinations include hepatitis A and typhoid as well as several other vaccine preventable diseases. Dengue fever is another infection that's very common in Costa Rica, and we'll discuss this later in the article. We also discuss why it's important to plan early and get your travel vaccinations in good time.
In this article, we'll discuss:
Recommended travel vaccinations for Costa Rica
Measles, mumps and rubella
You should make sure that you've had at least two doses of the MMR vaccine in your lifetime to be fully protected against these important and serious childhood illnesses.
Diphtheria, tetanus and polio
This also comes as a 3-in-1 vaccine, and for travel purposes you should ensure that you've had a booster in the last 10 years.
Hepatitis A and typhoid
Both of these infections are food and water-borne and there is a risk in Costa Rica. If you've had two hepatitis A vaccines in the last 25 years, you should be fine but the typhoid vaccination doesn't last very long and you'll need a booster every three years.
Rabies
This is a risk in both domestic animals and bats, so you will need to consider the rabies vaccination for Costa Rica (more on this later).
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a common viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver. About 2% of the Costa Rican population are affected with hepatitis B compared with just 0.5% in the United Kingdom. Newborn children are routinely vaccinated for hepatitis B as part of the childhood universal vaccination programme in the UK and given that it's four times more common in Costa Rica you might wish to consider hepatitis B vaccination.
The virus is usually transmitted through sexual relationships, intravenous drug use, blood transfusions, using non-sterile needles, sharing personal items, etc. So your healthcare professional may recommend hepatitis B vaccination if you're at high risk.
Dengue Vaccine
There's a more detailed section later in the article.
Chikungunya Vaccine
ChikV for short, is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes and present in much of the tropics. Symptoms include fever, rash and debilitating, chronic joint pains. There is an effective new vaccine available. Ask us for more details.
Tuberculosis
The BCG vaccination for TB could be considered if you're a long stay traveller in Costa Rica or you're thinking of working in healthcare.
Is Costa Rica high risk for yellow fever?
There's no risk of yellow fever disease in Costa Rica. Having said that, the mosquito responsible for transmission of the yellow fever virus, Aedes aegypti, is present in the country. The ever-present risk of potential transmission was evident this year (2025) when an American who had travelled from Amazonian rainforests of Peru to Costa Rica was confirmed to have yellow fever infection (but was infected in Peru).
The Costa Rican health authorities are now, therefore, implementing stricter measures and will be asking for people arriving from countries where there's yellow fever transmission to be vaccinated.
For more information on yellow fever vaccination, take a look at our dedicated yellow fever vaccination page.
Do I need the rabies vaccine for Costa Rica?
The virus is spread by the bites and scratches from any mammal and is present in domestic animals and bats in the country. As rabies infection is serious and there's no treatment once you develop symptoms, you should consider rabies vaccination for Costa Rica. You're at higher risk if you go hiking, running, cycling or travel with small children. So the most important tip is, stating the obvious: please make sure you stay well clear of all animals including domestic pets. You're much more likely to be bitten/scratched by a dog or a cat near a city hotel than wild animals in the rainforests.
Find out more about rabies vaccination before you travel.
We'll always evaluate your risk on a case by case basis and advise you accordingly. If your risk is deemed to be low or you choose not to be vaccinated, then what steps should you take if you are bitten or scratched while on holiday? Well, you'll be glad to know that we've written a handy guide on how quickly you should act after a dog bite.
When to get vaccinated before travelling to Costa Rica
Ideally, you should start your vaccination process roughly 4 to 6 weeks before you travel.
Why?
Because...
The more time that you give any vaccination to work, the better
Some vaccination courses, for example rabies, can take up to a month
If you have side effects from a vaccine, and sometimes they can be delayed for more than a week, they are much more manageable when you're at home than when you're in an unfamiliar country
BUT, having said that...
Even last-minute travellers will benefit from travel vaccinations. Have a chat with us first before deciding there's no point
Some of the vaccination courses can be accelerated, the aforementioned rabies vaccination schedule can be given much quicker if needed
In summary, last minute travellers will still benefit from travel vaccinations, so don't miss out.
Where to get your vaccinations
You can get some free NHS travel vaccinations from your GP but make sure you book well in advance. If they don't have any appointments or you need specialist vaccinations like hepatitis B or rabies, then speak to our highly qualified travel health experts. We'll give you fair, honest and impartial advice at a very reasonable cost.
Do you need malaria pills when you're in Costa Rica?
The risk of malaria in Costa Rica is generally low. Insect bite avoidance (see below under Dengue) is crucial and for most people, malaria pills may not be required but you should always get expert advice. This is because some people are more at risk of severe malaria and malaria prophylaxis may be indicated for them.
Is dengue fever an issue in Costa Rica?
Dengue fever is common in Central America including Costa Rica. Daytime biting mosquitoes transmit the dengue virus even in urban areas so you are definitely at risk. Many people don't have any symptoms but if you do, common features are fever, rash, and severe joint pains that can last for months. Curiously, getting dengue for the second time can be much more severe and even life-threatening.
How can I avoid dengue fever?
Strict insect bite avoidance is paramount in Costa Rica. This means wearing long sleeve clothing, applying insect repellent containing 50% DEET and sleeping under mosquito nets soaked in permethrin (an insecticide).
There is a new dengue vaccine called QDenga®. Until more information about the vaccine is known, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation in the UK (JCVI) and The National Travel Health Network and Centre are currently only advising the vaccine for high risk individuals, for example, those who have had dengue infection before. Again, come and talk to us for expert advice that's tailored to your own specific individual circumstances and itinerary.
Travel health tips
Remember it's not always about vaccinations for Costa Rica. There are many non-vaccine preventable illnesses that you should be aware of. Here are a few things to think about before you travel...
Travellers' diarrhoea
Sunburn
Zika virus infection - especially serious in pregnancy
Preparing a first aid and travel health kit
Adequate medical insurance to cover illnesses abroad
Planning and accessing healthcare whilst away if needed
We discussed some of these topics in a previous blog on what to include in your travel health kit.
Health Klinix has also written an article on what to do if you get sick while travelling. Here, common problems are summarised and you'll get top tips on how to manage your illness abroad.
Conclusion
Planning and getting the right vaccinations for Costa Rica is the first step for a safe and enjoyable trip. By seeking expert travel health advice and being up-to-date with your travel immunisations, you can enjoy your holiday with peace of mind, and importantly, minus the stress.
Your Most Asked Questions About Costa Rica Travel
What happens if you don't get your vaccinations before travelling to Costa Rica?
Vaccinations are not compulsory before travelling to Costa Rica except if you're arriving from a country with active yellow fever transmission. However, there are many serious, vaccine preventable infections that are common in Central America. The vaccines are safe and effective, and getting the recommended vaccinations for Costa Rica means you'll enjoy your holiday rather than worry about what you might catch.
Do I need proof of vaccinations when I go to Costa Rica?
No, not usually. But see above.
I'm travelling to other countries in America, do I need vaccines?
This will depend on you as an individual and your specific itinerary. You may, for example, need a yellow fever vaccination for some parts of Brazil, Peru or Colombia. See our country specific pages for more details...
References:
Written & Approved by:
Consultant Physician in General Internal Medicine
MBBS, MRCP(UK), DTM&H, MRCGP, DCH, DRCOG, DFFP
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