San José Acclimation Playbook
4 steps to get settled | 0 of 4 complete
🇨🇷Costa Rica GuidePre-Arrival
Everything to sort before you board the plane
Visa and entry requirements
US passport holders receive 90 days on arrival in Costa Rica — no visa required. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date. Immigration officers may ask for proof of onward travel (a return or exit ticket) and sufficient funds (officially USD 100/day of stay, though this is rarely checked thoroughly). The 90-day stay can be extended by leaving the country for 72 hours (a border run to Panama or Nicaragua is common) or by applying for an extension at Migración Costa Rica in San José before your stamp expires. Costa Rica has a well-regarded Rentista Visa for longer stays: proof of passive income of USD 2,500/month and a USD 60,000 bank deposit, valid for 2 years renewable. The Pensionado Visa requires USD 1,000/month in pension income. Costa Rica uses both the Costa Rican Colón (CRC) and US Dollar — USD is widely accepted in tourist areas and most businesses, reducing currency complexity for US travellers.
Book accommodation in Barrio Escalante or Rohrmoser
Book a furnished Airbnb or serviced apartment for your first 2–3 weeks while you explore neighbourhoods in person. Barrio Escalante is San José's best nomad neighbourhood — a hipster food and cafe district on the northeast side of the city with excellent restaurant density, walkable streets, and a growing creative community. Rohrmoser is the expat and diplomatic district — quieter, very safe, family-oriented, with excellent expat infrastructure (Western supermarkets, English-speaking services). San Pedro (university area) is lively with students and budget-friendly but noisier. Avoid downtown San José (Centro) for accommodation — it is congested and less safe. Expect USD 45–80/night for a decent Airbnb studio in Barrio Escalante. Monthly furnished apartments: USD 800–1,400/month for a studio or 1BR — Costa Rica is the priciest country in Central America.
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Get an eSIM before departure
Buy a Costa Rica eSIM from Airalo or Holafly before you fly. A Costa Rica eSIM with 5–10 GB data typically costs USD 12–20 for 30 days and gives you immediate connectivity for navigating from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) to your accommodation in San José (20 km, 30–45 minutes). Within your first 1–2 days, buy a local SIM. Kölbi (ICE, the state telco) has the best rural and national park coverage — essential if you plan to explore Costa Rica beyond the capital. Claro and Movistar Costa Rica are the private alternatives with better LTE speeds in the city. A Kölbi prepaid plan with 5–10 GB runs CRC 3,000–8,000 (USD 6–16)/month. SIM cards are sold at Kölbi stores, La Colonia supermarkets, and the airport.
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Arrange travel insurance before you fly
Costa Rica has good private hospitals — Hospital CIMA (Escazú) and Clínica Bíblica (San José) are the top private facilities with English-speaking staff and international standard care, used heavily by expats and medical tourists. Consultations run USD 60–120 at private clinics; hospitalisations are significantly more expensive without insurance. SafetyWing Nomad Insurance (approximately USD 45/month) covers Costa Rica well and includes emergency evacuation. World Nomads and Genki are solid alternatives. Costa Rica has mandatory travel insurance for foreign visitors who arrive without proof of their own health coverage — immigration officers occasionally check at the border, though enforcement is inconsistent. Having SafetyWing or equivalent documentation satisfies this requirement. For outdoor activities (surfing, hiking active volcanoes, rafting), ensure your policy covers adventure sports.
SafetyWing
Travel & medical insurance for nomads