Costa Rica Opens Its Borders to All of the Estados Unidos

It was sometime in March 2019 that travel restrictions were imposed on all people entering Costa Rica—citizens, tourists, and residents.  No big deal, we were already here, living in our personal paradise. Why should we worry?

The reason we had to worry is that our tourist Visas required that we leave the country after ninety-days to return later and start a new ninety-day Visa period. With the land and air borders closed, there was no way to leave and return unless you were an official resident, which we were not.

We were stuck in this paradise unable to return to visit our family in Jacksonville and unable to entertain visitors to Costa Rica. We could leave, but we could not return. Thankfully, the Costa Rican foreign ministry extended tourist Visas allowing tourists to stay past their original visa date. In fact they extended this several times. Eventually the date was extended until March 2021.

Everything changed in October. Tourists from select international locations were allowed to enter Costa Rica subject to a negative Covid-19 test and the purchase of travel insurance to cover the cost of treatment of the virus if a tourist contracted it and needed medical care while in Costa Rica and in November travel restrictions were lifted for all travelers entering from the United States and several other countries and there would be no requirement to present a negative Covid test at Customs (insurance was still required.) 

With this good news we quickly booked a flight, car rental, and accommodations in Jacksonville for ten days starting November 2nd.  One day into the implementation of the new travel policy.

If you were ever stressed by air travel before Covid-19, you were certain to be stressed flying during the pandemic. Leaving San Jose was a breeze. There were lots of agents representing the airlines and security moved quickly. We expected the airways to be less crowded and the planes to have empty seats galore--but we were WRONG.

Miami Immigration

Our flight to Miami was full and our connecting flight to Jacksonville was also full. Most people were wearing face coverings properly and there was no problem entering the US, except for the two-and-a-half-hour line at immigration. But a “Welcome home” greeted us when we were cleared and thankfully the connection to our Jacksonville flight was three hours and we were home before mid-night.

Knowing we were arriving at such a late hour, we had already decided to spend the night at the airport Marriot. The next morning, like true traveling expats, we drove across I-95 for a traditional, hearty breakfast at Cracker Barrell! Welcome home indeed.

In Costa Rica we were bombarded with news about the pandemic including Florida’s reaction to closures and the lack of adherence to mask-wearing. We were pleasantly surprised to see facial coverings in most places with the most notable exception being Cracker Barrell. I watched a patron leave the dining room, line up at the cashier’s station to pay his check and remove his mask to talk to the clerk. When he finished his business, he replaced his mask and walked to the exit only to meet a patron he recognized. There he again removed his mask to greet the acquaintance. When the conversation was concluded he replaced his mask and walked to his car. 

Someone obviously needed remedial instruction in the art of mask-wearing.

Grandpa and Dane

For all the challenges and concerns about traveling in a pandemic there is a glorious Brightside and that is seeing our family and holding our newest grandson, Dane. He is almost cute enough to get us to move back to the states.