Getting tested in Costa Rica to return home

GETTING TESTED IN COSTA RICA TO RETURN HOME

Find out about how to get tested in Costa Rica for the SARS-CoV-2 virus to travel to the US, Canada, Spain, or the UK.

Jan, 29th, 2021

For your convenience, and due to the new regulations implemented by some governments to require proof of negative COVID-19 Test or recovery from COVID-19 for all air passengers for arriving at their respective countries, we have gathered all of the information you must know to ease this part of your travel planning. If you are thinking of visiting Costa Rica, we recommend you to read the following information to have a smooth return to your country. Safe travels!

The requirement

As of January 26th, 2021, the United States is requiring all air passengers (US citizens/residents or not) to present a negative test result for the SARS-CoV-2 to enter the country. In the meantime, the United Kingdom has been asking for a negative test result to enter this country since January the 18th, while Canada and Spain, have been asking for it since various weeks ago.

If you want to read the official Institute of Tourism news, click here (currently available in Spanish only).

Test types

All countries covered in this post will admit a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR. The full list of accepted tests according to the respective countries’ can be found on each countries’ official websites, which have been listed at the end of this entry.

Ages

Depending on the country you are traveling to, there are small variants regarding the testing requirement according to the passenger’s age.

United States: 2 years of age or older must get tested.

Canada: 5 years of age or older must get tested.

United Kingdom: 11 years of age or older must get tested.

Spain: 6 years of age or older must get tested.

TEST REQUIREMENTS

1.TIME FRAME

The test must be performed no more than 3 days before the flight departs. If you must do connections and the total journey takes more than a day, you must ensure that the test is taken no more than 3 days before you board the final service that takes you to your final destination. Please make sure to check these details with your country’s official website.

According to the US CDC, the Order uses a 3-day timeframe instead of 72 hours to provide more flexibility to the traveler. By using a 3-day window, test validity does not depend on the time of the flight or the time of day that the test was administered.

For example, if a passenger’s flight is at 1 pm on a Friday, the passenger could board with a negative test that was taken any time on the prior Tuesday or after.

2. LANGUAGES AND DETAILS

The majority of countries will accept test results in either English, French, or Spanish; Spain will also accept tests in German. Translations will not be accepted, and you must provide the original test result certificate.

In general, tests must include the following information:

your name, which should match the name on your travel documents
your date of birth or age
the result of the test
the date the test sample was collected or received by the test provider
the name of the test provider and their contact details
the name of the test device

WHO WILL CHECK YOUR TEST

In most cases, the test will be required by the airline before boarding.

ABOUT THE VACCINE

According to the governments of the United States and Canada, regardless of vaccination or antibody status, everyone is required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result or recovery documentation.

Spain entry requirements Summary.

Prices, lab locations and results time frame

The Costa Rican tourism institute, in conjunction with health institutions, have made an agreement to ease access to the required tourist RT-PCR testing services through the majority of labs in Costa Rica.

The prices have been unified according to the lab’s location; if the lab is in the Metropolitan area (which includes the cities of San José, Heredia, Cartago, and Alajuela-airport vicinity) the test’s price is a maximum of $100. On the other hand, if the lab is located outside the Metropolitan area (the rest of the country), the test’s price is a maximum of $150. The test is more expensive outside de Metro area because the sample needs to be sent to the Metro area to be analyzed; which normally adds a full day to receive the test results.

By regulation, all labs must communicate the result in a maximum of 48h. If you collect the sample in La Fortuna for example, the good news is that the 48h-period starts counting from the moment the sample is being processed in the lab, and not when the sample is taken.

Lab suggestions and other recommendations

LABS IN LA FORTUNA

In La Fortuna and very close to the hotel, (5km or 3mi away) you will be able to find two labs that can collect your sample and arrange its analysis. Remember that outside the Metro area, getting your test result takes longer because of the required transportation, for this reason, it is important to allow an additional full day to obtain your result. Again, you shouldn’t worry about this delay because the time is counted from the moment the sample is processed and not when the sample was taken.

LABS NEAR THE AIRPORT

LABIN LAB- Plaza Real. https://goo.gl/maps/EiwdZwt3N4VL9zPd8
ECHANDI LAB. https://goo.gl/maps/YSzPtSEEUS4Jdd4V9 $88 per test/ Results in 24h on weekdays and 36-48h on weekends.
LABIN LAB- Plaza Cariari. https://goo.gl/maps/EDwHfZCnJGsDPWvE6
LABIN LAB- Lindora. https://goo.gl/maps/3zVGoEngzrYxNqzYA
LABIN LAB- Plaza Lindora. https://goo.gl/maps/JpGoPWWwEAwoUKYd6
LABORATORIO CLÍNICO SAN JOSÉ – Alajuela. https://g.page/LSJAlajuela?share $94 per test/ Results in 24h on weekdays and 36-48h on weekends.

LABS IN SAN JOSÉ

LABORATORIO CLÍNICO SAN JOSÉ – GUACHIPELÍN. https://goo.gl/maps/w1pAX7mvZFNdRJAg7 $94 per test/ Results in 24h on weekdays and 36-48h on weekends.
LABORATORIO CLÍNICO SAN JOSÉ – ESCAZÚ LA PACO. https://goo.gl/maps/TPxtHnpiAXSjkD267 $94 per test/ Results in 24h on weekdays and 36-48h on weekends.
LABORATORIO CLÍNICO SAN JOSÉ – ROHRMOSER. https://goo.gl/maps/YAX8doE2u2yPxQ4E6 $94 per test/ Results in 24h on weekdays and 36-48h on weekends.
LABORATORIO PAEZ- SABANA. https://goo.gl/maps/MLtwfpDyMUi9FtsL9 $87 per test/ Results in 24h–48h. Sample collected in-car; must create an appointment by texting to +506 60604573.

OTHER LABS

There are many other labs in the metro area and the rest of the country, the previous lists are a small selection of them based on location and perceived quality. We have not received any kind of endorsements on their behalf, and the names provided are meant to ease your search.

PRICE RANGE

The test’s price in the Metro area ranges from $87 to $100. Due to the Costa Rican tax legislation for this type of medical service, paying with a card will normally mean a lower price.

If you want to carry out your test in other areas, it will cost you a maximum of $150.

Feeling (and staying) safe in Costa Rica

Costa Rica in general, and specifically the tourism sector, has made a great effort to incorporate health safety protocols into daily operations to prevent spreading the virus and to protect all visitors.

Wearing face masks is mandatory in all public areas. Also, every store or building has added a handwashing (or sanitizing) station at every entry point, as well as a temperature check.

The great news about visiting Costa Rica is that the most beautiful spaces are out in the open, where you can feel very safe because of the air quality you are inhaling.

To learn more about the specific protocols of our hotel, please check out our “Health safety-measures for your visit” post.

If you have a reservation and require assistance concerning this matter, please feel free to contact us by email (info@paradisehotspringscr.com) or Whatsapp text message (+506 88100 0123).

Happy travels!

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