Costa Rica Borders Are Opening
August 1, 2020 But Not Too Everyone
Well, here we go again I received an email from the U.S. Embassy San Jose on June 26, 2020. Costa Rica borders are opening August 1, 2020.
I have been self-isolating with my daughter Taya and husband Steve in the Costa Rica jungle for 102 days. I have to make a huge decision once again. Do I start liquidating everything or do I wait and see what happens. If I wait it could cost me even more.
This time five years ago we liquidated all of our stuff down to a couple of suitcases. So that we could move to the "Happiest Place In The World". This was the best decision we could have made as a family. Over the last five years, we have lived a minimalist lifestyle in Costa Rica. However, over the years we have added some household furniture and a couple of vehicles. This stuff will need to be sold if we are forced to leave the country.
Costa Rica Borders Are Opening
Yesterday according to the US Embassy, "Minister of Health Salas stated that as of August 1, foreigners from countries that have “controlled the spread of the coronavirus” will be allowed to enter Costa Rica." At this time Costa Rica has not announced what countries are going to be allowed in. It sounds like the EU and Canada will have a good chance of making the cut, but at this time no one knows. What we do know is the United States has a high likelihood of not making this list since the number of infected is one of the highest and still rising.
So What's The problem
Here's the problem, my daughter and my US passports have a visa stamp that reads reads "13 ENE 2020" with a handwritten 90 on the line. This visa stamp expired on April 2, 2020. Steve's was on one of the last flights back before theCosta Rica borders closed his stamp expire June 15, 2020. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, the Costa Rica government has extended our visa until August 18, 2020.
This means we have to leave the country on or before August 18. Normally, this would not be a problem. I would just cross the Nicaragua or Panama border or even jump a flight back to the states for a little vacation. However, with Covid-19 a quick border run is not an option.
Panama Is Closed
As of today, Panama has closed its boards with no signs of opening. Nicaragua is not testing. The canton that surrounds Costa Rica and Nicaraguan boards is now classified as an orange zone. Which means it is HIGH RISK because of the high amount of people infected Covid-19. At this time these orange areas have more restrictions. The reports are showing that most of the infected are Nicaragua migrant workers who are here to help with the harvest. With high numbers surrounding the border and little to no testing in Nicaragua, the chances of this board opening are slim to none. I can cross over to Nicaragua, but I will not be allowed to come back into Costa Rica. As a result, a Nicaraguan board run is not an option.
Repatriation Flights
United Airlines have been doing repatriation flights for the last couple of months. At first, these flights were only every couple of weeks over the last couple of months. They have increased these flights weekly leaving Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. During the month of June, Spirit Airlines also added a repatriation flight. All of these flights are out of San Jose.
The cost of a flight home has been running four to six times higher than what we normally pay to fly home. While United and other airlines show new flights at cheaper rates, they all seem to get canceled so the only flight that would be worth booking would be one of the repatriation flights coordinated with the embassy.
Another big downside to these flights is that we would have to fly out of San Jose. The city has more infected people than the beach towns, making us more at risk to come into contact with an infected person during our travels. Once again, I have been in self-isolation with little to no contact with the outside world for 102 days. I have been avoiding the world so that I will not get sick. The thought of going somewhere with a higher number of infected people is just the opposite of what I want to do. But, I might not have a choice if the Costa Rican government doesn't extend our visas. Without an extension, we will be forced to take one of these flights.
Tickets Home Are Expensive
A quick look today shows that a ticket home on one of these repatriation flights would run me $1,976.36 per person. We also would have the added expense of traveling to San Jose instead of Liberia.
Normally we would drive our own car and park it for free at the Liberia airport or pay $25 a person for a shuttle from Tamarindo to the Liberia airport. Parking in the city is not an option and a shuttle is going to cost over $120 a person. Book United Now
Repatriation Flights Have Been Filling Up Quickly
As a result, traveling home this way will be very expensive. Normally, the flight and transportation to the airport would cost me around $260. With the Covid-19 pandemic, a flight to the United States is now going to run me at least $2,096.36 per person. We have three people that will require flight and transportation. In turn, what would normally cost me around $780 for all of us to get home will cost me over $6,289.08 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Not to mention it will add an extra day of travel.
These repatriation flights have been filling up quickly and the prices seem to go up even higher as the flights approach full booking. According to the announcement yesterday, it sounds like the Liberia airport has met the standards to open August 1, 2020. This means we might be able to fly out of Liberia but at this time flights are not guaranteed.
Costa Rica Visa Only Extend Until August 18, 2020
However, at this time the Costa Rican government has only extended the visas until August 18, 2020. Since the land borders are closed and our visas have not been extended past August 18, 2020, we are left with only a couple of options. Option 1, fly back to our home country the US on a repatriation flight. Or option 2, wait to see what the government does. I have to be a realist in asking myself do I start liquidating now. Knowing that August is just around the corner and if we are forced to leave we will not be allowed back in until the Costa Rica borders are open to the US, the reality of our return could be next year or even longer.
Going Back To The US
While I would love to put my arms around my parents and children, the risks from travel and looking at the numbers of infected in the US scares the hell out of me. However, if I wait to book a flight I run a chance that they will cost even more than what they are now since all the expats who are here on tourist visas will have to fly out during the same small window with little flights. And what about all our possessions? I will also have a harder time selling my stuff since everyone else will be doing the same thing.
Oh my god, what the hell am I going to do?
Update July 8, 2020 - Costa Rica Tourist Visas Extended
Great news, the Costa Rica government announced that tourist visas have been extended. Foreigners who entered Costa Rica after December 17, 2019, can legally remain in Costa Rica until November 18, 2020.
July 23, 2020, Press Conference
During the press conference, the Costa Rica government announced August 1st, 2020 that Costa Rica would slowly start accepting international flights to countries that have “controlled the spread of the coronavirus”. It’s no surprise but not to the US at this list at the time. It’s a very sad night in the Page house.
Update: July 28, 2020
Thank you Outlier Legal Services, for providing a complete list of the questions and answers related to the official document issued by the Foreign Relations Department in Costa Rica. This article has valuable information for residents and those planning to travel to Costa Rica.
Costa Rica borders are opening to the US but not everyone
I’m feeling very left out. It's great news for some but not all of us. Costa Rica borders are opening on September 1, 2020, but only to some states. At this time Colorado is still not on the list.
UPDATE
More US states are allowed in
Starting September 15th 2020, travelers coming from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Oregon, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Colorado will be allowed to enter Costa Rica. On October 1st, California will be allowed.
Rules are changing daily
Please make sure to check the requirements at the time of your travel. Testing, insurance, state ID are required at this time.
UPDATE September 21, 2020 Outlier Legal Services
UPDATE: October 3, 2020
Costa Rica announces that it will open air travel to United States passport holders November 1,2020. There are still COVID-19 requirements click to read more.
