Christmas week and New Years is typically one of the busiest times of the year for the beaches and coastal areas of Costa Rica. With many travelers from the North seeking a warm and tropical escape, and an exodus of locals from the San Jose area looking to enjoy their vacation near the water, each beach area is typically to capacity.
Well with rising Covid cases in Costa Rica and hospitals nearing capacity the government has decided to enfore new restrictions for the Holiday week and January. If you are traveling to Costa Rica be sure to note these changes.
New Year’s Eve (December 31)
There will be a national vehicular restriction from 7 p.m. on December 31 until 5 a.m. on January 1. The typical list of exceptions, which includes rental vehicles, still applies, and public transportation can operate normally.
Commercial businesses must also close at 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, except for those deemed essential (supermarkets, medical centers, delivery services, and hotels, among others).
January 1, 2 and 3
There will be a national vehicular restriction from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. on these days. The typical list of exceptions, which includes rental vehicles, still applies, and public transportation can operate normally.
Commercial businesses must also close at 8 p.m. on January 1-3, except for those deemed essential (supermarkets, medical centers, delivery services, and hotels, among others).
Measures for the rest of January
From January 4-17, there will be stricter measures for some activities:
- Beaches will be open only from 5 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
- Bars and casinos must limit capacity to 25%.
- National Parks must limit capacity to 50%.
A slightly stricter vehicular restriction will apply from January 4-31 as follows:
- Monday to Friday: The nighttime vehicular restriction will remain from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.
- Saturdays and Sundays: The nighttime vehicular restriction will be from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. In addition:
- Saturdays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 cannot drive.
- Sundays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 cannot drive.
The typical list of exceptions, which includes rental vehicles, still applies, and public transportation can operate normally.
