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Costa Rica Travel Insurance Requirements Updated

costa rica travel insurance updated requirements

Costa Rica Changed Its Entry Requirements For Travelers 

Did you know that Costa Rica is ranked as one of the most visited international destinations year over year in Central America?  Costa Rica is an eco-tourist's dream vacation with its volcanoes, rainforests, cloud forests, huge waterfalls, and mighty rivers.  Costa Rica is the perfect destination if you are an adventure tourist since it's known for rafting, windsurfing, diving, kayaking, and surfing.  Before you book your trip, you must understand and comply with a few things before entering Costa Rica. 

Understanding Costa Rica's travel regulations 

We all remember back in October of 2020 when Costa Rica was one of the first countries to reopen to international travelers as long as they had travel insurance.  Effective August 1, 2021, Costa Rica will no longer require international travelers who are vaccinated and show proof of vaccination to have travel insurance.  International travelers who are not vaccinated will still need to have travel insurance to enter the country. For more details on the requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers, visit our Costa Rica Traveler Regulations blog post.

Listen to what the experts suggest 

Did you know that there are currently over 50 countries requiring travel insurance to enter and many more are planning on requiring it?  Many in the travel industry feel that Costa Rica's decision is premature and travelers who have arrival dates after August 1, 2021, when the requirement will be dropped, should be wary that they may reinstitute the insurance regulations. Suppose you haven't made arrangements for insurance at the time of booking. In that case, you may miss out on the availability of certain features like Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR), waiver of Pre-Existing Conditions exclusions, and Bankruptcy or Default of a Travel Supplier if you wait.  These benefits can be vital in certain situations. 

Situations where you need travel insurance  

As mentioned above, missing out on the CFAR benefit can be very costly.  Here is why.  The website Costa Rica Guide states the average cost per person to visit Costa Rica ranges from $850 to $1,450 per week.  To be safe, let's say the average person costs $1,000 for a family of four to visit Costa Rica will cost them $4,000. 

  • If you had the CFAR benefit as part of your travel insurance plan, you would be able to receive up to 75% of your prepaid expenses to be reimbursed if you cancel more than two days prior to departure.  For example, you check the weather and find out a large storm is rolling through and it will rain 100% of the time you're on vacation, so you decide to cancel your trip.  Utilizing the CFAR benefit, you would cancel your trip

  • Or, three days before your scheduled trip to Costa Rica, you find out you had a death in the family. You can claim your lost travel cost and be reimbursed up to 100% of your trip cost for this covered reason under Trip Cancellation. 

  • Most health insurance companies health insurance plans in your home country do not work while traveling abroad.  For example, if you are visiting Costa Rica and you decide that you want to take a tour of the rainforest with a guide for the day.  During your outing, a snake bites you through your shoe while walking.  You immediately feel sick and your guide determines a poisonous snake has bitten you.  With your life hanging in the balance, a helicopter is brought in and medically evacuated to a hospital.  Without a travel insurance plan that provides coverage for medical expenses, you would be responsible for paying out of pocket for all your medical costs that can be way over $100,000. 

  • If you are in Costa Rica with your family and your daughter catches COVID-19 and has to be quarantined for 14 days.  Without travel insurance that provides a benefit to cover quarantine costs, you would be responsible for these extra expenses. 

In all of these scenarios, travel insurance would be able to protect you and your family. 

Enjoy your trip with travel insurance 

These situations are not meant to scare you, but to inform you of what could happen when visiting Costa Rica.  These are actual situations where Trawick International has helped customers utilize their travel insurance benefits. So even though travel insurance may not be required for all travelers any longer, insuring your trip is still strongly recommended whether you are vaccinated or not when visiting Costa Rica. 

PLEASE NOTE: Guidelines may have changed since this was published. Before traveling, you should always check your destination's COVID-19 situation and travel requirements. Countries may have their own entry and exit requirements. Additionally, always check for travel advisories in the area to which you are traveling. Refer to https://www.cdc.gov/ and https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html for up-to-date information and guidelines.


Founded in 1998, Trawick International is a full-service travel insurance provider specializing in protecting travelers of all types worldwide. We offer various travel insurance plans designed specifically by types of coverage, including comprehensive travel protection insurance, international travel medical insurance, visitor’s insurance, and international student insurance. Our company's mission is to deliver superior travel and medical insurance products that offer the best 24/7 emergency assistance services available. Contact us at 888-301-9289 or info@trawickinternational.com. 

By Administrator at 3 Aug 2021

Costa Rica Traveler Regulations

costa rica updated traveler regulations

One of the most popular travel destinations globally has made a significant change to its travel requirements for international travelers.  Costa Rica has announced that international travelers who can provide proof of vaccination for the COVID-19 virus no longer need to provide evidence of travel insurance to enter the Central American Country.  International travelers that are not vaccinated will still need to provide proof of travel insurance that complies with Costa Rica’s travel regulations.  Trawick International offers multiple plans that meet these requirements.

As reported by Visitcostarica.com, the following policies will go into effect for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers as of August 1, 2021:

VACCINATED TRAVELER REGULATIONS

As of August 1, 2021, all tourists who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and inoculated with Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson can enter the country without a travel insurance policy. The last dose of the vaccine must have been applied at least 14 days before arrival in Costa Rica.

Vaccinated tourists must attach the vaccination certificate to the Health Pass. As proof, vaccination certificates and vaccination cards that contain at least the following information will be accepted:

1. Name of the person who received the vaccine
2. Date of each dose
3. Pharmaceutical house

In the case of US travelers, the “COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card” will be accepted. Tourists who are not vaccinated, with incomplete vaccination, or vaccinated with a serum other than those admitted by the Costa Rican authorities must purchase mandatory travel insurance that covers lodging in case of quarantine and medical expenses due to COVID-19 disease, as detailed below.

International Policies Regarding the policy, you can choose any international travel insurance company that meets the following requirements:

1. Valid during the entire stay in Costa Rica (coverage dates)
2. $50,000 for medical expenses, including COVID-19 disease
3. $2,000 for lodging expenses in case of COVID-19 quarantine

Your travel insurance company must provide a certificate/letter in English or Spanish stating the following:

1. Name of the person(s) traveling
2. Validity of the effective policy during the Costa Rica visit (travel dates)
3. Guarantee of coverage for medical expenses in case of COVID 19 in Costa Rica, for at least $50,000
4. Minimum coverage of $2,000 for lodging expenses for quarantine or trip interruption for this same amount

This certificate must specify that the policy covers COVID-19 and must be uploaded to the health pass to be reviewed and approved by the Costa Rican authorities. Insurance cards are not accepted. It must be a document that allows the verification of the coverage mentioned.

UNVACCINATED TRAVELER REGULATIONS

• Fill out the electronic epidemiological health pass form before departure
• For international insurance policies, tourists must request a certification from their insurance company, issued in English or Spanish, verifying at least the following three conditions:

1) Effectiveness of the policy during the visit to Costa Rica
2) Coverage for Medical expenses in the event of becoming ill with the pandemic COVID-19 virus while in Costa Rica, for at least $50,000
3) Includes minimum coverage of $2,000 for potential quarantine lodging expenses issued as a result of the pandemic

Travel Insurance Certificate

Upon purchasing travel insurance from Trawick International, you will receive a visa letter as well as a certificate for you to present to the Republic of Costa Rica. The  visa letter can be uploaded as required to fill out the required paperwork using this link for Costa Rica Health Pass: https://salud.go.cr

Insure Your Trip To Costa Rica

Trawick International believes you should purchase a travel insurance plan while visiting Costa Rica regardless if you are vaccinated or not.  Check out our recent blog post on why travel insurance is important and gives additional reasons you should insure your trip to Costa Rica.  Travel insurance is meant to protect your investment in your trip and also helps protect you while traveling.

PLEASE NOTE: Guidelines may have changed since this was published. Before traveling, you should always check your destination's COVID-19 situation and travel requirements. Countries may have their own entry and exit requirements. Additionally, always check for travel advisories in the area to which you are traveling. Refer to https://www.cdc.gov/ and https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html for up-to-date information and guidelines.


Founded in 1998, Trawick International is a full-service travel insurance provider specializing in protecting travelers of all types worldwide. We offer various travel insurance plans designed specifically by types of coverage, including comprehensive travel protection insurance, international travel medical insurance, visitor’s insurance, and international student insurance. Our company's mission is to deliver superior travel and medical insurance products that offer the best 24/7 emergency assistance services available. Contact us at 888-301-9289 or info@trawickinternational.com. 

By Administrator at 2 Aug 2021

Tailgate Protection

Tailgate Protection

Make Sure You Protect Your Event Experience with Tailgate Protection

It’s getting closer to that time of the year again, where you and your friends and family members come together and get ready for the big game. That’s right, college football and professional football are just days away from starting.  Whether you are a die-hard fan or just a casual fan, we can all agree one of the best parts of the game day experience is the tailgate party!  With the COVID-19 pandemic upending our daily lives in 2020, it’s time to celebrate and enjoy things now that we know concerts and sporting events are coming back in a big way this year!

What is exactly a Tailgate Party?

If you are not familiar with what a tailgate party is, let us explain it.  Merriam-Webster defines it as a social gathering in which food and drinks are served at or near the back end of a parked vehicle that usually occurs in a parking lot before or after a public event (such as a football game or concert).  Some tailgate parties are known to get much more elaborate than just food and drink by a parked vehicle. Some tailgate parties have tents, tables, chairs, a professional cook, a bar with a bartender, and a D.J.  These parties can occur in offsite locations within walking distance to the event, in the stadium’s parking lot.

Why do you need Tailgate Protection?

All across the country, friends and families will gather together to celebrate at an event of their choosing.  For the first time, they don’t have to worry if something unforeseen happens and ruins their experience.  Trawick International’s Tailgate Protection will cover many of the prepaid non-refundable expenses of their tailgate party.

Our Tailgate Protection plan is designed to cover unforeseen events that could occur before or during your tailgating experiences.  Such as sickness or injuries, an accident on the way to the event, your flight is canceled on the way to your tailgate, the event you are attending is delayed due to weather and rescheduled to a date when you are not scheduled to be at the location. 

What does Tailgate Protection cover?

Here are the eligible prepaid expenses Tailgate Protection may cover are:

  • Event tickets

  • Your airfare if you flew to the tailgate

  • Car rental if you rented a car for the tailgate

  • Cost of your lodging

  • The prepaid catering for the tailgate

  • Medical expenses if you become sick or injured during your tailgate experience

  • Your rental for tent and chairs

Isn’t this great.  Most of your prepaid expenses for your tailgate party can be protected by our plan.  With what is going on globally, we all want to get together with our friends and family and experience a great get-together before that big game or concert.  Contact us today to insure your tailgate experience, so your biggest worry is what to wear to the event!


Founded in 1998, Trawick International is a full-service travel insurance provider specializing in protecting travelers of all types worldwide. We offer various travel insurance plans designed specifically by types of coverage, including comprehensive travel protection insurance, international travel medical insurance, visitor’s insurance, and international student insurance. Our company's mission is to deliver superior travel and medical insurance products that offer the best 24/7 emergency assistance services available. Contact us at 888-301-9289 or info@trawickinternational.com. 

By Administrator at 27 Jul 2021

An Adventure of a Lifetime Postponed

Curts Adventure of a Lifetime Postponed

Sometimes Life Happens & Adventures Are Put On Hold

As many of you are aware, our very own Curt Carlson was going to take on an adventure that is considered one of the toughest challenges for adventure travelers in the Western Hemisphere.  Unfortunately for Curt and all of us who were planning on following his travel journey, he experienced an injury while training and will not be able to go on his mountain hiking adventure.

Curt was scheduled to embark on a 14-day mountain climbing trip with mountain climbing experts Mountain Madness if you recall from our previous blog post.  The tour he chose is called Volcanoes Around Ecuador: Guided Mountaineering on Cayambe, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo.  He was determined and trained to make it to the summit at Cayambe, 18,996 feet above sea level.

Curt wanted us to reach out to everyone and thank them for their interest in his journey and all of the good wishes after his injury. He also wanted us to take this time to explain how SafeTeker would work if he were injured while hiking during his trip. 

Understanding The Travel Insurance He Choose

Please remember he chose to purchase SafeTreker, an adventure travel protection product designed to cover numerous sporting activities.  This adventure travel product offers varying benefits and coverage levels, depending on your budget and travel needs. 

The policy that Curt chose to protect his investment in his travel adventure was SafeTreker Extreme+.  He chose this plan because it covers his mountain climbing activity and provides up to $10,000 for Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption coverage with up to $100,000 Accident and Sickness Medical Coverage, up to $3,000 for baggage, Search and Rescue up to $10,000, and Sports Equipment Rental protection up to $3,000, among other benefits.

An Example Of How SafeTreker Would Work

Imagine that Curt is on the second leg of his journey with his tour group, Mountain Madness.  They are hiking up the world’s highest active volcano, Cotopaxi. I mean, you are hiking an active volcano. What could go wrong?  Two-thirds up their ascent of Cotopaxi, the climber in front of him, slips and falls back into him, knocking him off of his feet and he tumbles down the side of the volcano.

His Mountain Madness team rushes to his aid and determines that Curt has significantly injured his knee. 

It could have been much worse for Curt if he didn’t have SafeTreker adventure travel protection, as horrible as this situation sounds.  We noted that Curt chose SafeTreker Extreme+ as his insurance policy.  This policy provides up to $100,000 in Accident and Sickness Medical Coverage.  This coverage will cover the costs associated with the treatment of his injuries.  Additionally, his Trip Interruption coverage will reimburse Curt for the portion of the trip he missed and cover his return flight home.

Sometimes Things Happen When Going On Adventures

We are sad to say that Curt will not be going on his adventure, and we are glad the hypothetical situation we described above didn’t happen.  Still, we want everyone to know if you are willing to embark on an extreme adventure, make sure you talk to us and obtain a SafeTreker policy before you go on your journey.

By Administrator at 26 Jul 2021

Travel Regulations For European Countries

Travel Regulations For European Countries

Europe Is Now Open To Travelers From USA 

On June 16, 2021, the European Union designated the United States on the safe list.  So what does this mean for American travelers?  Regardless if the American traveler is vaccinated or unvaccinated, they can visit the 27 countries that comprise the European Union.  Please note the United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union and has its own requirements for American travelers that are different than the 27 European Union nations. 

As of right now, the 27 European Union countries do not require international travelers to have travel insurance to enjoy each country.  We at Trawick International highly recommend purchasing a travel insurance plan from a travel insurance provider since trips to Europe are expensive.  The website stuffedsuitcase.com indicated that a one-week European vacation cost approximately $2,225 for one person, $3,400 for a couple, and $5,750 for a family of four.  Think about it a family of four to visit Europe cost almost $6,000. With that type of cost, make sure you have proper protection. 

Each European Union country has some different regulations and nuances to their travel regulations, so make sure you check out the Reopen Europe website.  This site will provide you with pertinent information you will need to know before visiting your destination in Europe. 

What’s Going on in Some Popular European Union Countries 

France 

We bet you didn’t know that before the COVID-19 pandemic, France was the most visited country in the world by international tourists.  Over 89 million international tourists in 2019 visited France, as reported by farandwide.com.  Now that France is open again, many people will be visiting.  Here is some vital information that Lonelyplanet.com stated, France is now in the final stage of its four-stage journey out of lockdown. Nationwide curfew has ended and masks are no longer required outdoors, but you’ll still need to have one when entering enclosed public spaces and public transport, and crowded outdoor areas.  Local authorities can now decide what restrictions to implement, so check ahead to determine the local limits in the region you are traveling to because they might be different. 

Spain 

Spain is almost as popular as France for international travelers and before the global COVID-19 pandemic, they were the second most visited country in the world.  Spain is preparing for an influx of international visitors since reopening.  Lonely Planet has revealed that as of June 26, masks are no longer legally required outdoors, provided people can keep 1.5 meters (5 feet) apart. But it’s a good idea to always take a mask with you as they’re still required in crowded outdoor spaces, public transport and taxis, and indoor spaces such as restaurants, airports, supermarkets, shops, and museums.  In addition, restaurants, cinemas, theaters, cultural attractions, and museums are open with capacity limits. Amusement and water parks are open with enhanced health and safety protocols. Beaches are open with social distancing guidelines in place. 

Italy 

Last but not least, Italy was the second country in Europe to open to international travelers after Greece and it’s the fifth most popular travel destination for international travelers in the world.  Lonely Planet proclaimed that most restrictions had been lifted. Still, social distancing guidelines remain in public areas, as do mask requirements in crowded outdoor locations, public transport, and indoor public spaces.  Indoor dining has returned to Italy’s restaurants, cafes, bars, ice-cream parlors, and pastry shops. Some capacity limits apply, but the general rule is no more than six people per table. Hotels, spas, and swimming pools are open and beaches, but visitors must keep at least one meter apart when setting up towels, deck chairs, or umbrellas. 

Just a Gentle Reminder About Travel Insurance 

As noted above, trips to European nations are expansive, so please consider purchasing a travel insurance policy to provide you and your family with peace of mind if something were to go wrong while traveling.   Trawick International offers various travel insurance plans that can be customized to meet your family’s needs while vacationing in Italy.  


Founded in 1998, Trawick International is a full-service travel insurance provider specializing in protecting travelers of all types worldwide. We offer various travel insurance plans designed specifically by types of coverage, including comprehensive travel protection insurance, international travel medical insurance, visitor’s insurance, and international student insurance. Our company's mission is to deliver superior travel and medical insurance products that offer the best 24/7 emergency assistance services available. Contact us at 888-301-9289 or info@trawickinternational.com. 

By Administrator at 21 Jul 2021
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