🇨🇷Costa Rica

Written by DiveJourney. Built from public sources and local operator knowledge. Last updated Nov 8, 2026.

• DiveJourney: Cahuita and the Southern Caribbean - Canonical English guide returned by live Costa Rica destination discovery; used for Caribbean activity and access scope.
• DiveJourney: Cocos Island - Canonical English guide returned by live Costa Rica destination discovery; expedition logistics, conditions and legal research pointers.
• DiveJourney: Drake Bay and Cano Island - Canonical English guide returned by live Costa Rica destination discovery; Osa access, marine rules and operator examples.
• DiveJourney: Flamingo and Catalina Islands - Canonical English guide returned by live Costa Rica destination discovery; local island trips and freediving leads.
• DiveJourney: Gulf of Papagayo and Playas del Coco - Canonical English guide returned by live Costa Rica destination discovery; day-boat region and conditional Bat Islands.
• Costa Rica Tourism Board: national climate - Official differences between Pacific dry/wet seasons and the Caribbean relative dry periods.
• Costa Rica Tourism Board: entry requirements - Passport, visa, onward travel, proof of funds, stay duration and 2026 yellow-fever notices.
• Costa Rica Tourism Board: travel resources - SJO and LIR gateways, buses and USD $29 departure tax when not included in airfare.
• Costa Rica Tourism Board: marine wildlife - Pacific whales and marine ecology context; sightings and dates are not guarantees.
• Costa Rica Tourism Board: practical travel tips - Currency, ATM, tipping, sales tax, mobile connectivity and general safety guidance.
• SINAC: Cahuita National Park - Cahuita marine-zone snorkeling, two entrance fee models and no standing on coral.
• SINAC: Isla del Cano Biological Reserve - Advance reservation, registered guide, conservation rules and official posted tariffs; outdated-looking island-landing wording requires direct confirmation.
• SINAC: Cocos National Park current park profile - Published foreign and resident park tariffs, daily scuba rights and requirement for prior ACMC approval.
• Costa Rica National Legal System: Decree 45744 - Official reference confirming repeal of the old Cocos public-use decree; current full 2026 regulations govern activity permissions.
• UNESCO: Cocos Island National Park - World Heritage designation, offshore remoteness and pelagic marine significance.
• SINAC: Marino Ballena National Park - Park sector hours, official nonresident admission, card-only payment and low-tide Whale Tail access.
• SINAC: Corcovado National Park - Separate Osa rainforest park access and booking context.
• SANSA Airlines: destinations - Drake Bay domestic access lead; actual flights and baggage restrictions require date-specific verification.
• DAN: flying after diving - Minimum suggested preflight surface intervals for recreational divers.
• DAN: dive emergency assistance - Dive-specific medical assistance after local emergency services have been alerted.
• CDC: Costa Rica traveler health - Country-specific health alerts, recommended prevention and yellow-fever entry context.
• ITU: Costa Rica practical country information - International organization practical country briefing supporting 120V, 60Hz and A/B plugs.
• Pacific Coast Dive Center: Catalina boat trips - Operator example for guided Catalina trips and departure model; schedules are not independently guaranteed.
• Altum Adventures: freediving instruction - Operator evidence for advertised Flamingo-area freediving instruction, not guaranteed course inventory.
• Drake Divers: Cano day trips - Operator example for guided reserve diving; confirm permits, final prices and schedules directly.
• Country hero photo by Juan Pablo Mascanfroni - Unsplash License. Photographer profile: https://unsplash.com/@juanmascan1978 | Location: Manuel Antonio, Quepos, Costa Rica