Frequently Asked Questions

A true psilocybin healing retreat is about deep inner work. Unlike a regular vacation, which focuses on relaxation and fun, a psilocybin retreat uses guided psilocybin (magic mushroom) sessions for emotional healing, self-discovery, and transformation. At Mushroom Awakening Private Retreats, the psilocybin retreat is private, deeply personalized, and facilitated in a safe environment in Costa Rica by an experienced guide.

Think of it as a reset for your mind and soul, a journey inward rather than outward.

A psilocybin retreat supports a wide range of healing, growth, and spiritual awakening.

Most people approach a psilocybin retreat with an intention that falls into one of three core categories:

– Trauma, Depression & Anxiety
What Indigenous wisdom has known for millennia is now being confirmed by modern science: psilocybin therapy, such as received during a psilocybin retreat can lead to profound improvements in mental and emotional well-being.

Research shows especially promising results in treating trauma, depression and anxiety, often where conventional therapies have fallen short. Furthermore, a psilocybin retreat may help with breaking through limitations and inner blocks, address emotional wounds and destructive patterns, build resilience and personal empowerment.

– Self-Realization & Spiritual Insight
A deep psilocybin retreat can offer a direct experience of your true nature beyond the physical body, beyond the identity you’ve been conditioned to believe you are.

This awakening is often referred to as enlightenment, ego-death, or Self-realization. It’s a space of inner peace, silence, and freedom, the awareness that witnesses life through your body.

The problems we experience belong to the personality we’ve constructed, the one that feels unsafe, unworthy, or unloved. When you reconnect with your essence, these struggles begin to lose their grip.

– Life Direction & Clarity
Looking ahead, a psilocybin retreat can offer deep insight into life’s big questions and bring greater clarity about your path, purpose, and priorities.

A journey can be an accelerator for personal growth and awareness, helping you reconnect with your inner compass. It’s a powerful way to gain insight into:
– What is my purpose?
– What truly matters to me?
– How do I block my own progress?
– What is the right path forward?

Whether you’re seeking deep healing, spiritual connection, or clarity about your next steps in life, a psilocybin retreat can serve as a powerful gateway to transformation.

Positive effects:
– Enhanced pleasant feelings and sensations
– You are freed from the usual (unconscious or conscious) blockages, holding you back from living your highest truth
– You can see yourself and the world in another light, leading to new insights and experiences of intense love
– Change in sensory perception (hallucinations). Colors, sounds and shapes become more intense and/or sharper, seeing moving patterns, structures or colored images. These images can be seen with eyes closed as well.
– Laughing (Laugh kick)
– Music sounds, otherwise, deeper, more immersive
– Objects etc. deforming, seeing waves
– Altered perception of time and space
– Feeling like the world is fake
– Immerse in Thoughts
– A relaxed, cheerful, energetic, high feeling
– Experiencing feelings that you are not normally aware of.

Negative Effects:
– Nausea
– Dizziness
– Headache
– Yawning
– Thirst, dry mouth
– Warm or cold feeling
– Hard to concentrate
– Unusual or strange thoughts
– Fearful trips, violent, painful feelings, fear that the effects will stay for ever.
– Distress, a confused feeling
– Less control over emotions and behaviors
– Psychotic reaction
– Sporadically preventing lasting perceptual changes, “persistent and disturbing changes in perception, mainly in the visual system, which persist from weeks to years after use.”
– Stomach and intestinal complaints
– Slight increase in heart rate and increase in blood pressure

Many of the negative effects can be mitigated by proper preparation and professional guidance

Yes, and research backs this up. Clinical studies and real-life testimonials show that psilocybin can significantly reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma-related disorders when combined with professional guidance and integration practices.

At Mushroom Awakening, we go beyond just providing the medicine. We create a healing container with preparation, safe facilitation, you will receive a Progress & Integration report and we support post-retreat integration to ensure lasting benefits.

People often report breakthroughs in areas where years of traditional therapy brought limited results.

Disclaimer:
Psilocybin can be deeply supportive, but results vary. Our psilocybin retreat is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric care; rather a valuable addition. Please consult a healthcare professional if you experience serious ailments.

A common misconcepA common misconception! You won’t lose your mind or become someone else. While psilocybin alters perception and opens emotional layers, you remain aware and conscious throughout the experience. We are there to hold space and guide you, with the intention of helping you feel safe and grounded.

Think of it as stepping into a new perspective, not losing control.
Moreover, if your body wants to release, through tears, stretching, anger, or any other emotions, you are welcome to let them flow freely, honoring your feelings while taking care not to harm yourself or others.

Below, you find information about the various stages of the process, each playing a crucial role.

Phase 1 Preparation

General information
– Education and informed consent: During this phase investigate the effects of psilocybin, the potential risks and benefits, and the journey experience itself. Check for contra-indications and evaluate whether a psilocybin journey is safe at this moment and is suitable for reaching your goals.
– Psychological preparation: Set intentions and address any concerns or fears. This process helps establish a safe and supportive environment for the journey.
– Emotional readiness: The preparation phase also allows you to develop emotional resilience and coping strategies to navigate challenging experiences that may arise during the journey. It may involve exploring past traumas, unresolved emotions, or other psychological aspects to ensure a better understanding of oneself.
– Refrain from inhibiting substances: For a deep and profound journey, your system needs to be as clean as possible. In preparation, the week before the journey, you stop consuming alcohol, cannabis and other mind altering drugs. Furthermore you reduce the use of caffeine and sugar. Three days before the journey you stop taking caffeine and sugar all together.

Phase 2 The Psilocybin Mushroom journey
During the Psilocybin mushroom journey you are going deeply into yourself. Energy will start to flow and your body will unwind.
Images, emotions, feelings and insights will come up, new ways of perception will appear and realignment on different levels will take place.

Phase 3 Integration
– General Information
The days after the journey can be intense. They are especially important for making the changes necessary to support the realization of your goals. During this phase the rubber truly hits the road. In accordance with your insights, you will make the changes necessary for your transformation to manifest in everyday life.
– Meaning-making and integration of insights: The integration phase involves reflecting on the journey experiences and integrating the insights gained into daily life. With therapeutic support, you can explore the meaning and implications of the journey, making necessary adjustments and implementing positive changes.
– Psychological growth and well-being: Psilocybin journeys, when integrated effectively, can contribute to increased psychological well-being, resilience, and personal growth. You may experience improved self-awareness, enhanced interpersonal relationships, and a greater sense of meaning and fulfillment in life.
– Addressing unresolved issues: The integration phase provides an opportunity to address any unresolved issues or challenges that may have surfaced during the journey. Therapeutic support assists you in processing and resolving these issues, further promoting healing and growth.

Yes, skepticism is healthy. Many guests come with butterflies in their stomach, but that curiosity often leads to powerful transformations. We encourage you to ask your questions, look for information about the mushrooms, their effects and others’ experiences, including scientific research. A lot of research has already been done.

We will assist you along the way and provide you with the information you need to comfortably enter the journey.

Costa Rica does not explicitly prohibit psilocybin-containing mushrooms in their natural form, creating a unique environment for retreats centered on inner growth. However, because psilocybin as a substance (not psilocybin mushrooms) is named in drug-control laws, its production, sale, or distribution may technically fall under general narcotics legislation.

That said, enforcement in this area tends to be minimal, and personal use in retreat settings operates within a broadly permissive atmosphere. The authorities are especially focused on drugs related to crime, such as Cocaine, Heroin etc…

Our commitment goes beyond legality. We offer every retreat with respect, safety, and integrity, ensuring:
– Ethical and experienced facilitation, centered on your safety and personal insight
– A professional therapeutic framework to guide your experience
– A private, nature-harmonized setting for grounding and peace

Journeying with mushrooms in combination with certain physical and mental conditions can entail additional risks. Although the desire for a journey and for healing can be strong, safety always goes first.

Below you find a (non-exhaustive) list of conditions important to keep in mind when considering a journey.

I have (a history of):
– epilepsy
– type I or II diabetes
– schizophrenia
– bipolar
– psychosis
– stroke(s)
– borderline
– anxiety disorders
– heart problems
– depression (mushrooms bring you in contact with your feelings, this is healing, but can also be too much if you have depression and you are not properly guided)
– I currently take medication / MAO inhibitors (medication can interact with the psilocybin and with it comes extra risks) – further down a more elaborate explanation.
– I am currently pregnant

Short term
– Psilocybin mushrooms are difficult to dose, because the strength differs. So there is a chance that the effects are unpredictable and more intense than expected.
– Nausea
– ‘Stuck ‘ in negative thoughts
– Suspicion, the feeling that you are being pursued or that they are talking about you.
– Acute Psychosis: provoking delusion, hallucinations and anxiety. An acute drug psychosis will in most cases disappear if the psilocybin is no longer present in the body.
– Flashbacks: parts of the journey are experienced again in the period after use.
– Decreased capacity to judge well, for example in traffic (when the psilocybin is still active in the system)
– There is a small but present risk that the hours / days after one experiences after-effects, such as mood disorders (such as depression), psychosis / psychotic disorders, anxiety attacks, headache and visual disorders (such as flashbacks)

Long term
– The likelihood of addiction is very small. Within a few days after the last time of usage the effect is very little. In addition, a trip can be a fierce experience and most use it ones to several times.
– Whether use of Psilocybin mushrooms can lead to brain damage is not known. Scientific research so far does not in any case indicate this.
– Challenging experiences can leave lasting distress if not properly supported or integrated. Read about bad trips due to wrong set and setting underneath.
– In rare cases, it may exacerbate underlying mental health conditions (e.g., schizophrenia, psychosis, bipolar disorder). This is why we have a profound evaluation process before continueing preparation for the psilocybin retreat.
– Deep insights can shift identity, relationships, or life direction. This can be transformative but also destabilizing without guidance.

Safety is our top priority. The chances of a “bad trip” are drastically reduced in a controlled, supportive environment with experienced facilitators. We prepare you beforehand, help you set intentions, ground yourself, connect to the body and of course we stay with you throughout the psilocybin session(s).

Most negative experiences happen when people take mushrooms without guidance or in unsafe settings. At our Mushroom Awakening psilocybin retreat sessions, we turn what might feel challenging during the journey into a growth opportunity through gentle support and integration practices.

More about bad trips underneath.

A bad trip is defined differently among people. Basically there are two types of bad trips.

Undesired feelings, images or emotions
Number one ‘bad trip” often arises when you’re confronted with difficult emotions or inner experiences that are confronting to face. These may include fear, sadness, guilt, anger, shame, or even disturbing images that evoke such feelings.

This in itself isn’t a problem. In fact, it’s part of the healing process. In our body-mind system, unresolved emotions are like pockets of trapped energy. Normally, we suppress or avoid these uncomfortable states. Psilocybin helps bring them to the surface, allowing them to be released. This is one of the deepest therapeutic values of a psilocybin retreat.

However, if you resist what’s coming up, if you fight or reject these emotions, they can become more intense. Ironically, your effort to avoid pain amplifies it. What could be a moment of healing becomes a struggle. And that struggle is what people often call a ‘bad trip’. In truth, it’s not the feelings themselves that cause suffering, it’s the resistance to them. What those parts of you truly need is loving, accepting attention so they can be felt, integrated, and let go of.

Feeling vulnerable and paranoia in an unsafe environment (set & setting)
Number two type of a bad trip has to do with ill preparation, your company, set and setting. To comfortably dive into a journey, you need to choose a space, which is safe for you, where you can lay down and go through all the sensations without being disturbed. Secondly, you should only do it with people you feel safe and comfortable with. Third, a dose which is too high and comes on too strong might overwhelm you and gets you into a place of panic. You need to feel safe enough to let go of control and to take the slide into magic mushroom land… Not applying the above rules can lead to panic and a strong desire to get out. With a lack of proper guidance by an experienced facilitator or trip sitter you might get lost in the loop of wanting to get out of the trip, then you see you can’t get out, fear increases resulting in an even stronger desire to get out, again realizing you can’t get out, fear increases even further et cetera.

Research
Research on bad trips from the John Hopkins institute shows that for one third of the 1993 participants their bad trip was among the most meaningful experiences of their lives though. It can be difficult, but usually very fruitful as well. Despite difficulties, 84% endorsed benefiting from the experience. It is especially a bad trip if you had expectations of only laughter, fun, love, feelings of inner strength, oneness etc… all the goodies. Journeying is a spiritually and energetically cleansing experience. Therefore the goodies are either at the surface already, or more commonly they are experienced after the layers, which you usually keep away during daily life, are released and lived through.
Possible remedies

What you can do in case of a bad trip

Psychologically
– Often in a state of resistance, you want to get out and you keep trying and asking yourself how you can get out of the trip. The realization that you can’t get out, can increase the panic. Instead, you can ask yourself: ‘How can I make this experience as pleasant as possible? What do I need right now?’. Change your focus to things which are stable, to solutions, love and care for yourself and you will come back to a more peaceful place. Again your facilitator/ tripsitter can help you with this.

– To focus your attention on your body, breath, soothing music or anything stable in the room that gives you support and calms you down, allowing the hurricane of feelings to be what it is, realizing it is just a temporary storm and staying focused on the body. Of course your therapist/ trip sitter can help you with this, by holding your hand and facilitating the mindfulness exercise.

– Furthermore, realizing it is just an appearance in you, it’s not you, can increase your capacity to let it be, let it appear and disappear without the need to struggle with it.

Practically
There isn’t a magic food or drink that instantly cancels psilocybin effects, but there are some approaches that can help reduce intensity or help your body process it more comfortably. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Hydration
Drink water or herbal teas (like ginger or peppermint).
Staying hydrated helps your body metabolize psilocybin and reduces side effects like nausea or dry mouth.
2. Foods
Light, easy-to-digest foods (fruit, toast, crackers) can help stabilize blood sugar and provide grounding.
Ginger may help with nausea.
Heavy or greasy foods generally don’t shorten the trip, but they can sometimes make discomfort worse.
3. Vitamin C
Anecdotally, some people use vitamin C-rich foods (like oranges) to feel more grounded.
There’s no strong evidence it ends the trip, but it may support metabolism and comfort.
4. Sleep & Rest
Letting your body rest or nap can naturally reduce effects as your system metabolizes the psilocybin.
5. Medications
In clinical or emergency settings, benzodiazepines (like diazepam or lorazepam) can be used to reduce anxiety or agitation during a challenging trip.
This should only be done under medical supervision.
6. Time
The most reliable “antidote” is time.
Psilocybin is metabolized into psilocin, which is broken down by the liver and excreted via urine.
Most effects naturally wear off within 4–6 hours, sometimes longer depending on dose.

❌ Things That Do Not Stop a Trip
Coffee, alcohol, or cold showers may change how you feel but do not remove psilocybin from your system.
Activated charcoal does not reliably bind psilocybin once ingested.

Summarizing
Best thing to do when you are experiencing a bad trip is to surrender to the process and seek comfort and support from your trip sitter, facilitator or good friend, depending on the situation. Beforehand realize that rough patches during the journey can happen, generally they occur to teach you about what lives inside of you. Just being with the intense emotions and keep breathing deeply and calmly are part of the healing process.

Many psychedelics are metabolized by an enzyme in your liver called CYP2D6, while several antidepressants (fluoxetine, paroxetine, bupropion, duloxetine) are known to inhibit this enzyme.

Among others, the following medication may cause issues and are therefore not recommended to combine with psilocybin mushrooms.
– Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
– Levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
– Milnacipran (Savella)
– Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)
– Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq, Khedezla)
– Dapoxetine (Priligy)
– Escitalopram (Cipralex, Lexapro)
– Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem)
– Citalopram (Cipramil)
– Sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral)
– Fluvoxamine (Faverin, Luvox)
– Vortioxetine (Viibryd)
– Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
– Phenelzine (Nardil)
– Selegiline (Emsam)
– Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
– Amitriptyline
– Amoxapine
– Desipramine (Norpramin)
– Imipramine (Tofranil)
– Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
– Protriptyline (Vivactil)
– Trimipramine (Surmontil)
– Bupropion (Wellbutrin / Zyban)
– Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)
– Diphenylprolinol (D2PM)
– Ethylphenidate (EPH)
– Pipradrol (Meratran)
– Vortioxetine (Trintellix)
– Trazodone (Desyrel)
– Milnacipran (Savella)
– Venlafaxine (Effexor)
– Lithium Carbonate ER
– Lithobid
– Eskalith
– Lithonate

For more information on the interaction between Psilocybin mushrooms and medication, please consult your general practitioner, enquire at https://www.drugsinfo.nl/contactinformatie (Dutch) or check other official resources on the Internet.

When taking medication and wanting guidance via a psilocybin retreat at Mushroom Awakening private Retreats, a signed letter or a positive response from your general practitioner/ psychiatrist via email is required. If they cannot give you confirmation, you can ask the experts at Drugsinfo.nl and get confirmation there. You can send them an email (in Dutch or English) to vraagbaak@drugsinfo.nl.

You can never eliminate all risks, but through proper preparation and guidance you can drastically reduce the risks and have a wonderful experience.

Below you can find a list of things to think about:
– Make sure someone is there or is nearby, who stays sober and is preferably trained to help you in case you get into a bad trip or panic.
– Take your time and ensure a safe and quiet/familiar environment for a pleasant and safe trip. This is definitely necessary at a higher dose.
– Choose to make the journey yourself at all times. Don’t get persuaded by others, while you don’t really want to do it.
– Consider/discuss in advance how to cope with potentially emerging fears
– If you get anxious, stay calm: The nasty feeling is always temporary.
– Take mushrooms only if you feel good. For safety purposes, this is important. For the therapeutic effect, it doesn’t matter.
– Do not resist what comes to mind. Relax with what is. It usually helps to focus your attention on the body, the touch and the music. Eating or drinking something can help you feel better. Most important is not to flee, but to stay open to whatever comes… you are not in danger, it’s just a thought.
– Buy your magic mushrooms from a reliable source.
– Do not combine mushrooms with alcohol or any other mind altering drug. That increases the chance of a bad trip. When combining with alcohol you feel the narcotic effect of alcohol less. There is a chance that you will take more alcohol than you did without mushrooms.
– Do not partake in traffic if you are under influence. After use, you still have a few hours of lethargy and lack of concentration.
– Make sure you don’t have to do anything important the next day. You can be tired after a trip.

Mentally there are some risks as discussed above. Especially for people who have previously experienced psychosis or other ‘ mental illnesses ‘.

Physically, the mushrooms are completely harmless. Below you see the results of a comparative study:

– As far as the information reaches, it is known that having an overdose of Psilocybin mushrooms is not possible. There are no known cases that someone has died by too much psylocibin in their body
– Research into human usage patterns and studies in non-human primates suggest that psilocybin possesses little or no abuse liability.

Step 1:
Book an exploratory video call with us via the application form. We’ll answer all your questions, walk you through the program, explore the possibilities together, and hear your story and intentions for the journey.
Step 2:
If after the video call, we both/ all choose to do the psilocybin retreat, we’ll send you detailed information to help you prepare, including:
– An overview of actions to prepare for the retreat, including the Psilocybin Mushroom journey
– A document with beautiful venues to choose from
– A digital menu form to choose your preferred meals from
– An agreement to review and sign
– An invoice for the value exchange
Step 3:
Once we receive your deposit, we’ll reserve your chosen venue and begin preparations.
Step 4:
Complete the final payment before the retreat starts.
Step 5:
Have your transformational journey during our private psilocybin retreat! We can help you get here and we’ll guide you throughout the psilocybin retreat and after.

Not at all! Many of our guests are first-timers. We provide education and guidance every step of the way, ensuring you feel safe and informed before, during, and after the experience.

Your privacy is sacred. Mushroom Awakening offers private psilocybin retreats for individuals, couples, and close friends. No large crowds, no distractions, just you and trusted facilitators in a tranquil, secure setting.

Your experience remains confidential, and we never share personal details without your consent.

Payment

The payment is split into two parts:

1. Deposit: This secures your venue and allows us to prepare your retreat. You can pay the deposit via:

• Bank transfer to our European Revolut account (USD or EUR) — preferred for digital payments
• Wise (note: fees may apply)

2. Remaining Balance: This is due 1 week before the start of the retreat. You can pay using the methods listed above in USD or EUR, or (after verification) cash upon arrival in Costa Rican Colones (CRC).

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Cancellations made 30 or more days before the retreat start date are 100% refundable, less any non-refundable venue reservation costs already incurred at the time of cancellation.

Cancellations made 15 to 29 days before the retreat start date are 50% refundable, less any non-refundable venue reservation costs already incurred at the time of cancellation.

Cancellations made less than 15 days (0–14 days) before the retreat start date are non-refundable.

Venue reservation costs are only deducted if a venue has already been booked on your behalf at the time of cancellation. We will provide written documentation of any such costs upon request.

Our private psilocybin retreat is an investment in your mental and emotional health.

Prices vary depending on the length and customization, but consider what’s included:
– Private Expert facilitation
– Safe and luxurious accommodation in Costa Rica’s lush nature
– Personalized preparation and integration support
– Facilitator with therapeutic background and experience in demanding business environments
– For optimal use of your time, we provide one-on-one attention during the psilocybin retreat and during the therapeutic coaching sessions after the event. Our mission is to optimize your healing and realignment journey for profound and lasting change.

Whether this is a fit for you, also investment-wise, is of course always a personal matter.

Check the Retreat Offering page for our programs and standard prices. If, during your introduction video call, we discover that a different structure or length would suit you better, we will prepare a personalized offer with an alternative program proposal.

Integration is where the rubber hits the road.
The real work is maintaining, deepening and embodying the improvements when you depart from Costa Rica and arrive home again. After your psilocybin retreat, we schedule follow-up calls and we’ll give you practical tools, like journaling, meditations, mindfulness exercises, emotional processing techniques, ways to keep deepening your Self realization, connection to the body and yourself, authentic and empowered living and deal with possible challenges you might encounter.

We offer one or two free Integration sessions, with the option to add the Integration program, consisting of another 6 weekly sessions to support and deepen the transformation.

More information about proper integration: Integration of insights into daily life

At Mushroom Awakening, we understand that many people seeking healing or transformation may be using antidepressants or other serotonin-based medications such as SSRIs or SNRIs (e.g., Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, Effexor, Cymbalta, Trintellix, or Buspirone). These medicines often play an important role in supporting emotional balance and daily functioning.

Because psilocybin works primarily through the serotonin system. particularly the 5-HT2A receptor, its effects can be significantly altered by SSRI or SNRI use. When both substances are active in the system, it becomes difficult to predict dosage sensitivity or the depth of the psychedelic experience. Many people report that the effects of psilocybin are noticeably diminished when serotonin reuptake medications are still present. Furthermore, there is a small risk of serotonin syndrome, a potentially dangerous condition caused by excessive serotonin activity.

For these reasons, we generally recommend that anyone wishing to participate consults their prescribing doctor about safely tapering off these medications and allowing a sufficient washout period, often between 1 and 3 months, before attending a retreat. This is essential both for personal safety and for the potential of a meaningful, transformative journey.

Our medical screening process helps determine whether participation is appropriate in your specific case. In some instances, individuals on very low or residual doses may still be considered after careful review. However, please note that we cannot guarantee comparable effects to those experienced by participants who are not using serotonin-based medication.

Your safety, clarity, and well-being are our highest priority. We encourage transparent dialogue with both your healthcare provider and our team before making any decisions about attending a psilocybin retreat.

Please check the entry information before booking to avoid last minute complications.

Latest changes (November 2025): https://ticotimes.net/2025/11/24/costa-rica-updates-visa-requirements-for-foreign-visitors

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Passport: You must travel with a valid, machine-readable passport or travel document. The passport must be valid for the period of your stay as determined at the port of entry. (Visit Costa Rica: Entry Requirements).

Visa: Visa requirements depend on nationality. Many countries (including the US, Canada and most of Europe) enter visa-free for tourism, but whether a visa is required is determined by Costa Rican migration rules. Always check the migration page for your nationality. (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería — Visas). Migración Costa Rica

Maximum stay: For many visa-exempt nationalities the authorised stay that can be granted at entry is now up to 180 days (the exact number of days is at the discretion of the immigration officer and may be less). Do not assume a fixed length—confirm the stamp in your passport on arrival. (Decree and Migration guidance on visitor stays). Migración Costa Rica

Proof of onward/return travel: Be prepared to show an onward or return ticket when requested by immigration. (Visit Costa Rica: Entry Requirements).

Proof of funds: Immigration may ask you to show you have sufficient funds for your stay. Be ready with cards, bank statements, or cash.

Yellow fever / health: Costa Rica may require a yellow fever vaccination certificate for travellers arriving from or transiting through certain risk countries. Rules and implementation dates have changed recently; check the Ministry of Health for the latest requirements and how to obtain the certificate. (Ministerio de Salud — Fiebre Amarilla). Ministerio de Salud Costa Rica

Driving with a foreign licence: Foreign driver’s licences are generally valid for the duration of your authorised stay (now aligned with the authorised stay of up to 180 days under recent legal reforms). Check COSEVI / MOPT guidance if you plan to drive. (Legislative reforms / COSEVI). Procuraduría General de la República

Customs/cash: You must declare large amounts of cash (typically US$10,000 or equivalent). Follow customs rules on restricted items. (Visit Costa Rica / Customs guidance).

Options for checking the latest official information (verify before travel)
Visit Costa Rica — Entry Requirements: https://www.visitcostarica.com/planning-your-trip/entry-requirements. Visit Costa Rica
While this site is maintained by the Costa Rican Tourism Board and provides traveller-oriented guidance, it does not replace the legal regulations from Costa Rican immigration and health authorities.

The official government portal for tourism in Costa Rica is ICT (https://ict.go.cr). For immigration and entry regulations, see DGME (https://www.migracion.go.cr). Because web-updates can lag and sites may be temporarily unavailable, we advise travelers to verify entry rules with their airline or nearest Costa Rica embassy as well, within 72 hours of travel.