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Costa Rica boasts eco-adventures, white sand beaches and a tropical vibe, so it’s no surprise it’s a popular vacation destination.
You may be planning a Costa Rica trip to experience the wonders of the Poas Volcano, a white-water rafting adventure on the Sarapiqui River or snorkeling on the beaches by Puerto Viejo. Regardless of your itinerary, consider packing a travel insurance plan. It can help reimburse your nonrefundable trip costs if unexpected events derail your trip.
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Best Travel Insurance for Costa Rica Trips
The best travel insurance policies package together valuable benefits that safeguard your trip investment if problems arise before or during your trip. Here are our top-rated plans.
Source: Forbes Advisor Research. Average costs are based on various trip costs, ages and number of travelers.
Source: Forbes Advisor Research. Average costs are based on various trip costs, ages and number of travelers.
Cost of Travel Insurance for Costa Rica
The nonrefundable cost of your trip is the primary factor that affects how much you pay for travel insurance.
The more you spend on your trip (and insure the trip for), the higher the potential claim payout is for the travel insurance company. For example, the average cost of travel insurance is about $1,050 for a $20,000 trip but only $59 for a $1,000 trip, based on our analysis.
The average travel insurance cost is usually 4% to 6% of the trip cost, with 5% being the average, according to our evaluation of trips costing $1,000 to $50,000.
How Age Affects Travel Insurance Costs
Your age is also a major factor that determines how much you pay for travel insurance. The older you are, the higher the likelihood of filing a medical expense claim. Travelers age 60 and older generally pay the most for coverage.
If you’re a senior planning a trip, you’ll need to budget, on average, an additional 7% to 17% of your trip cost to cover a senior travel insurance policy.
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Types of Travel Insurance Coverage for a Trip to Costa Rica
How To Choose the Best Travel Insurance for Costa Rica
The best travel insurance policy for your Costa Rica trip depends on your particular preferences and what you plan to do when you arrive.
Travel Medical and Evacuation Limits
Travel medical expense limits vary significantly among plans—generally ranging from $25,000 to $500,000. If you want the highest amount of coverage and are concerned about medical costs, it’s probably prudent to buy a policy with $250,000 or $500,000 in benefits.
Medical evacuation coverage can be as low as $100,000, but many policies provide $500,000 or $1 million. If you are planning to explore remote areas of Costa Rica, it’s worth considering a higher amount of medical evacuation coverage.
Adventure Sports
Adventure sports—such as hang gliding, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving below certain depths—and activities, like biking on unmarked trails, are usually excluded from standard travel insurance policies. If you plan on this kind of thrill-seeking fun, look for a policy that offers add-on coverage for an extra charge. Some examples include:
World Nomads specializes in adventure activities and includes coverage in its policies
Baggage Insurance
If all you’re packing is t-shirts, flip-flops, shorts and bathing suits, you probably don’t need a high amount of baggage insurance. The coverage per person for baggage insurance on most travel insurance policies ranges from $250 to $3,000. Most travel insurance policies also have a per-item coverage cap of $50 to $500.
Even if you are traveling with pricey possessions, note that some policies exclude certain items from coverage, such as watches, silver, gold and platinum. Some policies also exclude laptops, cameras and other electronic equipment. If these belongings are on your packing list, be sure to ask if your travel insurance policy covers these items before you buy it.
Cruises
Typically, the only difference between “cruise insurance” and standard travel insurance is that travel insurance for cruises usually includes coverage for missed connections and cruise-related travel inconveniences. For example, if your ship arrives late at the next port of call. If you’re cruising to Costa Rica, consider checking out the Cruise Insurance plan from Seven Corners and the Cruise Luxury plan from Nationwide.
Delays
If you’re worried about incurring extra costs due to a delay, look for policies with high limits. Travel delay benefits usually range from $500 to $3,000. Baggage delay benefits can range from $200 to $1,000. You’ll also want to find a policy with a short required waiting period for delay benefits, such as six hours.
Pet Coverage
Expenses for injuries to your pet while traveling with you and kennel fees if you return home late from a trip are examples of pet coverage you can add to a policy or find included in some travel plans. The Elevate plan from WorldTrips and the Ultimate plan from Travelex both offer pet-related benefits as add-on coverage. The IMG iTravelInsured LX plan’s trip cancellation and interruption benefits cover sickness, injury or death of a dog or cat and include $500 in kennel benefits.
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Travel Inconvenience Coverage
Some policies pay a modest amount to reimburse you for minor travel hiccups, for example, if you have a tarmac delay or a ticketed event in your itinerary is canceled. The Ultimate Policy from Travelex is one.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Costa Rica Trips
What should I do if I need to make an emergency medical claim in Costa Rica?
The process for filing medical expense claims varies by travel insurance company and policy. Before you depart on your trip, review the information in your policy on how to file claims so you’re familiar with the claims process. Some travel insurers can arrange to pay the hospital directly, while others reimburse you after you file a claim. Regardless, it’s best to call the 24/7 hotline number listed on your policy or ID card as soon as possible. Your travel insurance company will help coordinate care and explain payment and claims processes.
When should I buy travel insurance for a trip to Costa Rica?
It’s wise to buy travel insurance immediately after you make your first trip deposit. That way, you get the maximum length of time for cancellation coverage. Plus, you’ll qualify for time-sensitive benefits, such as CFAR and pre-existing medical condition exclusion waivers.
Can I use my American health insurance while traveling to Costa Rica?
U.S. health plans usually have limited or no coverage in other countries. Ask your health insurance provider if your coverage is applicable abroad.
There’s a moment just before every journey begins that feels suspended in time. You close the suitcase. You glance at your boarding pass. The world feels wide open—inviting, electric, full of possibility.
For many travelers, the promise of summer is just that: the sea’s shimmer, the deep blue stretch of sky, stars twinkling above a quiet beach, or the crisp air at the summit of a long-awaited mountain climb. This is the season for new landscapes, new languages, and unforgettable stories.
And yet, seasoned travelers know that while spontaneity adds magic to any adventure, preparation adds freedom. That’s where travel health insurance—and more specifically, Dunav Insurance Company’s policy—comes in.
“Travel health insurance provides protection against unforeseen medical expenses due to injury or health problems that may occur during a trip or stay abroad,” explains Ljubomir Zec, Director of Internal and External Sales at Dunav Insurance Company. “Our travel health insurance policy covers the costs of sudden and urgent medical interventions, outpatient and inpatient treatment, necessary medication, and transportation to the nearest medical facility.”
It’s a practical consideration, certainly. But it’s also a mindset. A traveler who is covered travels differently—more boldly, more fully. There’s a confidence in knowing you’re not navigating the unexpected alone.
Travel insurance. Photo credit: Shutterstock
What sets Dunav’s travel policy apart is its combination of ease, speed, and digital accessibility. In a few taps, on a smartphone or computer, the entire process is complete—no lines, no delays.
“Purchasing a travel health insurance policy online is quick and easy,” says Zec. “No matter where you are—at home on your computer, out on the street, or even in your car—you can complete this important policy in just a few minutes. Simply enter the details from your travel documents, along with your destination and trip duration, and you’ll not only be covered but also enjoy a 10% discount on your premium.”
For those who have experienced a sudden illness or injury while abroad, the importance of 24/7 access to reliable support cannot be overstated. Dunav’s dedicated Contact Center—reachable at +381 11 36 36 940—offers real-time assistance, day or night.
“Our friendly operators will provide all the necessary information and guidance to help ease your situation,” Zec says. He notes that coverage can reach up to €35,000 for a modest premium. “If you’re unable to get in touch with our center at a critical moment, be sure to keep all medical records and receipts. This way, upon your return, you can claim reimbursement for expenses covered under your travel health insurance policy.”
That blend of accessibility, financial protection, and customer care is the reason more and more travelers are making room in their itinerary for one essential extra: a Dunav travel health insurance policy.
Because while it can’t predict the unexpected, it ensures that when it happens—you’re ready.
To learn more or secure your policy before you travel, visit Dunav Insurance online or contact their dedicated team at +381 800 386 286 (toll-free in Serbia).
The Government has been pushing for reforms around transparency in the insurance industry, but just how necessary are they?
Fitness Instructor Donna Dunne got in touch with Lunchtime Live about a harrowing holiday experience, and how travel insurance may not make up for it.
Ms Dunne’s family camper van was broken into and robbed while on a holiday with her father and two teenage daughters in the south of France.
The culprits took the family’s passports, wallets and bank cards, leaving them to make their way across the country to the Irish embassy with only about €13 between them.
“The robbery was one thing; getting home was one thing; but since I’m home, it’s a different ball game,” she said.
“And actually, one hundred million times worse than being broken into.
“The insurance company were expecting me to submit documentation and evidence of what was the expiry date left on my passport [in order to cover the renewal fee].
“Without sounding funny, I’d have to go to your man in France who robbed me and say, ‘Sorry, would you mind if I just saw the document? I don’t know the expiry date’.”
Bored person on hold on their phone. Image: Antonio Guillem Fernández / Alamy Stock Photo
According to Ms Dunne, these requirements were not visible to her on her policy documents.
Consumer Journalist Siobhan Maguire said “the lack of consistency across travel insurance policies makes it so difficult for consumers to keep pace with what they’re supposed to do”.
“I’ve actually watched Donna’s videos on Instagram and when she talked about the passport issue, I thought, well I’m on the same travel policy, I’ll go check mine,” she said.
“I went though everything with a fine tooth comb and could find absolutely nothing relating to a travel cover in relation to your passport and how much is left in terms of its usage and how much you’ll be compensated as a result.”
Ms Maguire said “that, to me, was baffling”.
Ms Dunne also cited a range of other issues she had run into with her insurance, including being asked to provide photo evidence of each bag that had been stolen.
Main image: Stressed woman at desk. Image: Kateryna Onyshchuk / Alamy Stock Photo
Federal authorities are warning Americans that traveling to two Southeast Asian countries can be dangerous and they should be extra cautious if visiting. They also advise against traveling to the countries’ border altogether.
The U.S. Department of State advisory level for Thailand and Cambodia were increased Friday to a Level 2, “exercise increased caution.”
The travel advisories were raised due to unrest in Thailand and concerns for crime and landmines in Cambodia, according to the advisories.
The U.S. government also issued a Level 4 “do not travel” advisory, advising against traveling within about 30 miles of the Thai and Cambodian border due to fighting between the countries’ military forces that started in May.
“There are reports of fighting, including rocket and artillery fire, between Cambodian and Thai forces along the border. Armed conflict has led to reports of civilian casualties,” the advisors read. “There is a collateral risk of violence, and U.S. citizens are advised to avoid all but essential travel to within 50km of these border areas until further notice. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in these provinces due to the ongoing risk of armed conflict.”
The caution regarding travel to Thailand is “due to civil unrestassociated with ongoing insurgent activities in the Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat provinces,” that advisory said.
There is occasional violence between Thai security services and armed insurgents in those three southernmost provinces, the advisory explained, and 17 districts in that region are under a state of emergency due to the violence. Visitors risk getting caught up in the fighting and U.S. officials can’t guarantee they’d be able to help, the advisory warned.
The issue in Cambodia is different. That country’s capital city, Phnom Penh, is dealing with street crime, with many travelers losing their phone and bags to thieves, that advisory said. Sexual assault and murder are also concerns.
Landmines and unexploded ordnances are the concern in the provinces of Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap, Pailin, and Kampong Thom, the advisory said, particularly in forested areas and dry rice paddies.
If you decide to travel to Cambodia or Thailand, the U.S. Department of State advises:
“Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency.
The government highly recommends you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage.”
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