Costa Rica - Clearance
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Stopping along the coast before clearing into the country is not (officially) allowed, but in the north, at least, checks are not often made. However, you may be told to proceed immediately to a Port of Entry.
PRE-ARRIVAL
Ensure you have sufficient copies (up to 5 each) of all the required documents (boat papers, passports, insurance, zarpe from previous port, list of the 5 ports previously visited with dates and crew list).
Note: US cruisers have reported being asked for original documentation (in Golfito) and have had to place their boat in bond at a marina until the originals could be couriered to them. Banana Bay and Fish Hook marinas are the only 2 facilities in Golfito that can bond vessels.
ARRIVAL FORMALITIES
Ports of Entry:
Quepos and Puntarenas have higher clearance charges than other POEs. Golfito is reported to be more reasonable [$300 reported in 2022].
Advance Notification:
Customs should, if possible, be notified 72 hrs in advance of arrival to report a firm arrival location and ETA. This can only be done via an agent but will help speed up the clearance process.
Formalities can be lengthy and some visiting boats in the past have had difficulties with the officials. This may be due to the lack of Spanish as all forms are completed in Spanish, therefore if you don’t speak the language, you might find it advantageous to employ an agent [although this does incur a cost as noted above].
It will certainly be necessary to employ an agent if you wish to get a permit to visit Isla del Coco. See Restrictions for details on visiting Isla del Coco and Cana.
General Process:
Because of problems that may be encountered with officials in other ports, it is essential to make sure at the first Port of Entry that all requirements are complied with, such as the temporary importation permit.
Port officials will usually visit the yacht on entering Costa Rica. In general working hours are 08:00-16:00 Monday to Friday, seven days a week. Overtime may be charged for clearance outside these hours.
- Immigration (Oficina de Migracion y Extrangeria): Clearance papers from the last port or country must be shown and passports must have an exit stamp from Immigration in the last country.
- Customs Office (Puesto Aduanero): Customs on arrival will issue a Temporary Import Certificate (Certificado de Entrada) for the yacht (see Customs for more details).
- Port Captain (Capitania): For registration of arrival and Zarpe for departure to next port (both domestic and international Zarpes). Note that if staying in the port of entry for more than 24 hours, a second visit to the Port Captain will be required to secure a Zarpe. There is an entry clearance charge by the Capitania and in some ports there are charges for exit zarpes. Between 0800 and 1500 the service of the Capitania is free. Outside these times overtime will be charged (see Fees for more details).
- Quarantine: This office requires payment during check-in for a visit from SENASA (Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal). The payment needs to be deposited at a bank and once you have a receipt a visit can be scheduled by phone. One solution is to have a Marina do the money transfer and scheduling (Banana Bay in Golfito offer this service). The quarantine officer will then come to the marina and will have to be brought to the boat to inspect your fridge/freezers/stores and ask for possible pets. Payment is mandatory, even if an inspection doesn’t happen. See Biosecurity and Fees for more details.
Domestic Cruising:
You need a national Zarpe to go from one port to another (even if just going across the bay from an anchorage to a marina). In subsequent ports of entry, the captain may go ashore to clear with the port captain and show the clearance certificate (Zarpe).
CLEARING OUT
The port captain at the port of departure will issue an international departure certificate (Zarpe) specifying the country of destination. Those intending to stop before leaving Costa Rican waters should make this clear when clearing out.
Immigration must also be visited before departure.
Last updated: July 2023
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Related to following destinations: Costa Rica
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Just checked into the country at Playa del Coco, Costa Rica, DIY style. Port captain sent us right to Migracion, about two blocks down the street. Back to Port Captain at 8am next morning (closed at 3). List of last 5 ports and dates required at both captania and migracion, but no zarpes needed but for previous port. After that, a trip to aduana was needed. 800 colones for a bus to the airport. The old Aduana office (1 mi past the airport) appears to be closed. With some persistence, we were able to find someone at the airport who as able to find an aduana representative to help us with the TIP.
Return to Capitania required for a domestic zarpe if you’re looking to move along. 32000 colones for a van back to Del Coco from the airport. No fees from any of the officials otherwise. No ag inspection at the boat.
Under Formalities, Pre-arrival mentions an insurance requirement, but insurance is not listed under the Documents section. Has anyone had recent experience suggesting that boat insurance is required for entry?
Thanks!
Do not use the Nautica agent in Coco, see my comments under their listing. Use the agent that Marina Papagayo recommends.
Just checked in via Golfito, anyone coming north highly recommend Gabriela at Banana Bay Marina. Was able to check-in and deal with vessel temp import all in about a couple hrs. Very smooth process.
Costa Rica Tourism website has updated showing a plan for accepting yachts starting Sept 1st. Details at visitcostarica.com
Thanks so much for the update – it’s really appreciated! We’ve updated Noonsite.
Hi from Distant Drummer
We’ve just been through the process of getting a permit for Isla del Coco and thought it was worth sharing the “latest” information.
You can download the forms from www. isladelcoco.go.cr
Fill in the application form for entry to PNIC and deliver it or send it to the Director of the ACMIC at the address below. Allow a minimum of 15 days prior to the date of expected arrival in PNIC.
Área de Conservación Marina Cocos
Parque Ecológico SINAC
Santo Domingo de Heredia (antiguo Inbio Parque)
The form must be sent with a cover letter giving the following additional information:
1. Full name, gender, passport number, nationality, date of birth for each person
2. Diving certification number of each diver
3. Itinerary of the activities planned in PNIC for each day of the visit including the number of persons carrying out each activity
Support documents:
1. Certified copies of passports for each person
2. Certified copy of the certification of seaworthiness or equivalent documents which specify the range of the vessel *
3. Evidence of permission to operate in Costa Rican waters. We submitted copies of our Zarpe and our Certificate of Temporary Importation
4. An affidavit stating that the vessel complies with the following requirements:
a) effective systems for handling emergencies
b) a holding tank for sanitary waste
c) a radio with marine frequencies
5. If you are planning on diving an affidavit stating that if the vessel meets the following requirements:
a) a life vest for each passenger
b) equipment necessary for a marine rescue
* We did not have a “Certificate of Seaworthiness” so we included in the affidavit a statement outlining our sailing experience on board Distant Drummer. We included certified copies of our arrival documents in French Polynesia and Hawaii to demonstrate nautical miles covered.
Notes:
They ask for an address or fax number to receive notifications but you can use an email address if you prefer. If you deliver the documents to their office by hand they will want to see the original copies of all the support documents. If you are sending the application in by mail you will need to get all the support documents certified.
Make sure you clearly understand the fees as they are pretty high and stack up quickly. The document explaining the tariffs is Decreto Tarifas ASP – No. 38295.pdf and is 25 pages of Spanish. Read the parts about Isla del Coco (PNIC). In summary for us:
• Admission: $50 per person per day
• Anchoring for vessel <15m: $40 per day
• Snorkeling: $10 per person per day
• Diving: sorry – not sure about this but there will be a fee
A very good contact for information and questions is Johanning Corrales Vega (johanning.corrales@sinac.go.cr). He answers emails promptly and completely and was very helpful to us.
Hope this is useful
Suzy Carmody
S/V Distant Drummer
http://www.carmody-clan.com
Cocos Island, Costa Rica
Diver Killed by Tiger Shark
As reported by https://scubadiverlife.com
On Thursday, Nov. 30, a tiger shark at Cocos Island, Costa Rica bit and killed a diver and injured the instructor she was diving with while they were awaiting pickup from their liveaboard’s skiff. This is the first fatal attack to ever happen in the area.
Posted on Women Who Sail Facebook Page
Re: Tropical Storm Nate – 5 October 2017
Here in Costa Rica, we are being hit hard by Nate, and it’s all about the flooding. Mudslides, bridges out, roads closed, six confirmed dead so far, 600 reportedly homeless, 5000 in shelters, houses sliding off mountains.
We have moored up a tidal estuary in Puntarenas, and when the tide and the river are going the same way, it’s pretty intense; lots of uprooted trees going by or sometimes getting hung up on us. Costa Rica will recover, but it’s going to be grim for Nicaragua.
Just to update Paul’s comment above. If you’re a CR resident and your boat isn’t registered in CR, the tax is not 85%. As of 2015, it’s 69%. An official telling you it’s a higher rate, it may have been changed, but as of 2016, it’s still 69%. Still outrageous, but mildly better.
Do not enter this country on your non-CR registered vessel if you are a CR resident (pensionado, rentista, etc.). CR Customs will hit you with the import tax at 85% of the value of the boat and the news that residents are not allowed cruising permits. I was ordered to pay up or leave immediately when I asked for a cruising permit at Golfito in March 2015. I left!