Costa Rica - Documents
Yachtgala is a local agent based in the Galapagos Islands for cruisers, we assist cruisers in all the services they required during their stay in Galapagos Islands with the most competitive prices.
We provide services such as obtaining entry permit to Galapagos waters, technical services, tours etc.
Contact Yachtgala on Ph: +593 98 157 0856 or cruisers@yachtgala.com.ec.
WhatsApp us on https://wa.me/593981570856
Visit us at https://www.yachtgala.com.ec
CloseOn Entering the Country:
- Certificate of Documentation of the vessel
- Crew List
- Copy of crew passports (front page only)
- Name of the last five ports of call visited and dates visited
- [if applicable] Copy Power of Attorney or Letter of Authority, issued by vessel’s owner to the captain, with authorization to sail through international waters (copy notarized)
Ensure you have sufficient copies (up to 5 each) of all the required documents.
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 original could be couriered to them.
National Marine Parks:
National Parks are now enforcing the requirement for a permit and making the associated charges, however not all offices know the rules, so finding the correct information can be hard.
See Restrictions for more details.
Fishing license:
Any vessel with fishing equipment on board must have a license. Fishing licenses are issued by INCOPESCA, the Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Agriculture. The cost is USD $15.00 for a period of 1-8 days; $30.00 for a period of 30 days, and $50.00 for a year. You don’t have to buy a license before you arriva as INCOPESCA have offices at most marinas.
Last updated: July 2023
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
Next Section: Formalities: Fees
Related to following destinations: Costa Rica
Country Navigation
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comMain Ports - Costa Rica
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comFormalities
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.com
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!