Pet food at hotel roomPhoto Credit : Sarah_Ackerman
I get it. You love your pets so much that you don’t want to leave them, even to visit somewhere as amazing as my home, Costa Rica. Well, the good news is that with some planning and preparation, you can bring your furry friend with you on your travels!
Know Before You Go
It’s very important to know the restrictions of the country that you’re visiting. To enter Costa Rica with your pet, you’ll need certificates for their health and rabies shots. You’ll also need an invoice that shows your pet’s market value or purchase price. Don’t bring your pet bird though; birds can enter Costa Rica but they can’t leave.
Happy dog having fun at the OceanPhoto Credit : Jorge Quinteros
7 Days / 6 Nights
Starting at $779 per person
Traveling with a Pet
First, you have to check if the airline you are flying into Costa Rica accepts pets on board. If so, you may want to consider getting a pet passport. Yes, this is a real thing! I personally don’t have one since my travels are restricted to Costa Rica, but it is a handy little piece of paper to have for your pets. Don’t forget to check average temperatures for your departure and arrival destinations, since there are some restrictions based on temperatures. You also may want to check with your arrival airport to see if they need any sort of advance notification that you are arriving with a pet.
Someone is very happy and ready to travelPhoto Credit : DrivingtheNortheastGetting Around with a Pet
Whether you are planning on taking public transportation or renting a car, you need to consider how you are going to get around with your pet. Call ahead to ask if your car rental is pet friendly, or to see if there are any options for pet-friendly public transportation.
Bed and Food ready at the hotelPhoto Credit : Sarah_AckermanLodging with a Pet
Whew! You've done a lot of planning and preparing! Once you have arrived, there is one more thing left to consider: lodging. This should definitely be done in advance if you plan on staying at a hotel or hostel. You’ll need to make reservations and let them know that you will have a pet. Make sure you are prepared to tell the hotel the breed, general size and weight of your pet when you are making your arrangements.
If you can’t find a pet-friendly hotel in the Costa Rica province that you’re staying in, you can consider camping instead. You may not be able to stay in an all-inclusive, five star resort, but you’ll get a more eco-friendly Costa Rica experience if you choose more alternative lodging options.
Ok, finally these are some "pet friendly" hotel options, but it's very easy to find it in one of Costa Rica's many lodging options!
Guau, Guau, Miauuuu, I mean... See you soon!!
