CDC Issues Travel Advisory for Costa Rica
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is alerting travelers to exercise caution in Costa Rica due to an outbreak of a mosquito-borne illness. An updated travel advisory highlights the chikungunya virus’s spread, particularly in the Guanacaste Province, especially around Playa Langosta.
The CDC advises those planning to visit affected areas to consider vaccination and to protect themselves using insect repellent along with wearing long clothing.
Symptoms of chikungunya may take up to a week to manifest, and include joint pain, rashes, headaches, muscle pain, and swelling. While most cases resolve within a week, some individuals may experience severe joint pain that lingers for months or even years. Vulnerable populations, such as newborns, older adults, and individuals with conditions like diabetes, may face more serious effects.
Since the outbreak was identified, around 5,000 homes have been fumigated, and further targeted actions have been implemented across other locations, as stated by Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health.
The Ministry noted, “Upon detection of the situation, the institution quickly activated surveillance and control measures to reduce virus transmission and protect the health of residents, workers, and visitors in the area.”
Playa Langosta is well-known for its beautiful beaches and excellent surf conditions, situated close to Playa Tamarindo, one of Costa Rica’s most famous beaches.
This advisory comes at a time when over 2.6 million travelers visited Costa Rica in 2025 for personal reasons, primarily seeking leisure and recreation, according to the Costa Rican Tourism Board.
The CDC has issued previous warnings regarding chikungunya outbreaks, having alerted travelers about similar situations in the Seychelles and currently having advisories for regions like French Guiana, Mauritius, Suriname, and Bolivia.
In addition to chikungunya, the CDC regularly updates travel health notices for various destinations, categorizing them from Level 1 to Level 4. Presently, there are no Level 4 advisories, but the agency does caution against nonessential travel to certain regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to an ongoing Ebola outbreak.
