Costa Rica
Local Laws & Customs
Last verified August 21, 2026
Written for U.S. passport holders
Public Conduct
- Drinking alcohol on public streets or inside parked vehicles is prohibited; tourists caught drinking in unauthorized public spaces face fines around ₡180,000 (roughly $360).
Medicines You Can't Bring
- Bring medications in original, labeled packaging with a copy of the prescription; some controlled stimulant and opioid medications may draw scrutiny at customs without it.
Photography & Drones
- Drones require registration with Costa Rica's civil aviation authority (DGAC) for most recreational and all commercial use, and flying in national parks or protected areas is generally restricted without a permit.
Drugs & Alcohol
- The legal drinking age is 18.
- Costa Rica has a zero-tolerance policy toward drugs for tourists specifically: even though marijuana enforcement is relatively relaxed for personal use among locals, buying, selling, or carrying it as a foreigner risks police trouble and potential deportation, not just a local warning.
Carrying ID
- Carry your passport (or a clear copy) when going out, especially if you look close to the drinking age; it's what bars, restaurants, and liquor stores will ask for.
The Gotcha
Costa Rica's laid-back reputation for cannabis (locals often smoking relatively openly) doesn't extend to tourists in practice, foreigners specifically risk deportation for the same conduct that draws little attention from a local. Don't read the general vibe as permission; the actual legal exposure for a visitor is meaningfully higher.
Sources
This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change, so check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.
- Costa Rica International Travel Information (U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs)