Which Vaccines Are Recommended When Visiting Costa Rica in 2025

As schools and colleges begin their winter vaccinations in December 2025, many students are heading south to warmer weather.

One of the most popular destinations this year is the Republic of Costa Rica.

While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights that routine vaccines, such as measles, are needed before traveling abroad, several mosquito-transmitted viruses are currently infecting people in Costa Rica.

The positive news is that fewer infections are being confirmed in this Central American country.

Moreover, infection risks vary by city, such as San Juan, in the central mountains, or at the beach.

On December 5, 2025, the Costa Rica Health Department's Boletín Epidemiológico N° 46 confirmed recent cases of Chikungunya, Dengue, Malaria, and Zika virus infections.

So far in 2025, eight cases of Chikungunya have been reported. Last year, over 40 cases were reported.

Over 5,400 Dengue cases were reported in 2025. About 31,200 cases were reported in 2024.

And 12 cases of Malaria had been reported in Costa Rica. In 2024, 200 cases were reported.

Furthermore, the seldon discussed, but very serious Zika virus has caused 11 cases, far fewer than the 32 reported in 2024.

Regarding accessing preventive vaccines before a trip to Costa Rica, a travel consultant is best suited to answer questions, as some vaccines are available globally but not in the United States. Other vaccines, such as those for Zika, are still in clinical trials in late 2025.

In the U.S., travel clinics such as PassportHealth commercially offer consulting sessions for international travelers.