Travel Information and Research Station Protocols
Updated November 29, 2022
The Organization for Tropical Studies is happy to share our response regarding Covid-19 (coronavirus). We regularly monitor the CDC (Center for Disease Control), the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory and the Ministerio de Salud de Costa Rica (Costa Rica Ministry of Health) websites, among others, for the latest updates on issues of concern.
CDC recommends delaying international travel until you are fully vaccinated. You should think of taking a viral test no more than three days before travel. If positive, do not travel. U.S. cititzens are not required by the U.S. to get tested before leaving the country, and you are not required to self-quarantine or show a negative Covid test when returning to the United States. Face coverings are encouraged, but not required, in U.S. airports or airlines.
Visitors arriving to Costa Rica or South Africa do not need to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test, and there are no active Covid-related entry restrictions in either country.
OTS will continue to monitor government websites for changes to travel advisory levels for all countries in which we have operations.
If you have questions, please contact us by email.
Visiting our stations:
The procedures for visiting our Costa Rica stations (i.e. changes in admission procedures, social distancing, food service, required personal protective equipment, etc.) are available online, both in English and in Spanish. Please review this information prior to your arrival.
FAQs for OTS Study Abroad
Please click here for more information for our students enrolled in our study abroad programs.