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Can you bring alcohol to Costa Rica?

Short answer
Allowed, within limits

  • Alcohol

    allowed, within limits

    5 litres of wine, aguardiente or liquor per adult traveller, duty-free, as part of baggage

    Art. 365(j) of the customs regulation (Decreto 44051-H) counts as duty-free traveller baggage 'Quinientos gramos de tabaco elaborado, cinco litros de vino, aguardiente o licor, por cada viajero mayor de edad y hasta dos kilogramos de golosinas.' The text does not mention beer separately; it says 'wine, aguardiente or liquor'. Baggage must be for personal use, not commercial. Anything above the allowance counts as goods other than baggage (see the US$500-equivalent allowance row) and must be declared on the Declaración de Viajero (art. 368).

    Also covers: alcohol, wine, beer, spirits, liquor, rum, whisky, vodka, aguardiente, licor, vino

    Source Reglamento a la Ley General de Aduanas, Decreto Ejecutivo N° 44051-H (18 May 2023), arts. 365–371 — SCIJ/Sinalevi, Procuraduría General de la RepúblicaChecked against the source on 2026-10-09

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Informational only — not legal advice. Customs rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. See update history