Canadian Medical Travel Coordination
Quick Facts
Last updated: June 2026
Visa for Canadians
No visa required. Canadian passport holders are granted up to 180 days on arrival, with the exact length set by the immigration officer. See travel.gc.ca for current entry rules.
Official language and hospital languages
Spanish. Care teams at the private hospitals used by international patients work in English, and at Hospital Clínica Bíblica also in French.
Currency
Costa Rican colón (CRC). Credit cards are widely accepted. US dollars exchange easily; Canadian dollars do not.
Flights from Canada to Costa Rica
Costa Rica's main hospital city is San José, served by Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), about 20 minutes from the private hospital districts of San José and Escazú.
from Toronto (YYZ)
to San José (SJO)
Direct: Yes
Flight time: 5h 30m
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 365 to 500 / peak CAD 600 to 900
from Vancouver (YVR)
to San José (SJO)
Direct: No, one stop
Flight time: 10 to 11h total
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 500 to 750 / peak CAD 800 to 1,100
from Calgary (YYC)
to San José (SJO)
Direct: No, one stop
Flight time: 9.5h+ total
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 500 to 800 / peak CAD 800 to 1,100
from Montreal (YUL)
to San José (SJO)
Direct: Yes
Flight time: 5h 45m to 6h
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 480 to 650 / peak CAD 700 to 1,000
Fares are indicative and shift with season and booking lead time. The lowest-fare window is the May to November green season; the December to April dry season runs noticeably higher.
Where to Stay
Most international patients stay in Escazú or Santa Ana, west of central San José, close to the private hospitals and generally considered safer and quieter than the downtown core. San José sits at about 1,170 metres in the Central Valley, with daytime highs in the mid-20s Celsius year-round, cool mornings, and low humidity, so there is no extreme tropical heat to recover in. During the green season (May to November), rain tends to fall in predictable afternoon showers rather than full days, with September and October the wettest months.
3-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD 55 to 90
Per week, 7 nights
CAD 385 to 630
4-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD 130 to 160
Per week, 7 nights
CAD 910 to 1,120
5-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD 135 to 280
Per week, 7 nights
CAD 945 to 1,960
Safety and Travel
The Government of Canada's current advice for Costa Rica is "exercise a high degree of caution" due to crime, which is level 2 of 4 and the same level applied to many common European destinations. Petty crime, including pickpocketing and purse snatching, occurs frequently in busy tourist areas. Violent crime occurs but is mostly drug-related and concentrated outside the main hospital districts. The hospital districts of Escazú and Santa Ana, where international patients usually stay, are modern, affluent areas generally considered safer than the downtown core.
The Government of Canada also warns specifically about methanol-contaminated alcohol sold in Costa Rica, which has caused serious illness and deaths; for any patient recovering from surgery, avoid unfamiliar spirits and only combine alcohol with prescribed painkillers after surgeon clearance. Use official taxis (orange at the airport, red with a yellow triangle elsewhere) or hospital-arranged transfers. The full current advisory is published at https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/costa-rica
Featured Treatments in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has been formally promoted as a medical destination since 2006 by PROMED, the country's official non-profit medical tourism chamber, and the Medical Tourism Index placed Costa Rica first in Latin America in its most recent published edition. Maple Med Global works in continuous coordination with PROMED and selects providers from clinics and hospitals that hold PROMED's Seal of Quality.
Dental Treatment
Dental care is the largest single category of medical tourism in Costa Rica. Clinics in San José, Escazú, and Santa Ana routinely use premium implant systems and are staffed by dentists trained in the US, Europe, or Brazil.
Learn more about dental care with Maple Med Global
Bariatric Surgery
The second-largest specialty for international patients in Costa Rica. Performed in JCI-accredited private hospitals with established programs for North American patients.
Learn more about bariatric surgery with Maple Med Global
Orthopedic Surgery
The third-largest specialty by international patient volume. Both leading JCI-accredited hospitals run dedicated orthopedic teams with North American and European training.
Learn more about orthopedic solutions with Maple Med Global
Plastic Surgery
A long-established Costa Rica strength. Surgeons are frequently certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or its European equivalents, operating inside JCI-accredited hospitals.
Costs and Canadian Wait Times
Costa Rica's draw for Canadians is twofold: meaningful savings on procedures Canadians already pay for privately (dental, cosmetic), and immediate scheduling for procedures that face multi-month or multi-year public waits in Canada (orthopedic, bariatric).
Dental implant (single, with abutment and crown)
Costa Rica: CAD 1,100 to 2,350
Canada, private: CAD 3,000 to 6,000
All-on-4 (per arch)
Costa Rica: CAD 11,700 to 16,600
Canada, private: CAD 20,000 to 30,000
Gastric sleeve
Costa Rica: CAD 7,600 to 17,500
Canada, public wait: Bariatric surgery in Canada averages around three years
Gastric bypass
Costa Rica: CAD 9,000 to 20,600
Canada, public wait: Bariatric surgery in Canada averages around three years
Total knee replacement
Costa Rica: CAD 15,200 to 20,700
Canada, public wait: Orthopedic surgery national median: 48.6 weeks (Fraser Institute 2025)
Total hip replacement
Costa Rica: CAD 15,900 to 20,700
Canada, public wait: Orthopedic surgery national median: 48.6 weeks (Fraser Institute 2025)
Breast augmentation
Costa Rica: CAD 4,800 to 8,300
Canada, private: CAD 8,000 to 15,000
Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)
Costa Rica: CAD 4,800 to 9,000
Canada, private: CAD 9,000 to 17,000
Liposuction
Costa Rica: CAD 3,450 to 5,500
Canada, private: CAD 8,000 to 18,000
Rhinoplasty
Costa Rica: CAD 4,800 to 6,900
Canada, private: CAD 8,000 to 18,000
Final quotes are confirmed per case.
Leading Internationally Accredited Hospitals in Costa Rica
-
Hospital Clínica Bíblica, San José, JCI accredited
-
Hospital CIMA San José, Escazú, JCI accredited
This list is informational. Hospital selection for each patient depends on diagnosis, complexity, and treatment plan.
Frequently asked questions
For general questions about Canadian health insurance coverage abroad, complication insurance, follow-up care after returning to Canada, and trip planning, see our General FAQ
Plan Your Treatment in Costa Rica with Maple Med Global
Maple Med Global is a Canadian medical travel coordination company based in Toronto. We match your case to an internationally accredited hospital and surgeon, manage scheduling, travel, and aftercare, and stay with you from the first conversation to your return home. Share your records, get a clear plan and price, and decide from there.
Or call/text us at +1 (647) 492-2777
Explore Other Destinations
Comparing your options? Explore more of our medical travel destinations to find the right fit for your treatment.