We’ve received questions regarding which restrictions apply to where in the country, the following article is a summary of the current restrictions.

Please note, these are NOT new restrictions.

Vehicle Restrictions 

Nationwide Through May 30th, 2021 

• Nighttime vehicle restriction 7 days a week, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

• Weekend vehicle restriction:

  • Odd plates cannot circulate on Saturdays

  • Even plates cannot circulate on Sundays.

Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) Through May 30th, 2021 

This is the Gran Área Metropolitana (GAM) in the central valley. The cantons included are:

San José: San José, Escazú, Desamparados, Aserrí, Mora, Goicoechea, Santa Ana, Alajuelita, Vásquez de Coronado, Tibás, Moravia, Montes de Oca, Curridabat, Puriscal, Tarrazú, Acosta, Turrubares, Dota y León Cortés

Alajuela: Alajuela, Poás, Atenas, Grecia, Sarchí, Palmares, Naranjo, San Ramón y Zarcero

Cartago: Cartago, Paraíso, La Unión, Alvarado, Oreamuno, Jiménez, Turrialba y El Guarco

Heredia: Heredia, Barva, Santo Domingo, Santa Bárbara, San Rafael, San Isidro, Belén, Flores y San Pablo

• Nighttime vehicle restriction 7 days a week, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

• Weekend vehicle restriction:

  • Odd plates cannot circulate on Saturdays

  • Even plates cannot circulate on Sundays.

• Weekday vehicle restriction:

  • Monday: plates ending in 1 and 2 cannot circulate.

  • Tuesday: 3 and 4

  • Wednesday: 5 and 6

  • Thursday: 7 and 8

  • Friday: 9 and 0

Business Restrictions 

Central Region Through May 9th, 2021 

San Jose and the surrounding areas are currently under the stronger measures announced on April 29th, 2021. You can read a full summary of the business restrictions in our article here as well as a complete list of the municipalities, or cantons, shown on the map below.

The Rest of the Country 

Business restrictions for the rest of the country are based on whether the local municipality, or canton, has a Prevention Plan for COVID-19 and the local alert level. You can read a full list of businesses that may operate depending on the alert level and local prevention plans in our article here.

You can find current alert levels by municipality (canton) here.

Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a published list indicating which municipalities have Prevention Plans. We recommend contacting your municipality directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the restrictions in your area.

Beaches will remain open from 7 days a week from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Borders remain open.

It is difficult to predict when, and if, additional restrictions will be announced.