Entereing Costa Rica after Panama

[jtslattery]

Does anyone know if we will have trouble entering Costa Rica after visiting Panama without a Yellow fever shot.

My daugter said her Dr mentioned it. I assume a lot of people on this board would have first hand expereince on a panama canal cruise.

[JF - retired RRT]

On our Panama cruise, we went to CR...no yellow fever inoculation.

[Parrottdizes]

Have done the Panama Canal itinerary 3 times; with the latest being this year......so far have not needed a "Yellow Fever" shot. So from my experience, don't worry about it.  

[riffatsea]

NO need for yellow fever shots on that trip!

No one says they are a "must".

You are not staying in the country in the jungle.

You are visiting some parts of the country for a day.

Normal sunscreen with bug spray over it is sufficient IF on an excursion into a jungle area.

We went on the Embera native village excursion in Panama and no shots were necessary for that either!!

[TheRabbit]

Same warning was in effect in 2016 coming from SA and there was no check. We had gotten the the yellow fever inoculation for Iguazu falls, but was never asked for the documentation on the ship.

[CZEE]

Stay away from that vaccination.  It has a very high level of side effects, some permanent.  I got it and I do.

 

It really is not required unless you are going deep in country, like into the Darien Peninsula.  You do not need it on the cruise ship.

[Aus Traveller]

I agree with the other comments. You do not need a YF shot. The Centre for Disease Control & Prevention website states that a YF shot is NOT required for the Canal Zone. The YF shot is one that you do not not want to get unless it is necessary. 

[Lucky TGO]

1 hour ago, CZEE said:

Stay away from that vaccination.  It has a very high level of side effects, some permanent.  I got it and I do.

 

It really is not required unless you are going deep in country, like into the Darien Peninsula.  You do not need it on the cruise ship.

Thanks for sharing it’s good to know it’s has side effects. 
Tony

[caribill]

A number of replies point out that the YF vaccine is not needed for the Panama Canal.

 

However the question is about visiting Costa Rica.

 

The answer is the same, no YF required and it does not matter if you had or had not visited the Panama Canal first.

[jtslattery]

Thanks for the advice, just what I needed

[golfb4cruzing]

We just got off the Island a week and a half ago and had no issues entering any country at any point in the cruise

[mamkmm2]

Did a partial transit earlier this year.  Spent time off ship in Panama.  Spent time off ship in Costa Rica.  Spent time off ship in Colombia as well.  None of the ports we went required any kind of vaccination documentation.  Making sure your MMR is up to date would be a smart move but YF is not required, nor checked.

[golfb4cruzing]

If there is a shot against overly aggressive and obnoxious Colombian Vendors, I would get that. They may have taken over the top spot from the Jamaicans. It has really gotten out of control. It is harassment level now. It used to be a simple No Thank You was enough but now they follow for blocks. We did the Old City Tour and will never do that again.