Best VPN For Costa Rica [Updated 2023]

While you’re traveling to Costa Rica, you will not be able to access international websites and services, especially those that are strictly geo-restricted. Similarly, you will not be able to catch up on your local news and channels or make financial transactions using Costa Rican-exclusive banking sites. To avoid this inconvenience, we suggest you get the best VPN for Costa Rica.

In addition to helping you access geo-restricted sites, a Cost Rica VPN will also help you avoid any censorship that is observed in the country. Moreover, to protect your privacy and security in a completely foreign land, a VPN can prove to be quite essential. But you don’t have to spend long hours scavenging for one, because we have provided you with some best VPN options.

How our recommendations for Costa Rica VPNs will help you? Once you download one of the premium VPN services we have highlighted, you will be able to access their servers list. From there, you can connect to a Costa Rican server and get a Costa Rica IP address to gain easy access to any and all Costa Rican platforms and services from abroad.

Learn all about how VPNs will make your trip to Costa Rica much easier, which VPNs are the best to use in the region, and by reading this article till the very end.

Why do you need a VPN for Costa Rica?

You can use a VPN Costa Rica service to support multiple causes, some of which include ensuring your online safety in an alien region, getting past geo-restrictions to access more content and platforms, and enhancing your experience with streaming.

Below, we have elaborated further on these pointers.

Access geo-blocked websites

Suppose you’re in Costa Rica temporarily and all your assets are linked to US-based sites, you will want to access them right? The bad news for you is that most of these American sites will be geo-blocked in Costa Rica. So how do you overcome this? You use a VPN.

A VPN will provide you with a US IP address via the many servers it offers. With this IP address, your Costa Rica location will be masked, enabling you to bypass the geo-restrictions. By passing these restrictions, you will have hurdle-free access to any platform you want. Similarly, with a VPN, you can access all Costa Rican local sites while you travel outside of its regions.

To avoid the bandwidth throttling of ISPs

While you are in Costa Rica, you might face issues with bandwidth throttling from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) due to reasons like traffic regulation and management of any abnormal activity. This will ultimately slow down your internet speed at moments you need it the most.

A VPN will allow you to encrypt your activity online by rerouting it through different tunnels. Due to this, your assigned ISP will not be able to detect your activity logs, hence becoming disabled to throttle your internet speed.

Improved Streaming Experience

With multiple American platforms geo-blocked in Costa Rica, your streaming experience will be pretty limited. If you want to catch up on that one series that kept you up all night but you cannot since it is no longer accessible, you need a Costa Rica VPN.

With the help of its seamless unblocking capabilities, the best VPN for Costa Rica will allow you to get access to any and all streaming websites back in the US. You may even access multiple Netflix libraries from Costa Rica. On top of that, it will not interfere with your internet, so you will be able to stream in enhanced HD and 4k video quality.

5 Best VPNs For Costa Rica (2023 In-Depth Analysis)

There are quite a lot of VPN services that can attract a rookie while they explore the market. Lucky for you, we have saved you from long hours of tedious exploration by suggesting the 5 best VPNs for Costa Rica, after conducting extensive research. These 5 recommendations include ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN, CyberGhost, and PIA.

Our research reveals that ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Costa Rica, Surfshark is the most affordable, NordVPN has the largest server network, CyberGhost is utterly user-friendly and PIA is a very reliable VPN. Read more about these services in the in-depth analyses provided below.

1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for Costa Rica

ExpressVPN provides unparalleled protection and the fastest streaming speeds, among other benefits. ExpressVPN has proven to be the best VPN for Costa Rica by maintaining a virtually flawless network of servers consisting of more than 3000 servers spread across 94+ nations, including multiple servers in Costa Rica. It guarantees the highest quality possible while surfing the web.

ExpressVPN has a wide variety of Costa Rican servers.

We connected to one of ExpressVPN’s servers, anticipating a trouble-free experience in bypassing censorship and gaining access to geo-restricted online services. Thanks to ExpressVPN’s lightning-fast connections, we were able to watch our favorite shows and movies in UHD and 4K resolution without interruptions or disconnections from the server.

Some of the most popular streaming services were among the ones we intended to access without constraints. ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer proved that it is the best VPN for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and many others, so we could continue streaming with 100% comfort. We also had a great time binging shows on YouTube TV in Costa Rica. The Lightway Protocol guaranteed the fastest possible streaming and browsing speeds. Here, we had no trouble accessing Canal 13 from abroad using its servers in Costa Rica.

We tested ExpressVPN’s Costa Rican servers and instantly got access to canal 13.

We performed a speed test on ExpressVPN, looking for the maximum download and upload rates under a 100 Mbps connection, to get an accurate range. The final numbers showed a download speed of 89.42 Mbps and an upload speed of 84.64 Mbps. It was possible to achieve latency as low as 110 ms.

This speed is enough to stream in high resolution.

Pleased with the results of the speed test, we moved on to verifying the compatibility of ExpressVPN on a router and various devices and operating systems. The ExpressVPN software worked fine on PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Linux devices, as well as on game consoles and smart TVs like Xbox, Nintendo, Samsung, Roku, and others. You can also get ExporessVPN installed on your smartphones while roaming around the streets of Costa Rica.

We looked into how much ExpressVPN would cost and found that their best-selling package costs $6.67/mo (Get 49% Off + 3 Months FREE on its 12-Month Plan). Ad blocking with a Threat Manager, 256-bit AES encryption, a no-log policy, and a Network Lock kill switch are just some of the security features included.

To mention some bonus features, you also get a 30-day money-back guarantee, a free 7-day trial of ExpressVPN, and a live chat service that’s staffed around the clock to answer any questions you might have.

In our comprehensive ExpressVPN review, you’ll find more information about the VPN.

2. Surfshark – Budget-friendly VPN for Costa Rica

When it comes to cheap VPN services, Surfshark is the most cost-effective solution for Costa Rica. At just $2.05/mo (Get 84% + 2 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan), you can reap the benefits of its impressive combination of security and speed. For this small price, you also get access to over 3200 servers in 100 nations worldwide, including multiple server locations in Costa Rica.

A budget-friendly option with multiple Costa Rican servers.

We chose to attempt streaming first to see if Surfshark would function well in Costa Rica. Our movie marathon and TV series binge-watching went go off without a hitch due to the fact that there were no server glitches while we streamed the most in-demand content.

We were able to use Surfshark to access a variety of streaming services in Costa Rica, including Hulu with Surfshark, Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, and others. When we tested the streaming quality of Hulu in Costa Rica, it was just as good as in full HD and ultra HD.

With the Surfshark US server, we enjoyed new Hulu shows in Costa Rica in 4K video quality.

Download and upload speeds were also impressive and well worth the cost, complementing the excellent video streaming quality we got. According to the findings of our Surfshark speed test, you can download content at 81.32 Mbps and upload at 76.12 Mbps.

We achieved blazing-fast speed results on the US servers.

Surfshark works with a broad range of operating systems including Windows, Android, macOS, Linux, and more. Surfshark is also available on Roku, FireStick, and Chromecast, among other streaming media players. The fact that you can link up an infinite number of devices simultaneously makes it one of the best VPNs for gaming as well.

Surfshark’s high level of protection is consistent across all of your devices and subscription tiers. In addition to the Camouflage Mode and NoBorder Mode, there is also an automated kill switch, a strict no-log policy, and IP and DNS leak prevention. Surfshark’s P2P feature allows you to torrent trouble-free in Costa Rica.

You can perform your own Surfshark review within the 7-day free trial period of Surfshark services if you’re not yet fully persuaded by their service. If you subscribe and then discover some issues, you can get a full refund with the 30-day money-back guarantee once you cancel. There’s also a live chat feature available 24/7 if you have any questions.

3. NordVPN – Largest Server Network for Costa Rica

Given that NordVPN operates 5500+ servers in 60+ different nations, including Costa Rica, it is without a doubt the VPN service with the most extensive server network. You can safeguard your activity logs and streaming hours with up-to-date security features and super-high speeds while you access a wide variety of servers with NordVPN.

All of its Costa Rican servers deliver fast and consistent speeds.

Its servers, all of which run the WireGuard-inspired NordLynx protocol, allow for seamless streaming of famous and on-demand movies. This is why it is safe to say that it is the best VPN for HBO Max, Disney Plus, Vudu, Amazon Prime, etc., providing video streaming quality in full HD and 4K resolution, with no buffering or server disconnections. We could successfully access Canal 13 using NordVPN’s Costa Rican servers.

With Nord’s gigantic network, accessing Canal 13 Costa Rican was not difficult.

With the largest server network, you can expect the fastest speed rates. Experts on our team conducted a NordVPN speed test to see if it really does offer fast download and upload speeds. According to the numbers, the available bandwidth is suitable for torrenting, with download speeds reaching 83.83 Mbps and transfer speeds averaging 44.64 Mbps.

NordVPN proved to be a true streaming VPN by delivering fast-speed results during our test.

We installed the NordVPN software on Android, iOS, and Windows devices to check for compatibility. It did pass the compatibility test. Other than these, NordVPN on FireStick, Smart TV, Roku, Raspberry Pi, PlayStation, and other gaming and streaming devices can be installed.

Those interested in securing their devices from all kinds of online safety threats can get the best secure VPN, NordVPN, with features like a kill switch, no-logs policy, server obfuscation, and Double VPN function. It costs only $3.49/mo (Get 57% Off + 3 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan) with its best-selling deal.

It’s also worth noting that NordVPN offers a free 7-day trial, a 30-day money-back guarantee, a total of 6 simultaneous streams per account, and a customer support chat that’s always open. For more features of NordVPN that are hard to ignore, check out our detailed NordVPN review.

4. CyberGhost – User-friendly VPN for Costa Rica

As a result of its intuitive design, CyberGhost has earned a reputation as a user-friendly VPN service for Costa Rica. It’s a great VPN to try out if you’re just getting your feet wet in the VPN world, thanks to its intuitive interface and a broad selection of servers (including the one in Costa Rica out of a total of 9700+ in 91 countries.

Easy-to-use apps and optimized Costa Rica servers.

We examined CyberGhost’s ability to unblock geo-blocked content on popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu when connecting from Costa Rica. CyberGhost’s fast connection speed rates made it easy to bypass geo-restrictions and watch content online without interruption.

CyberGhost’s user-friendly app made it super easy to access Canal 13 with a Costa Rica IP address.

We also ran a speed test on CyberGhost to evaluate the software’s performance and identify its precise speed range.  Our tests revealed that while we could achieve download speeds of 75.47 Mbps, we were only able to upload videos at a rate of 69.34 Mbps.

Next, we attempted to set up CyberGhost on a number of different gadgets. Devices running on Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS all had no trouble connecting to CyberGhost. Users using streaming devices like Roku, Firesticks, and Smart TVs were able to enjoy an uninterrupted browsing experience.

CyberGhost’s lightning-fast connections are encrypted over OpenVPN for maximum safety. Additionally, it uses 256-bit AES encryption, protecting against DNS and IP leaks. It can also block ads and has an automatic kill switch. At CyberGhost, you can get all of these measures for as little as $2.03/mo with the CyberGhost lifetime deal.

Our CyberGhost review has revealed that in addition to its impressive security and reliability, CyberGhost also provides a 45-day money-back guarantee, a CyberGhost 7-day free trial, an allowance of 7 simultaneous device connections, and outstanding customer care via a 24-hour live chat.

5. PIA – Reliable VPN for Costa Rica

PIA is a reliable VPN that works exceptionally well in Costa Rica – thanks to its massive network of over 35000 servers in 84+ locations worldwide. Its huge number of servers facilitates unblocking in Costa Rica and guarantees your security while you surf the web.

PIA offers dedicated servers in Costa Rica.

Many blocked sites could be accessed by connecting to the Costa Rica-based server of PIA. By using PIA, we had access to American Netflix, HBO Max, and even Hulu. The video quality was not diminished in any way while streaming using these sites.

We didn’t run into any issues while unblocking Hulu in Costa Rica using PIA servers.

According to the results of the PIA speed test that we carried out, the maximum download speed that was achieved was 65.78 Mbps, while the maximum transfer speed was found to be 57.16 Mbps.

PIA servers provided adequate speeds for streaming and browsing.

The PIA software was tested on numerous devices to check device compatibility. It was found to work effectively on Windows computers, Macbooks, Android and iOS mobile devices, FireSticks, Kodi, and other routers.

Each server that PIA manages was seen equipped with the MACE ad-blocking feature and the 128-bit or 256-bit AES encryption protocol. The PIA interface also offered an option for modification, and the option for distant ports and DNS to be changed. For only $2.03/mo , you can sign up for PIA’s services.

According to our PIA review, you can log in from up to ten different devices at once. As an added benefit, you can try out the VPN service risk-free for a full week before committing to it thanks to PIA’s 7-day free trial. If you do subscribe to the service but end up not liking it, you can always utilize the 30-day money-back guarantee to cancel it.

Methodology: How to choose the best VPN for Costa Rica in 2023

You can choose the best VPN for Costa Rica by reviewing some basic features as well. But if you really want to get the best value for your investment in a VPN subscription, you can conduct some VPN tests of your own by taking several criteria into consideration. If a VPN fits all or most of the criteria, that is your cue to subscribe to it.

The criteria under which we test VPNs are as follows:

Servers in Costa Rica (preferable)

The first test you must conduct in order to ensure that the VPN will be of advantage to you is to check out their server base. If the VPN service hosts servers in Costa Rica, you will be able to access Costa Rican platforms with complete safety. In addition to this, a VPN with a large number of servers available in a diverse range of locations is undoubtedly the best.

A large server base allows you to change your IP address to a plethora of different websites, thus granting you access to a great number of online platforms as well. So if you want to access American sites, opt for a VPN that hosts an adequate amount of US servers.

Unblock Geo-Restriction Content

A VPN that does not allow you to unblock websites and content that is geo-restricted, is it even of any use? You must test out VPN services by reviewing the features that help them unblock restricted sites. For instance, you can review ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer feature to see how efficiently it performs the unblocking for you.

Some VPNs do unblock certain websites and content, but due to the degree of censorship some websites observe, it is sometimes impossible to penetrate the firewalls. For this reason, the VPN you choose must be able to unblock popular sites like Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus, etc.

Fast Speeds

Whether it is for streaming, unblocking geo-restricted websites, or torrenting, the speed range a VPN offers you matter a lot. You would not want to go through long instances of buffering due to low speeds or server disconnections. To avoid these circumstances, the VPN you choose must guarantee HD and UHD streaming, along with no interference with your internet speed.

Security & Privacy

One of the major reasons to opt for a VPN in a foreign land, especially while traveling, is to ensure your own safety. So if a VPN does not come with stringent security and privacy protocols, would you invest in it? No, right? Avoid any security-threatening situations by opting for a VPN that is installed with industry-leading security and privacy features.

Some features that are a must for a premium quality VPN to have include AES encryption, a no-logs policy, split tunneling, WireGuard protocol, etc. These features help you encrypt your traffic by rerouting them through different pathways and preventing your activity logs and data from falling into the wrong hands.

Device compatibility

When you travel, you only carry limited devices with you. So when you want to install a VPN app, you must make sure that your device is compatible with it. Choosing a Costa Rica VPN that comes with an application compatible with the majority of the commonly-used operating systems and devices is quintessential.

The best VPN for Costa Rica will offer exclusive applications for popular operating systems like Windows, Android, and iOS. Moreover, they will also be compatible with in-demand gaming consoles and smart TVs as well.

Quick Comparison Table: Best VPN for Costa Rica in 2023

Here’s a quick comparison of the best VPN for Costa Rica along with its alternatives:

VPNs
Reliability	Excellent	Good	Good	Good	Good
Streaming Video Quality	4K Ultra HD	HD and ultra 4k HD	4K UHD	4K UHD	4K UHD
Access to Streaming Platform	Netflix, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, Hulu Disney+, Viu, and Amazon Prime.	YouTube, Netflix US, Apple TV+, Viu, Sling TV, and Hulu	Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, YouTube TV, Netflix, Crackle	Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, YouTube TV, Netflix, Viu	Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, YouTube TV, Netflix,
Compatible Devices	Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Kodi, Roku, firestick, PS4&5, Xbox, and more	iOS, Android, Windows, Xbox, Roku, routers, etc	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Firestick, Roku, PS, etc	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Firestick, Roku, Kodi, routers, etc	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, etc
Average Speed (Base: 100 Mbps)	89.42 Mbps	81.32 Mbps	83.82 Mbps	75.47 Mbps	65.78 Mbps
Simultaneous Device Connections	5	Unlimited	6	7	10
Lowest Price	$6.67/mo (Get 49% Off + 3 Months FREE on its 12-Month Plan)	$2.05/mo (Get 84% + 2 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan)	$3.49/mo (Get 57% Off + 3 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan)	$2.03/mo	$2.03/mo
Detailed Review	ExpressVPN Review	Surfshark Review	NordVPN Review	CyberGhost review	PIA VPN review

Can I use a Free VPN for Costa Rica?

Yes, you can definitely use a free VPN for Costa Rica but it is not something we recommend you do. While it may seem practical to you when choosing your very first VPN, it is not an efficacious decision if you consider it a long-term one.

Why is getting a Costa Rica VPN free not a good idea? Because free VPNs come with very limited features for you to utilize. From a limited server base to weak security protocols, to close to no privacy, you name it, free VPNs do it. Therefore, putting your online security at such risk is not worth the free service you might expect from free VPN services.

Instead, we recommend you explore one of our top-recommended Costa Rica VPN services. You can even utilize their free trials to get a satisfactory insight into each service. Our best bet is ExpressVPN.

Which Costa Rican shows can you watch with a VPN?

Costa Rica is known to be the land of adventures and exploration. So while traveling to Costa Rica, if you feel you want to get in touch with the explorer inside of you, you can browse through some amazing Costa Rican shows that are very popular in the country, including La Casa de las Flores, En la Oscuridad, and El Barco Fantasma.

Make sure to connect to a VPN server first before browsing these shows.

Which free VPNs work in Costa Rica?

There are certain VPN services that you can use in Costa Rica if getting a premium, subscription-based service is out of your budget. These services include AtlasVPN, ProtonVPN, Hotspot Shield, and TunnelBear.

VPN Guides for Other Countries

Check our other VPN guides for the following countries:

• Best VPN For Ecuador
• Best VPN For Cuba
• Best VPN For Mexico
• Best VPN For Australia
• Best VPN For Spain
• Best VPN For USA

FAQs

Wrapping Up

Not being able to access your desired websites and services during your stay in Costa Rica can really ruin your time there. To enjoy your time on Costa Rican lands to the fullest, you must subscribe to the best VPN for Costa Rica, and get in touch with all your American friends, apps, and services.

A Costa Rica VPN will help you unblock American platforms that are restricted to US lands. Moreover, you will also be able to secure your data and personal information and encrypt your traffic to avoid surveillance of any sort, even from your ISP. Securing your digital presence with a VPN will be particularly useful if you are in Costa Rica for business.

Now that we have wrapped up every aspect of the “whys” and “hows” of a Costa Rican VPN, we wrap this blog up with a soft reminder that our comments box is always open for any more questions that you might have in store.