Costa Rica's freedom of panorama is non-commercial only, so you cannot freely sell images of copyrighted public works; the draw is its protected nature anyway.
Shoot decision
Small personal or low-impact work may be fine, but commercial, staged, exclusive-use, tripod, light, or crew-heavy work can cross the permit line.
Permit line
Conditional, SINAC and the Costa Rica Film Commission for commercial shoots in protected areas; no permit for personal photography
Public space
Yes to photograph, but publishing or commercializing a recognizable person's image needs consent under the Civil Code
Drone layer
Regulated by the DGAC; fly below 120m in daylight and 30m from people; commercial use needs certification
Guidance, not legal advice
Before you go
Work in this order. Each step answers a different risk, and skipping ahead is how a simple shoot turns into a permit, flight, or gear problem on site.
Use the source links before you schedule, invoice, or bring a larger setup.
Open official sourceTurn the rule answer into a route, frame list, and completion checklist before you are standing there.
Build shot listIf the plan includes a drone, check the flight side separately before you pack batteries.
Check Drone AuthorityCarry versatile gear and avoid a kit that only works for landmark-heavy commercial frames.
Match field gearAperture workflow
Country rules shape what you can publish and what gear is worth carrying. Check the legal layer, then plan the field kit.
Field kit
When rules affect what you can publish or sell, carry versatile gear and avoid a kit that forces one landmark-heavy shot.
Compact support for city and landscape work
$599 - $699
Photographers who hike or travel and want full height in a pack-friendly form.
Skip if: Expensive
Price-band check
Use the retailer for the current price after the kit still fits the rule constraint.
Simple normal lens for people and detail frames
$200 - $250
First-time Sony owners who want a budget prime for portraits and low light.
Skip if: Autofocus is slow and noisy
Price-band check
Use the retailer for the current price after the kit still fits the rule constraint.
Product links may earn a commission at no cost to you. Verify the rules first, then buy only what keeps the shoot practical.
Drone Authority
Photography access and drone permission are separate questions. Drone Authority covers the flight-law side for this country.
Conditional
Issuer: SINAC and the Costa Rica Film Commission for commercial shoots in protected areas; no permit for personal photography
Cost: No permit for personal photography; commercial film or photo inside SINAC protected areas needs authorization and a per-day fee
Personal photography needs no permit. Commercial drone operations need DGAC certification.
Regulated by the DGAC; fly below 120m in daylight and 30m from people; commercial use needs certification
Flights over reserves count as commercial use. For detail, see Drone Authority.
Yes to photograph, but publishing or commercializing a recognizable person's image needs consent under the Civil Code
Exceptions for public events and genuine public interest; get model releases for commercial use.
Restricted (non-commercial only)
Under Ley 6683, photographing statues, monuments, and public artworks is lawful only without commercial purpose, so you may not freely sell images of copyrighted public works. Public-domain works are unaffected.
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: