Costa Rica is touted as a tropical paradise that any traveler would fall in love with. Its scenic beaches, diverse marine and wildlife, and breathtaking natural resources offer not only excitement but also respite from the hustle and bustle of city life.

In recent years, Costa Rica has added one more reason to its long list of why you should visit the country. If you’re looking for quality medical attention and support, you might want to consider Costa Rica as this is now one of the world’s favorite medical tourism destinations.

Medical tourism in Costa Rica

The overseas medical tourism industry is booming and there are no signs of letting up. In 2009 alone, more than two million Americans flew overseas to seek medical care and experts believe the number will go up three times by 2014.

Here are just some of the services that medical tourism companies provide:

• Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery
• Alternative medicine
• Elderly care
• Dentistry
• Weight-loss surgery
• Drug and alcohol treatment
• Ophthalmological procedures
• Treatment for chronic diseases
• Eye/Lasik care
• Anti-aging consultations and treatments
• Skin care treatments and consultations
• Detox packages
• Yoga retreats
• Fertility and gynecological treatments
• Pediatrics

Why Costa Rica?

Costa Rica has become a favorite destination for medical care because of its topnotch medical personnel, state-of-the art equipment and, of course, more affordable medical costs.

Three hospitals located in San Jose, Costa Rica have been accredited by the Joint Commission International. JCI is a US-based not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits healthcare organizations, ensuring that these organizations are providing safe and effective care.

The cost of medical support in Costa Rica is much lower than in the United States. Sociologist and author Dr. Michael G. Zey said that a heart bypass surgery would cost US$144,000 in the US. In Costa Rica, the same procedure would only cost US$25,000. A hip replacement surgery would cost about US$43,000 in the US while Costa Rica’s rate would be 60 to 70 percent lower.    In general, one can assume the cost of surgery in Costa Rica is around 1/3 of that in the U.S.

Wellness trips

In Costa Rica, patients not only have access to world-class medical services, they also have the chance to have a grand vacation through the country’s wellness tourism trips.

There are plenty of wellness retreats that patients and their families can enjoy and find benefit from. These trips may consist of yoga and meditation classes, detoxification and cleansing retreats, and a whole gamut of spa and massage services.

Other resorts also offer exotic packages that include tantric sex workshops, creative writing classes, fire dancing lessons, etc. These are combined with luxurious and tranquil accommodations and complemented with access to amenities like swimming pools, infrared saunas, and more.

These packages are available all year-round and patients can choose something that suits their needs and preferences.

The combination of high-quality and world-class healthcare services plus luxurious and relaxing wellness trips make Costa Rica truly a favorite destination. Patients are guaranteed to have access to medical support and their families can also have a great vacation. Costa Rica is indeed a paradise definitely worth going to.