Both Costa Rica and Uruguay share a common history in the fact that both nations were once part of the Spanish Empire.

During the Spanish colonial period, Costa Rica was governed from the Viceroyalty of New Spain in Mexico City while Uruguay was then part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata and administered from Buenos Aires.

In 1841, Costa Rica obtained its independence after the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Central America.

[1] Bilateral relations between both nations have taken place primarily in multilateral forums.

In January 2015, Uruguayan President José Mujica paid a visit to San José, Costa Rica to attend a summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.