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Costa Rica Reaches New Tourism Heights, Attracting 1.77 Million Visitors by Mid-2024

Friday, August 23, 2024

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Destination of the Year 2024: Costa Rica

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Introduction

Picture yourself on a white-sand beach, surrounded by palm trees. In the distance, surfers ride the breaking waves. Behind you rises a dense rainforest, where white-faced capuchin monkeys jump from branch to branch. Welcome to Costa Rica. 

I grew up in Costa Rica, and while I’ve lived all over the U.S., I'm always drawn back home. In the northwest, a dry tropical forest stretches down the Nicoya Peninsula. The laid-back beach towns that dot this part of the Pacific coast include Nosara, a mecca for surfing and yoga, and my favorite, the lesser-known San Juanillo, which still has the charm of a small fishing village. Farther south, Santa Teresa has an intriguing mix of cultures and superb international cuisine.

Venture inland and you’ll reach the Guanacaste pampas, with its sabaneros — Costa Rican cowboys — and rich pre-Columbian and colonial history. I love to walk through the town of Nicoya, one of the first Spanish settlements in the country and the home of the Chorotega people.

On the Caribbean side of the country, you’ll find the freshwater canals and serene rivers that meander through the rainforest of Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge and Tortuguero National Park. In Limón, the vibrant Afro-Caribbean culture includes the sounds of calypso and an aromatic cuisine built around strong spices and coconut milk.

If hiking is your passion, try the Camino de Costa Rica, a 174-mile trail that cuts across the country: starting in Barra del Pacuare on the Atlantic coast and eventually winding into the Dota Mountains — the place where I grew up. 

Off the Osa Peninsula, in southern Costa Rica, is the Golfo Dulce, a sanctuary for Pacific humpback whales. The region is defined by mangrove swamps and Corcovado National Park, which protects one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world — and where it is possible to see a jaguar strolling along a white-sand beach.

I could go on and on. There is no single recipe for enjoying Costa Rica. Any road you take will likely bring the same result: a sense of wonder and a desire to return. We Costa Ricans are relatively few — the population barely exceeds 5 million. But we’re proud of our shared idea that things will always turn out fine and that life is, above all, beautiful.

— Ronny Rojas

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Cover Story

If 2024 is your year for retirement, then one, congratulations, and two, we've got a destination for you to consider moving to in your golden years. 

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How to make air travel easier tips for a stress-free journey, a luxurious getaway to costa rica: where to stay and what to do, national parks and biological reserves are the favorite destinations in costa rica during vacation, costa rica is carrying out innovative promotional actions in france as part of the global tourism fair iftm top resa, costa rican research publication offers marketing tools for artists who want to commercialize their creative work, daniel suchar zomer: his passion for numbers makes him the most influential economist in costa rica today., winter fashion: choosing the right eyewear for cold weather, how to cope with emotional ups and downs of living abroad, these are the most influential people in central america, five of whom are from costa rica, costa rica analyzes models and scenarios to visualize future tourist visitation trends.

The new models are: a gradual recovery of 5%, called a Continuous Growth Trend, and a simple seasonal model

Buenos Aires Province’s Independence – A Viable Solution or Political Posturing?

Costa rica will be the most developed central american country in 50 years, according to artificial intelligence.

To have a clearer picture that guides decision-making adapted to the times of the COVID-19 Pandemic , the Planning and Development Directorate of the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism analyzed two statistical models to visualize trends in tourist visitation in the future .

It is a model of gradual recovery of 5% called TCC (Continuous Growth Trend) and a simple seasonal model whose results are compared with a projection of the situation prior to COVID-19 , that is, a projection of what what would have happened if the Pandemic had not existed.

Both models are dynamic and their results must be handled with caution as uncertainty is a constant in current health circumstances. The models, then, are sensitive to a number of factors, among them: advance of vaccination, opening of borders, closures, confinements, fear of traveling, among others. For this reason, they will be reviewed every three months.

Gustavo J. Segura, Rector Minister of Tourism, stated that “tourism recovery and public policy require statistical tools to measure demand, especially given the impossibility of applying the models we used before the Pandemic to make future projections”.

For his part, Rodolfo Lizano, ICT planning and development director, who presented the models to the press representatives on Monday, said that “ICT has always had a commitment to professionalism and continuous improvement of tools for measure tourist activity, which allows the institution to direct the tactics and actions for the promotion of tourism”.

About the models

The explanation of both models requires a pre-COVID-19 base that uses the arrival data between January 2010 and February 2020 and the Holt-Winters estimation model with an adjustment of 0.986, which has allowed estimating the expected trend that it would have followed the series had the epidemic not existed.

TCC Model (Continuous Growth Trend)

It considers the monthly estimates of the pre-COVID-19 estimation model (in non-pandemic conditions and with the Holt-Winters model) and proposes a gradual recovery of 5% per month.

That is, the first estimated month uses 5%, the second month 10%, the third month 15%, and so on. These percentages are applied to the monthly estimates of the pre-Covid-19 estimation model.

This model is related to the expected evolution of the Pandemic and the respective flexibility of mobility restriction measures and the gradual opening of different types of tourism services and companies. With the TCC, you could be closer to the pre-pandemic figures through the first quarter of 2022.

Simple seasonal model

The seasonal variation model with trend is an optimal model for demand patterns that show cyclical behavior and that in turn show a particular trend. It allows determining the forecast when there are periodic fluctuations in the time series, this, generally, as a result of the influence of economic phenomena or, as in this case, of the pandemic.

Certainly, the analysis of the data series between the month of March 2020 and December 2020 indicates that the data series no longer fit the Holt-Winters model, due to the great uncertainty that exists at the present time. Instead, the analysis indicates that for this time series the most suitable model is the simple seasonal model with an adjustment of 0.917.

The projection values obtained with this model are made up of the lower confidence limit, the prediction as such and the upper confidence limit as a reference for the behavior that the data on international arrivals could present. It is recommended to consider the prediction value and the upper confidence limit.

It is important that entrepreneurs, collaborators and travelers remember that throughout this recovery process it is key to continue promoting the application of health protocols and, in particular, the provisions on hand washing, physical distancing, bubble travel and the use of the mask.

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Costa Rica’s eco-tourism experiment offers a path to recovery

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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

When Covid-19 shut down Costa Rica’s tourism sector in March, it dealt a crippling blow to the economy . The tiny Central American nation’s pristine beaches, lush forests and abundant biodiversity typically draw visitors from overseas in droves. Last year tourism accounted for more than 8 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product and employed 9 per cent of its workers.

Costa Rica is now banking on those visitors returning — and soon. This month, despite rising rates of Covid-19 infections in the US and Europe, Costa Rica reopened its borders. The government hopes the return of US tourists in its high season, which kicks off­ at the end of the month, will haul back $1.5bn in revenues and create 80,000 jobs next year .

A tourism sector so dominant might be expected to do more environmental harm than good. But Costa Rica’s government has long seen tourism as a vehicle for its conservation efforts, and for half a century has worked to build a reputation as one of the world’s foremost eco-tourism destinations. The pitch has resonated with travellers increasingly aware of their carbon footprints.

Playa Hermosa, on the Pacific, is an attempt to demonstrate that tourism can drive sustainability. The area lies partly on a wildlife reserve and while its spectacular waves make it a surfing destination, the beach is home to three endangered turtle species and the threatened scarlet macaw.

Costa Rica has stringent environmental protections on land . But marine conservation has lagged behind — less than 3 per cent of marine areas are protected, compared with a quarter of the landmass. Development of coastal areas has brought problems including the erosion of sandbanks, deforestation for pasture, and water and sewage management. The challenge for coastal communities, says Haydée Rodríguez, deputy minister for water and sea, is “to find economic alternatives that are sustainable, long-term and add value, especially in the current crisis”.

Authorities in the Garabito canton, home to Playa Hermosa, are addressing environmental issues through tourism. Their master plan for sustainable development is designed to mitigate environmental damage, preserve wave quality, and protect flora and fauna — for instance by recovering turtle nesting areas. The plans are seen as a model for coastal conservation both at home and abroad; they helped Playa Hermosa clinch designation as the world’s 12th “surf reserve”  in September.

Playa Hermosa has already proved tourism can be sustainable. When surfers first started flocking there, it had only one tree. Local non-profit Costas Verdes began a reforestation project which has planted 20,000 native trees since 2009.

José Moya had been fishing off Golfito, a town in the far south of Costa Rica, for decades when the United Fruit Company, which had made the area a prime banana plantation, pulled out in the 1980s. When more than 10,000 people were laid off, many went back to fishing. With no limits or licences, fish stocks were exhausted by the indiscriminate use of trammel nets, which ensnare fish in a mesh sandwiched between layers of netting.

Golfito is home to a diverse fish population, including barracudas, and is also a breeding area for hammerhead sharks, humpback whales and dolphins. Overfishing triggered a vicious circle: as stocks were depleted, rather than fishing less to allow populations to recover, fishermen fished more because they needed the money.

About six years ago, Mr Moya, 65, had an idea that changed his fortunes: taking tourists out in his fishing boat. “It’s less damaging for the fish stocks because tourists are happy if they catch four fish,” he says. “Now I work three days a week. Before I had to work every day, day and night.”

Fishing in Golfito is now regulated, in line with Costa Rica’s wider goal of protecting 30 per cent of its coast by 2030. Six associations offer fishing, whale watching tours, or visits to coral reefs with a local captain. Golfito’s remote location, near the Panama border, tends to attract local, rather than wealthy international visitors. Even so, for Mr Moya there will be no return to fishing. “Tourism’s still a better bet,” he says.

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Costa Rica Tourism Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The Market Report Covers Costa Rica's Tourism Statistics and is segmented on the basis of type (local/domestic, international) and by purpose (Adventure, Business, Medical, Sea Farming and others).

• Costa Rica Tourism Market Size

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Costa Rica Tourism Market Analysis

The Costa Rica Tourism Market is valued at about USD 300.2 million and is expected to register a CAGR of more than 5% during the forecast period.

In recent years, some key influencers on the travel and tourism industry have been globalization, digitalization, sustainability, and the coronavirus pandemic. Ease of mobility increased awareness of new destinations, and the internet as a source of information and commerce has caused the industry to grow exponentially. When it comes to the industry's future, increased domestic tourism, excellent hygiene conditions, and contactless service are all examples of changing consumer interests due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the first six months of 2023, Costa Rica's tourism industry attracted 1.338,303 visitors, an increase of 19.4% over the same period of 2022 and surpassing the 2019 figures. Tourism in Costa Rica has been on the rise for several reasons, including its high level of safety, its natural environment, and its variety of attractions and activities. Tourism authorities estimate that about 90% of tourism to Costa Rica is by air, with 202,235 travelers arriving by plane in June 2023. Some 142,025 tourists entered via the Juan Santamaría International Airport, while 60,177 arrived via the Guanacaste International Airport, both increasing by 10.1 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively, over the same month last year. Tourism from North America was on the rise, with 21% more visitors from that region than in 2022, according to the ICT. This year, Costa Rica welcomed 792, 944 extra visitors from the US, 148 973 visitors from Canada, and 35,866 visitors from Mexico.

Tourism is one of the fastest-growing economic sectors in Costa Rica, and it's expected to continue to grow in the months ahead. The tourism industry in Costa Rica has the potential to benefit from the increasing global interest in sustainable and responsible tourism. Costa Rica is well-positioned to continue to attract visitors from all over the globe, and tourism will continue to be a major contributor to the country's economic development in the years ahead.

• Costa Rica Tourism Market Trends

Increase in the Number of International Tourists Arrival is Driving the Market

According to the Costa Rica Tourism Institute, approximately 632,000 tourists traveled through Costa Rica by all routes in the first three months of this year, representing 63% of all international tourism arrivals compared to the start of the year in 2019.

There are signs of recovery in tourism, recreation, and gastronomy. There is an increase in the number of people going to restaurants, resorts, or events like concerts and football games. According to the National Tourism Chamber, the occupancy rate in Sun and Beach Hotels during Easter Week of this year was 93%, while according to the Costa Rican Hotels Chamber, it was up to 98%. In 2022, the number of international tourists visiting Costa Rica increased by more than 74 percent, reaching nearly two and a half million. However, it was still 25 percent lower than the record-breaking three million visitors in 2019. Costa Rica's total visitor spending, including transportation costs, exceeded USD 1.7 billion in 2021. International tourists spent an average of USD 1.5 thousand dollars per trip, accounting for nearly one-fifth of Costa Rica's service exports in 2021.

Tourism-related indirect industries (from air transportation to domestic transportation, restaurant and hotel services, guides, handicraft sales, national park and resort tickets, etc.) demonstrate the importance of maintaining a level playing field for both domestic and international visitors. According to the CBP, tourism employs 245,253 individuals in 2018, which equates to 10.5 % of the EAP population. The direct and indirect impacts of tourism-related activities also affect the recovery of jobs in Costa Rica.

Increase in the Recreational Activities in Costa Rica is Driving the Market

The Costa Rica Outdoor Recreation Facility Construction Industry is one of the most established and fastest-growing industries in the country. Costa Rica is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations due to its abundance of natural beauty and eco-tourism. As a result, the country's popularity for outdoor recreation has skyrocketed, leading to an ever-growing demand for recreational facilities such as outdoor parks, outdoor playgrounds, outdoor sports fields, and more. In addition, Costa Rica has one of the most diverse and varied landscapes in the world, making it an ideal country to develop outdoor recreation facilities.

One of the main reasons for the industry's growth is the rise in leisure activity and recreation spending by Costa Ricans, as well as tourists. With increased disposable income, more people can afford to enjoy outdoor recreation facilities like sports clubs, pools, and more. This has increased private recreational facilities. Costa Rica's government is investing in infrastructure, which has resulted in a rise in public leisure facilities like parks, playgrounds, and more. As the tourism industry grows, so does the number of outdoor recreation hotels and resorts.

Another reason for the industry's growth is the growing population. As Costa Rica's population increases, so does the need for housing and amenities, such as outdoor recreation facilities (ORFs). This has resulted in an increase in residential developments with ORFs. The government's efforts to encourage tourism, the nation's growing population, the growing trend of leisure spending among citizens and tourists, and the increased demand for outdoor recreation facilities are all factors that will continue to drive the growth of this industry. As disposable income continues to rise, so will the number of people using outdoor recreational facilities.

Costa Rica Tourism Industry Overview

The major competitors are Expedia Group, Booking Holdings, Amex GBT, BCD Travel, CWT, Flight Centre, Travel Leaders Group, American Express, and Direct Travel. There are a limited number of domestic hotel chains in Costa Rica, although some smaller groups within the country are starting to expand. Most international groups are located in the capital, San José, along the Pacific coast, where the major resorts are located.

Costa Rica Tourism Market Leaders

Expedia Group

Booking Holdings

*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Costa Rica Tourism Market News

• March 2023: Expedia Group announced a new API partnership with Wheel the World, a travel booking platform for accessible travelers in wheelchairs, effectively enhancing a seamless, end-to-end travel experience for travelers with disabilities. Through this partnership, Expedia Group will serve as the exclusive partner to power Wheel the World's lodging supply. Through Expedia Group's Rapid API technology, Wheel the World customers will have access to Expedia Group's extensive directly sourced hotel inventory with the ability to filter properties by their accessibility needs and preferences.
• November 2022: Booking Holdings, the world's leading provider of online travel and related services, expanded the Travel Sustainable program to relevant brands across the Booking Holdings family. The news marked the company's delivery of its commitment to launch its first-of-its-kind program for accommodations enterprise-wide by the end of 2023. Travel Sustainable provides credible information on impactful sustainability efforts taken by properties worldwide. It gives travelers a transparent, consistent, and easy-to-understand way to identify a wider range of more sustainable stays, no matter where they want to travel.

Costa Rica Tourism Market Report - Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition

1.2 Scope of the Study

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET DYNAMICS AND INSIGHTS

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 Market Drivers

4.3 Market Restraints

4.4 Value Chain Analysis

4.5 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.5.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers

4.5.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.5.3 Threat of New Entrants

4.5.4 Threat of Substitutes

4.5.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry

4.6 Insights on Technological Innovations in the Market

4.7 Impact of COVID-19 on the Market

5. MARKET SEGMENTATION

5.1 By Type

5.1.1 Local/Domestic

5.1.2 International

5.2 By Purpose

5.2.1 Adventure

5.2.2 Business

5.2.3 Medical

5.2.4 Sea Farming

5.2.5 Other Purposes

6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

6.1 Market Concentration Overview

6.2 Company Profiles

6.2.1 Expedia Group

6.2.2 Booking Holdings

6.2.3 Amex GBT

6.2.4 BCD Travel

6.2.6 Flight Centre

6.2.7 Travel Leaders Group

6.2.8 American Express Travel

6.2.9 Direct Travel*

• *List Not Exhaustive

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS

8. DISCLAIMER AND ABOUT US

Costa Rica Tourism Industry Segmentation

The Costa Rica Tourism Market can be segmented on the basis of type (local/domestic, international) and by purpose (Adventure, Business, Medical, Sea Farming, and others).

Costa Rica is located in parts of North America and the Central American region. Market prospects are excellent in a variety of sectors, including building products, construction equipment, hotel and restaurant equipment, solar energy, franchising, cosmetics, auto parts and service equipment, electric vehicles and related equipment, pharmaceuticals, packaging, education, and tourism to the Costa Rica market. The report offers market size and forecasts for the US Real Estate Services Market in value (USD) for all the above segments.

Costa Rica Tourism Market Research FAQs

What is the current costarica tourism market size.

The Costarica Tourism Market is projected to register a CAGR of greater than 5% during the forecast period (2024-2029)

Who are the key players in Costarica Tourism Market?

Expedia Group, Booking Holdings, Amex GBT, BCD Travel and CWT are the major companies operating in the Costarica Tourism Market.

What years does this Costarica Tourism Market cover?

The report covers the Costarica Tourism Market historical market size for years: . The report also forecasts the Costarica Tourism Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.

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Costa Rica Tourism Industry Report

Statistics for the 2024 Costa Rica Tourism market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Costa Rica Tourism analysis includes a market forecast outlook to 2029 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.

Costa Rica Tourism Market Report Snapshots

• Costa Rica Tourism Market Share
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How Will Tourism in Costa Rica in 2022 Play Out? We Speak to the Experts on the Ground

• by James Dyde
• January 17, 2022
• Business , Costa Rica , Opinion , Travel

We speak to a travel agent and a hotel owner to find out their predictions for tourism in Costa Rica in 2022 plus the best and worst of what happened in 2021.

It’s 2022, everybody! And, to steal the words of John Lennon, let’s hope it’s a good one without any fear. Because 2020 and 2021 were all about fear, weren’t they? In 2020 we had fear of a virus which, as that year passed into 2021, became fear and anger about government overreach and control.

Restrictions, lockdowns, and curfews were the hallmarks of 2020 and 2021, and Costa Rica was no exception. But with Costa Rica, a country so reliant on tourism, such measures resulted in real damage to people’s lives and livelihoods . Now we know that just about every country in the world suffered due to the tourism shutdown. But not every country in the world relies on tourism as much as Costa Rica does.

At first, in the early days of the pandemic, shutting down tourism was understandable. After all, nobody had a clue about how dangerous Covid was.

But very soon, it became clear the government was more interested in pushing a narrative of fear to public and home workers Central Valley than looking after businesses and jobs in rural and beach areas.

From the beach closures to the proposed QR Code mandate , so many steps have served to demean and decimate tourism in Costa Rica. We’ve written thousands of words about this since March 2020, so won’t dwell too much here on the topic.

Suffice to say, though, tourism – a business that has served to create good livings for thousands of people in rural and beach areas, without them having to leave their local areas – has always suffered from a peculiar form of snobbery among the urban and political Central Valley elites in Costa Rica.

Overall, throughout the pandemic, the government has shown indifference at best and outright hostility at worst to the tourism industry.

Sure, there have been positives – Costa Rica was the first country in Central America to reopen its borders in August 2020 and the first one to drop Covid testing to enter . And, of course, the remote worker bill was a positive, even though it’s still not in effect yet (which is a negative).

So what does the future hold for tourism in Costa Rica? After a rough two years, are things looking up for the sector?

A defense of tourism in #CostaRica on #WorldTourismDay : Whatever you do for a living in Costa Rica, you’ve benefited from tourism. Even if you do nothing for a living… https://t.co/ZpZBCmVTUh — Central America Living (@VidaAmerica) September 27, 2020

We reached out to a couple of the most thoughtful and eloquent members of the Costa Rican tourism community; a hotelier and a travel agency owner.

We wanted their thoughts on the past year and some predictions for 2022.

Hotelier Colin Brownlee, owner of the Banana Azul in Puerto Viejo, is an old friend. His hotel was instrumental in setting up food banks to help Puerto Viejo eat during the height of the pandemic , and he was also one of the most outspoken campaigners for the remote worker law which passed last year.

During the pandemic, Banana Azul became one of the first hotels in Costa Rica to offer remote worker deals. It also broke the mold by opening its own grocery store to allow guests the chance to prepare and eat food in their rooms, rather than have to eat in the restaurant. This was a nod to remote workers, coming to stay for longer periods of time.

“ Government (more so government institutions) has continued to show us that they’re clearly more interested in their own self-aggrandizing, salaries, and job securities than they are for the tourism industry and – most importantly – it’s private sector workers. One can only conclude they are oblivious or could not care less about the huge potential of new economic revenue streams for the republic, ” says Brownlee.

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica’s tourism community rallies to help families affected by the Coronavirus shutdowns. https://t.co/fn9rzqmzbN #centralamerica #costarica #covidcrisis pic.twitter.com/39kLjCWemb — Central America Living (@VidaAmerica) May 5, 2020

He went to outline the failure of the remote worker bill to get underway. By now, the bill – signed into law last summer by President Alvarado – should be attracting digital nomads to Costa Rica.

But the law remains in limbo due to an inability of government institutions to figure out some basic details in its implementation.

“ Like most new initiatives in Costa Rica, the government is much better at adopting new ideas, but almost always totally fails when it comes to implementing them. The Remote Worker Visa is a clear example. If you need another example, look at the recent QR code mandate, ” he says.

“ Imagine what could happen now it’s clear that remote working is a part of the landscape of the future of work. Imagine if the government could successfully implement the visa and promote Costa Rica as an deal location for these workers.

“ And if you need another example, look at the recent QR code mandate. ”

Travel agent Chris Atkins from Central America Fishing agrees with Brownlee about government indifference/incompetence, especially on the QR code mandate, which was originally set to start in December before being halted by the courts in November .

“ This heavy-handed decree seemed to come out of nowhere, and didn’t seem well thought out from the beginning, ” says Atkins.

“ Essentially, the government says anyone in the world can come to Costa Rica, but once here they can’t go anywhere other than the grocery store, pharmacy, or hospital. Even worse, they seemed unaware that December-April is the traditional high season for tourism in Costa Rica. ”

Breaking: A Costa Rica court accepts the tourist sectors filed injunction against the QR code mandate set to start in January, and orders the government to suspend the requirement, and halt all preparations for the mandate. https://t.co/Obyhw0nK5l — Central America Living (@VidaAmerica) November 13, 2021

On the subject of attracting remote workers in general, with or without an official law, both Brownlee and Atkins are more buoyant.

“ In 2021, we got a taste of what post-Covid tourism could look like and for many of us, it was extremely positive in the way of increased revenues and overall quality of travelers. This new increased desire to travel combined with the trend in remote working made it clear there was a whole new huge potential of high-quality tourists waiting for the right conditions and circumstances to choose Costa Rica as the ideal country to visit, ” says Brownlee.

“ Since Covid changed the way the world works, Costa Rica is perfectly positioned to attract these remote workers and digital nomads with great wifi available in many parts of the country, ” agrees Atkins.

Atkins also went on to make some predictions about tourism volume in 2022.

“ Costa Rica will come close to, but not surpass, its 2019 visitor numbers. Before the pandemic, Costa Rica’s tourism industry consistently broke it’s own records year after year. You won’t find many operators who say that business has returned to pre-pandemic levels, but the amount of visitors since the borders reopened has been better than expected.

“ As more tourists start to travel again, Costa Rica will experience a ‘second reopening wave’ in the second half of the year. ”

A look at how we covered remote working in Central America in 2021, from visas to job ideas to practical tips and more. https://t.co/tMNrgYDiPj — Central America Living (@VidaAmerica) December 28, 2021

Brownlee is a little more guarded than Atkins about visitor numbers in 2022, but remains optimistic.

“ I think tourism will stumble in first quarter trying to reestablish footing with the effects of new Omicron variant. But, I think both governments and the public are resigned that some form of Covid is here to stay. We must find a path forward to allow people, business, and countries to find some sense of normalcy and stability, ” he says.

“ In the case of Costa Rica, I hope that if logical thinking on behalf of our elected officials does not prevail, then financial realities will force them to accede. Regardless, I suspect that world tourism will start to realign in the second quarter. ”

Overall, the travel agent and the hotelier both share the same concerns about government indifference to tourism in Costa Rica. They both see this indifference as the main obstacle to a full recovery.

But they also see more green shoots in 2022, in the form of growing numbers as the pandemic wanes and the digital nomad/remote worker phenomenon.

These factors, for Brownlee, are cause for optimism.

“ The best aspect of 2021 was seeing travel bounce back with a vengeance, and Costa Rica being a top choice. There’s nothing to suggest things won’t remain that way going forward. ”

And Atkins? His best moment takes a different tack, one that focuses on Costa Rica’s eco-friendly reputation.

“ Last month President Alvarado signed a new decree expanding Cocos Island National Park by 53,000 square kilometers of ocean. This is part of an initiative with Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador to create a 500,000 square kilometer marine highway to protect many endangered species of sharks, turtles, and marine mammals in these waters. ”

In the midst of Covid worries and legal stresses over QR codes and remote worker bills, it’s good to see that Costa Rica still tries to keep some of its eco-reputation intact with moves like this .

It gives hope to the future that whatever happens, the country still retains some aspects of the pura vida that makes it so popular in the first place. This can be nothing but a positive thing for tourism as it moves into the new year.

James Dyde is the editor of centralamerica.com. He lives in Escazu, Costa Rica.

James Dyde is a British immigrant to Costa Rica and the editor of this website. He has lived in Central America since 2000 and retains a deep love for the region. He lives in Escazu, Costa Rica.

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Covid Travel: What It Is Like in Costa Rica Right Now

• Jenn and Matt
• Covid Travel

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Last Updated: September 2, 2021

In 2020, the world was turned upside down and we were all affected. But with vaccinations currently underway in most countries, travel is slowly getting back to normal. Those planning to visit Costa Rica have been asking us what it is currently like here and what is open for them to enjoy. In this post, we’ll share what you can expect when traveling around Costa Rica, what is open, and how locals and other travelers are handling the situation.

Background 

Since Costa Rica reopened its borders in August 2020, tourism numbers have been much lower than normal. Some estimates say that international arrivals are down 80% from normal levels. However, with vaccination campaigns advancing in countries like the United States, we have seen month over month increases in travel to Costa Rica since March 2021. Additionally, many travelers are now planning longer stays in Costa Rica , working or studying remotely. 

Costa Rica does have many active cases of the virus (see stats and info here ) and hospitalizations continue to be high as well. This is stressing the public healthcare system at times. The vaccination campaign in Costa Rica has been going well though. The government projects that more than 80% of the population will be vaccinated by the end of 2021. 

As far as we know from local news reports, very few tourists have been hospitalized. Additionally, the government is trying to limit any new restrictions on the tourism industry since the spread of the virus seems to be primarily within the local population, especially in high-density areas.   

Overview of What Is Open in Costa Rica

While some businesses did close during the pandemic, for most, it was temporary. As of September 2021, most hotels, restaurants, tours, and attractions are open again. The country’s beaches and national parks are open too.

We have done several small trips within the country ourselves during the pandemic. Based on that and our experience living on the central Pacific coast, we would say that about 7/10 things in tourist destinations (restaurants, hotels, shops, attractions, etc.) are back open.

With appreciative locals that have been through a lot, you’re likely to get an especially warm welcome when traveling these days.

Limited Capacity, Opening Hours, and Health Precautions

Though open, all businesses face new regulations to help protect both employees and visitors. 

Generally, most businesses are only allowed to operate at 50% capacity. Bars are currently at 25% (until October 1, when they will be open at 50%). That means that things like tour times, available tickets, or table space at restaurants are limited. We highly recommend reserving your spot in advance, especially for tours. 

The hours of operation for businesses are also regulated. Currently (as of September 2021), businesses only   can be open between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Previously, when cases were lower, things were able to be open until 11:00 p.m.

As far as health precautions go, people entering most businesses or starting a tour are required to sanitize or wash their hands, wear a mask, and sometimes have their temperature taken. Of course these protocols are not always enforced or followed, especially in some of the smaller establishments. In general, larger companies, chain stores, banks, government agencies, etc. will be more strict with enforcement and following guidelines.  

You also might notice markings on the floor, reminding you to keep at least 1.8 meters (6 feet) apart from others.

Use of Masks

Just like everywhere around the world, the use of masks is controversial. But in Costa Rica, it is the law to wear one when going inside any indoor space (shared vehicles like shuttles and buses included). The one exception is at bars and restaurants. They are not required, except for the staff. Luckily, many restaurants in Costa Rica are open to the outside and have plenty of natural airflow.

Masks are not required in the outdoors or while walking on the street, unless you are at a bus stop or some type of event like a farmers market, function, etc.  

While traveling around the country as well as in our own town, we have seen masks being used incorrectly or not at all. However, most people are following the rules and being respectful. Many businesses will enforce the use of masks, since they can be fined and shut down if they are non-compliant. Others are still lackadaisical, even with the threat of being fined.  

In areas where there have been more cases, like San Jose, wearing a mask is part of life. People are just used to it. In rural areas that may not have been impacted by the virus as much, there is generally more resistance to using masks.

Driving Restrictions

Most travelers won’t have to worry about this, but all of Costa Rica has driving restrictions in place. Currently you aren’t allowed to drive certain days of the week, based on your license plate number (see this post for the latest info). However, rental cars and tourism vehicles are exempt.

If you experience any problems, just show the officer the rental car contract. If you’re still looking for a rental car company, check out our discounts page for a really good option.

A driving curfew between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. is also in effect. We have heard that rental cars are exempt from this as well, if traveling to and from the airport. But just to be sure, we would not recommend driving during curfew hours unless necessary ( e.g. , to catch your flight).

Refer to this government website (Alertas section) for more information on the measures in place. It is in Spanish but can be translated using the Google Translate extension.

What to Expect When Traveling in Costa Rica 

Below we’ll give some specifics for what you should expect when traveling around Costa Rica and how different establishments are handling things.

Arriving at the Airport

We’ve been getting a lot of feedback from people entering the country and done it a couple times ourselves in the last few months. Overall the process is smooth and sometimes quick (as fast as 30 minutes). This is assuming you meet the entry requirements , of course. We’d still plan on about one hour, just in case. 

The most important thing is that you will have to show your QR code from the Health Pass form to the airline officials before departing your home country. You’ll also have this code scanned at immigration when you enter.

Some people have reported that the lines through immigration and surrounding the baggage claim can get crowded. While there are markings on the floor indicating where you should stand, multiple people in the same group crowd up these designated areas and push everyone closer together. So, just be prepared that there may be some closer contact inside the airport if immigration is processing a lot of people at once.

When arriving at your hotel, you’ll be required to wear a mask, wash your hands, and possibly, have your temperature checked. The staff should inform you of other safety protocols during check in.

Hotels are one of the few businesses that are allowed to operate at 100% capacity.  That means that all rooms can be booked. (An exception is large hotels with 100 rooms or more. These are at 75% capacity.) However, common areas like restaurants, pools, and gyms are limited to just 50% capacity.

As a result, you’ll notice some changes at hotels. For example, instead of a breakfast buffet, you may be asked for your order ahead of time. Or you may be given a specific time slot to visit the breakfast area. Or the breakfast area may have the tables spread apart with a la carte ordering only. Different hotels are handling it in different ways.

Pools at hotels are limited to 50% capacity too. We’ve seen some hotels remove half the lounge chairs around the pool to help with this. However, we’ve also seen some pretty full pools at other places, especially on busy holiday weekends.

Restaurants

Restaurants are allowed to operate at 50% capacity between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. 

When visiting a restaurant, expect to have to sanitize your hands before entering. Most have a handwashing station set up right near the entrance. Often these have a foot pedal so that you don’t have to touch the faucet.

Many restaurants require a mask when entering but you can take it off when sitting down at your table. We usually take ours off after ordering and getting our drinks. Other restaurants are, honestly, pretty lackadaisical. They allow people to enter with no mask and don’t really check that you wash your hands.

Waiters and other staff are supposed to wear a mask at all times. You may also notice that some restaurants have big chalk boards or QR codes that you scan for the menu, to avoid extra contact with objects. We’ve even eaten at a couple of restaurants where the entire inside area was closed off and only outdoor tables were available.

Currently beaches in Costa Rica are open from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

When visiting the beach, there isn’t much to know, except to keep your distance from others. You are not supposed to have large gatherings or play close-contact sports like soccer or volleyball, though some people still do.

The nice thing about Costa Rica’s beaches is that there is usually plenty of space to spread out. Beaches that are busy still aren’t that crowded, and in general, everyone can keep a distance of at least 20 feet or so, if they want to.

Along the beach, vendors selling things like ice cream, ceviche, and souvenirs, on foot should be wearing masks. However, we’d say that about half don’t in the areas we’ve been to lately. If you’re not comfortable having them come close, just wave and shake your head to indicate you aren’t interested. Most will be respectful.

National Parks

Almost all of Costa Rica’s national parks are open again at 100% capacity. S ome have limited trail access to avoid crowding.

When hiking through national parks, we have noticed that some people keep their mask handy in case they pass others along the trail. At other times, we’ve had to ask people for more space, when waiting in a short line to see something like a waterfall.  

All national parks require handwashing, a temperature check, and a mask upon entering. They are only accepting credit cards to limit the use of cash. For most national parks, you can buy your tickets online in advance.

Tour Operators

Most tours are operating again so you can still do things like zip lining, whitewater rafting, nature hikes, boat trips, agricultural tours, and more.

Each tour is different, but all operators are following the basic protocols like hand sanitizing, requiring masks (especially at reception areas, in vans, etc.), and limiting the number of people. We know some tour operators that are only offering private tours, to prevent mixing different groups.

For watersports and adrenaline-type tours, the use of a mask is only required during portions of the tour. Especially since it would either get wet or fall off in some cases.

In booking tours for clients, we have seen that some operators that usually offer a tour several times per day have modified their schedule to reduce the number of time slots available. For this reason, we recommend booking ahead of time if possible so that you can get a reservation and they can schedule staff. Many tourism workers have been laid off or are only working part time because of the pandemic.

Compliance of Locals and Other Tourists

Generally speaking, most people in Costa Rica are taking the pandemic seriously. Everyone at grocery stores, banks, and most indoor businesses are all wearing their masks and sanitizing hands often.

On trips we have taken recently, we have seen many locals (especially from city areas like San Jose) respecting the protocols very carefully. On the other hand, in our small town on the central Pacific coast and in some other rural areas, we often see people mingling and very few wearing a mask. On a trip to La Fortuna, we were amazed that every single souvenir store in the downtown had employees with no masks on. Many expats living in the country also seem to be hesitant to wear a mask when getting together. Of course, with any population, there is a mix.

Those international visitors that we have seen seem to be going with the flow and learning what to do at each place they stop. They all seem very happy to be here and who can blame them!   

Like everywhere, people in Costa Rica want to get back to some type of normalcy after having businesses closed for many months in 2020. Locals are excited to have international tourists back again and it gives them hope for the future. If you are thinking about planning a visit, we hope this post helps you decide one way or another. If you do come, Costa Rica will be waiting with open arms (and a mask).

Have a question about what’s open? Or are you in Costa Rica now? Leave us a comment below.

Need more info check out our other covid-related posts before you travel:.

Traveling to Costa Rica During Covid-19: Entry Requirements, Protocols & What to Expect  

Costa Rica and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) : Latest Statistics

Preflight Testing For Departing Costa Rica: Logistics And Tips

Costa Rica’s Required Travel Insurance: 15 FAQs

Where to Get a Covid-19 Test in Costa Rica  

Covid-19 in Costa Rica: Living Here Through the Pandemic  

Just starting to plan your trip? Check out these helpful posts and pages:

Rental Car Discount – Save 10% or more and get free extras like surfboard racks, child seats, and more.

Weather in Costa Rica: What You Need to Know  – Weather Apps hardly work in Costa Rica. Read this post to find out typical weather patterns for the month you are planning to come.

Packing for Costa Rica: The Essentials – Covid may have changed a lot, but you still need much of the same gear these days. Be prepared for your Costa Rica trip with our detailed packing list.

Thank you very much for such a detailed piece of information. I, like a lot of other people I’m sure, am still worried about going to Costa Rica this winter and your information is most reassuring.

Hi Robert, Glad to hear the post was helpful. Hope you’re able to come back again soon!

Hi Jen & Matt,

My husband and I will be on a self-funded leave program from July 2021 – August 2022 (we are both Highschool teachers). When we started paying into the program 5 years ago, we did not foresee COVID and we’re planning to do a trek around the world with our three kids (who will be 5, 8 and 10 this summer).

Now, we are considering coming to Costa Rica and enrolling them in public education somewhere on the Pacific Coast. We all speak English and French well, and I can get by in Spanish, so we think it could be a good immersion opportunity.

What are public schools doing to take safety measures, when is testing required for students, and what do schools do in response to cases and outbreaks?

Any thoughts on ou le plans would be so helpful! (Suggested location(s), schools, housing, transportation…).

Thanks and Merry Christmas. Or rather Feliz Navidad!

Michelle & Chris

Hi Michelle and Chris, Schools have been closed for in person since Covid started in March. Public schools are supposed to go back to in person when the school year begins in February – it will be part-time virtual and part-time in person. They have made some announcements recently about the protocols in place, and we have heard masks will be required. Our son is enrolled in private school so we are more familiar with the measures they have in place there. Our son’s school has fairly robust measures. But they do differ from what will happen in public schools since it is school-specific. The best place to find information is probably the Ministerio de Educacion’s website. Here’s a link to their Covid page, which looks very detailed.

Also, if you haven’t already, be sure to take a look at our post on Moving to Costa Rica with Kids . That probably touches on many topics you’ll face when you’re here, including how to pick a spot to settle down. Best of luck with your family’s plans!

Thanks for the info and the links! We will be sure to check our your suggested post!

Hello, I live in Costa Rica and I am amazed why our children are still forced to wear masks at school. Do you have any update info when that madness will be called off? Every other country in the world including Canada! allows children to breath freely… I hope it will become optional but I can not find any update info.. many thanks!

Hi Monika, We haven’t heard about any changes to the mask mandate at schools. It probably won’t be until they stop requiring them in indoor settings.

Hi guys, Can you buy the health insurance at the airport when you come in? Also, how much is it?

Hi Rick, You need to purchase the insurance in advance in order to fill out the Health Pass.

There are two Costa Rica insurance options or you could get international insurance as long as it meets the requirements. Check out the Insurance section of our Entry Requirements post for all the details, including info on pricing: https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/traveling-costa-rica-during-covid-19-entry-requirements-protocols/

I am bringing my dog with me to CR. Has that been aproblem for anybody? I have traveled with my dog to CR before.

Hi Randy, We haven’t heard of anyone having problems so don’t think there are any new restrictions for flying with pets.

Hi Matt and Jen! Do you know roughly how much the required insurance costs? We’re planning on roughly a 2 week trip (2 adults – 53, 54). Thanks!

Hi JP, Of the Costa Rican options, Sagicor is usually cheaper for shorter trips. They have a flat rate – I think it’s around $12 per day. So that would be $168 per person. International insurance would probably be much cheaper. You can check out our Entry Requirements post ( https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/traveling-costa-rica-during-covid-19-entry-requirements-protocols/ ) for some companies that people have been using.

My husband and i are the same age as y’all. We went with Trawick and for about 9 days it was about 20$

Second question. We will e in CR for 99 days. I have INS insurance for 90 days. I plan on getting a second policy for the additional 9 days. I plan on flying to Bocas for a week during our stay. Do you see any problems with this plan?

Hi Randy, Would love to know how much you paid for the INS insurance. I am 69 and would like to purchase 89 days of insurance. Sagitor is too expensive, and Trawick quoted almost $700. What is your experience with INS?

Thank you for the informative updates! I’ve got one question please.

Is there any discussion about re-opening the land borders for tourists this year?

Hi Carlo, We have heard some rumors about them reopening in December but nothing official has been announced. If they do, we will provide an update in our post on Entering Costa Rica During Covid .

Hello. Thanks for this info! I am a solo traveller looking at CR for two weeks in January. I will go to Puerto Viejo and then the pacific coast. I am having a hard time deciding where to stay. I would like a nice beach town, with maybe a few cafes, nice vibe, water for swimming. Can you give me any tips as to where to stay?

Hi Andreas, If you’re coming from Puerto Viejo, the central Pacific coast will be closest. You could look at the Jaco area ( https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/jaco-costa-rica/ ), but it may not be what you’re looking for since it’s more developed. If you are open to a longer drive, you could look at places in Guanacaste like Samara ( https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/samara/ ) or Potrero ( https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/potrero-home-base-beaches-guanacaste/ ). Both are smaller towns with access to great swimming beaches. You would probably have to make a stop for an overnight between Puerto Viejo and either of those destinations because it’s a really long drive. Doable in two weeks, though. Hope that helps!

Hey guys. Thanks so much. I think I will go to Manuel Antonio. Any tips on where to stay one night in between the two? SJ or Arenal? Other?

San José or just outside San José like in Atenas would work well. Atenas is a cute little city with nice mountain views. You can learn note about it here: https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/atenas/

Hey guys – We have booked our travel to Samara but we are in the process of getting our children’s passports renewed. The Costa Rican insurance is asking for passport numbers. Do you know if we have to purchase the insurance right away or can we purchase say two weeks before our trip when we should have the passports?

Hi Sarah, You just have to have the insurance information to put on the Health Pass. This can’t be filled out until 48 hours before your trip so you can do it fairly last minute. Just be sure to leave enough time to get the policy information, but usually it comes fast anyway. So you should be all set. Hope you get the new passports back soon!

We are planning a trip to Quepos Jan 8 – 16 any info on that area. We have been coming to costa rica for 20 plus years. Just mostly for fishing. The people I have been talking to have told me that its under control with very little cases of covid any thoughts.

Hi Joseph, Quepos/Manuel Antonio doesn’t have too many cases. Right now, there are 113 active (you can find the current data here by canton/county: https://infogram.com/infografia-situacion-nacional-covid-19-1ho16veq1vw72nq ). On average, from following the data since this began, we’d say that Quepos has between 5 and 15 new cases per day. Costa Rica has a high positivity rate and probably isn’t testing as much as it should, but the numbers aren’t bad overall, especially in the majority of the beach towns. One thing to note is that hospitalizations are creeping back up again, so we will have to keep an eye on that with the holidays coming. We hope that helps give you an idea of what it’s like.

Thanks for your response. That’s what I have also found in my research as well. We are renting a house in Quepos as we have done for several years. We go to fish and I would have to believe that that should be pretty safe. Thanks again

Who do you fish with? Have a favorite guide?

Thanks again If you could keep me posted if you get any new info I would appreciate it. I am going the second week of January so any info will help. Thanks again

Hi Joe, We update the Covid data several times a week in our post, Costa Rica and the Coronavirus: https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/costa-rica-coronavirus/

To keep current on Quepos’ numbers specifically, you can check back at the link we gave you before.

Hi Jenn and Matt,

Have you heard or is there anything in the press related to new measures that could be put in place between christmas and new years?

Traveling to CR from 26th till the 4th of January.

Hi Filipe, We have not heard of any new measures being put in place. With the holidays, it is likely that nothing will change right now, and nothing may change anyway. It is hard to say. The government did say informally that they would not stop flights from the UK. One thing is that hospitalizations are up right now and pushing hospital capacity (public, not private, hospitals). We are watching the news but you should be safe for your visit later this week. Hope you have a great trip!

Hi Jenn & Matt,

I have just read that Costa Rica will be making new restrictions as of January, do you have any idea of how that will impact tourists? We would fly to CR on January 17

Best Regards

Hi Casper, Yes, some temporary restrictions were issued yesterday. We updated our Covid posts this morning with the information. Everything that affects tourists actually ends on January 17 so you will be all set for your trip. If you want to read about the specific changes, just look at the latest version of this post.

And you dont think that these ristrictions will be extended? I know it’s difficult to say these days, but you might have an idea of which way things are going.. It would be sad to get to CR, and maybe see more closeures and restrictions 🙂

We don’t think they will be extended. It seems they were mainly put in place to control vacations over the holidays. Many locals get two weeks off from work starting around Christmas and this is a big time for gatherings. Vacations for some continue until mid January, hence the January 17 end date.

Hi Jenn&Matt, we are planning to arrive in CR on Sat this week from Europe and I just read about new restrictions. We plan to rent car and visit National Parks then stay few days on Caribbean coast. We see there are 50% capacity limitation implemented now till 17th Jan. Are national parks now crowded? Or there are not so many tourists. I am asking if we can have flexibility and buy tickets at the entrance or we should book on line all accesses/tickets now to all parks now to be sure we can visit them? Thank you so much for your advise and wishing you all the best! Izabela

Hi Izabela, Now is the busiest time of year for travel in Costa Rica. This year it is somewhat slower, but popular places are still busy. We would recommend reserving your tickets at any parks you know you want to visit in advance if you can (not all parks have online ticketing). Not everywhere will be full but we have heard of some filling up – Rincón de la Vieja was full today. Hope you have a great trip!

Hi! We are going to be traveling with our 3 and 5-year-old. Do you know what the mask rules are for young kids? I know they have to wear them on the plane and in the airport but what about while in Costa Rica? Do they have to wear one when we go into a shop or just the adults? Thanks!

Hi Angie, Masks for kids are required starting at age 3. You need them in most indoor spaces and some outdoor ones too (e.g., to get into a national park, one is required at the entrance). Hope that helps!

I am planning to come to costa rica on the 9th and stay until the 16th. We are going to stay at Quepos for some very needed fishing time. Just checking to see if you can update us about the situation in that area. We have been coming to that area for several years and feel very confident in moving around that town. If you have any in site in the area we would greatly appreciate it.

Hi Joseph, No new news on Quepos. It has been pretty much the same since you last asked. The current number of active cases for the canton/county is only 139. Here’s a link to the government case reporting website, which is updated almost every day with current numbers by canton.

Hi there – I’m thinking about coming to CR for a month from mid Jan to mid Feb. I will of course buy good health insurance and will stay in Puerto Viejas. I’m worried that if I do get sick the private hospitals will not have capacity…what’s your view on this and do you know the quality of the private hospitals in CR? Thanks alot. Julian

Hi Julian, There aren’t any capacity concerns at private hospitals. The public hospitals have been filling up recently, but these are the public health system options through CCSS, not private options that you would use as a visitor.

Costa Rica has excellent private hospitals. CIMA, Clinica Biblica, and Hospital Metropolitano are all very good, among others. We’ve had appointments and procedures at all three of these hospitals and were very pleased with the quality of care and modern facilities.

Hi I just wanted to let you all know that the local airline, Skyway, yesterday announced that all local flights will be cancelled until the fall. We had booked a flight with Flightnetwork as we were planning to go to the Osa Peninsula for 2 weeks. Now, we are having to decide if we can do the long drive….Good thing we called Skyway on a tip from a facebook group because F.N did Not notify us!

We traveled to CR between Christmas and New Years, and would offer two observations. First, enter your health pass information and get your QR code the night before you leave. I was thinking that they would want it on the CR side so I planned to fill it out while I waited for the plane. However, the airlines require it at check-in. The other issue I noted (we travel there frequently) that has never happened before was car rental issues. Many companies were taking reservations, but didn’t actually have cars. Many people found that out when they landed and then were scrambling for a car. We have friends that helped us out, but it was stressful. Make sure that there really will be a car there when you arrive!

Jason- question about rental cars…. Who do you use for rental car service?

Hi Kristina, Jason can chime in, but we highly recommend a local company called Adobe Rent a Car. If you reserve through them, they will hold a car for you. We have been working with them for over 5 years and have never heard of someone showing up and them not having a car. Our readers get a 10% discount through Adobe and other extras like a free second driver. There’s more info on our Rental Car Discount page.

Hi guys! I love your website, this is all such helpful information. We took our three kids to live in CR about 10 years ago and stayed three weeks. We are raising them bilingual and the goal was to get as much integration and practice speaking Spanish as possible. We’d like to come again this summer for two weeks with the same goal. We usually try to find a school that will let them enroll while we’re there, but that can be difficult to find. What is your recommendation? Last time we spent a week in Turrialba, one in Monteverde, and one in Malpais. We would love to return to Monteverde, but are open to other options. Would appreciate your thoughts!

Hi Shauni, Glad you are finding our website helpful!

We don’t know of any schools that will let you enroll for only two weeks. You can find camps in some places – these happen during school break, which is in late June/early July if you can time your trip for then. If you’re wanting them to get culture, lots of private schools are attended by both expat and local kids so that would be a good option. It has been a while since you’ve been here so revisiting those same destinations would be fine. You may just want to reconsider Mal Pais. Mal País itself is still fairly quiet but the whole area is really blowing up. We just got back from a visit to Santa Teresa and there is a lot of development happening and it has a big party scene now. Lots of traffic. Montezuma ( https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/montezuma/ ), on the other side of the peninsula, be a better option. Hope that helps!

Hi Jenn and Matt!

I honestly loved this and many of your other articles as they’re the only up to date pieces of info that I could find. I was wondering if you had any further updates for February? I’m thinking of visiting Costa Rica around the end of Feb and I read that most restrictions were to be reviewed at the end of January… Do you think it’s worth visiting? Thanks!!

Hi Valentina, It is definitely worth visiting. Almost everything is back open again. Beaches are still open until 6 pm. Restaurants are open until 10 pm now. Bars can be open at reduced capacity. National parks can be open at 100%. Driving restrictions have been eliminated during the week and don’t affect tourists/rental cars anyway. Rental cars are exempt. The feedback we have been hearing from people is to come. Since it’s less busy, many of the popular attractions aren’t crowded. But there is still stuff going on. We went to Manuel Antonio yesterday and the beach was lively. Hope that helps!

Hi Jenn and Matt, Thanks for all the info you provide on your site, its all very helpful. We are planning a trip for end of July with our son and I was recently reading an article about the increased crime and wanted to get your thoughts/observations. It’s hard to tell if it’s just a normal type of increase or something to be looking out for. Any info you have on crime would be terrific. We are thinking of a 2 week trip, mainly on the Pacific Coast side (Manuel Antonio, Gunacaste, Arenal, Moteverde). Thanks!

Hi Michelle, Petty theft may be up some due to economic hardship from the pandemic. But we haven’t heard of any increase in violent crimes. Violent crimes are fairly rare outside the city/San Jose. We follow many of the local Facebook groups for people who live here and haven’t noticed increased crime in any of those areas you’ll be visiting. Just be sure to follow the usual precautions. We have some advice in our Safety Tips post: https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/safety-tips-costa-rica/

Hi Jenn and Matt, your site is wonderful! We have looking for a beachfront all-inclusive, and have stayed at Los Suenos in the past and loved it. Are there any you’re particularly fond of?

Hi Paula, We’ve stayed at Los Suenos Marriott and really liked it too!

Another good beachfront all inclusive is Hotel Punta Islita , which is owned by the Hilton now. This is in a quiet location a little south of Samara . It’s a classy boutique hotel. Most of the other all inclusives are in Northern Guanacaste – many of these are set up on a hill so not right on the beach. If you’re okay with something more casual, there is a Margaritavilla right on the beach in Playa Flamingo, which is a nice location close to lots of things.

Thanks for the information. I will be traveling to Jaco and La Fortuna next month. Do you know if the beaches in Jaco close at 6PM still? My lodging will be on the beach and I was hoping to be able to walk the beach at sunset.

Hi Amanda, Unfortunately, yes, beaches are still closing at 6 pm. But that still gives you plenty of time for sunset, which is between 5:30 and 5:45 every day.

Thanks for all the helpful info! I’m planning a solo trip to Costa Rica in March. I was planning to visit some places that seem to be a little less travelled- like Tortuguero and the Caribbean coast. I’m worried with less tourists at the moment that things will be closed or tours not running. Would you recommend I stick to the more touristy places right now? Thanks!

Hi Laura, Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo are pretty big destinations in terms of tourism so things should be running. A lot of packages go to Tortuguero and we know that Puerto Viejo is fairly busy right now. Cahuita could be a little slower. Hope that helps!

Thankyou 😃 it’s wonderful to have these on the ground updates. Tickets from US west coast were 260 round trip so we jump on it and are coming at end of April 202! Your updates are just in time and very very clear. Keep it up and I plan to use your web links to make sure I’m supporting you.

Hi, I am interested in doing a yoga training this summer and am thinking of bringing my husband and two teenagers, 15 and 18. I am concerned about my sons, since they have not been vaccinated. Can anyone recommend a place that would accommodate us? I would ideally like the 18 year old to also get some volunteer/work experience. We would like to be walking distance to a town and of course want to visit the rainforest. Any information would be appreciated. Thank-you!

Hi Mary, You could probably do a yoga training in Samara ( https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/samara/ ), Montezuma ( https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/montezuma/ ), Santa Teresa ( https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/santa-teresa/ ), or The Uvita/Dominical área ( https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/the-costa-ballena-uvita-dominical-and-ojochal/ ). You can follow our links for more information about those areas. The most walkable would be Samara, Montezuma or Santa Teresa. Santa Teresa may be more of a scene than you’re looking for, though, with two teenagers. Mask compliance also isn’t very good there based on our experience visiting recently. I hope that helps!

Thanks! I will check those out. Do you know of any local places to volunteer with ocean or forest animals in Samara or Montezuma? My son is interested in volunteering at an animal sanctuary. Again, thanks for your help.

So, I am looking at a yoga training in Uvitas and the new plan is that my husband and sons join me after the training. Is that a good jumping off point to explore the rainforest? I am really in the dark as to what the “best” places are to be immersed in the rainforest and this is what my youngest son really wants. Do you have links to small tours that you would recommend? Also, do you know if people are wearing masks on the tours? Ideally we would like an uncrowded experience. So, even if it’s not anywhere near Uvitas, I may look for a different training or just figure out transport. Thanks so much, Mary

Uvita sounds like exactly what you’re looking for. It has thick rainforest all around and lots of wildlife. Here is a link to our article about that area to give you a feel for it and what activities are available: https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/the-costa-ballena-uvita-dominical-and-ojochal/

I think I saw in another one of your comments about your son wanting to volunteer at a wildlife center. The Uvita area actually has a great one called Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary.

People are generally wearing masks. You can read more about when masks are required and how compliance is here: https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/covid-travel-what-it-is-like-costa-rica/

Thanks for the article! Heading to Tamarindo this weekend and I hear there are stronger restrictions now, bars/restaurants only open till 9pm at 25% capacity? Are you able to confirm? Any idea if/when that will be lifted, we will be staying for a month. Thanks!

Hi Shamima, We have updated information on all restrictions in our article, Costa Rica and the Coronavirus ( https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/costa-rica-coronavirus/ ). You can always check there for the latest updates. We update it almost every day.

To answer your question, yes, the government just put in place additional restrictions because we are experiencing record cases and hospitalizations. They are trying to limit the impacts on tourism as much as possible. The restrictions only apply until the end of May. National Parks are limited to 50% capacity and bars to 25% capacity. Restaurants were already at 50% capacity and have been that way during the whole pandemic. The occupancy limits aren’t a huge deal for most restaurants since it is less busy right now because of Covid. All businesses with a health permit (this is most of them including restaurants) have to close at 9 pm until the end of the month.

They will most likely loosen the restrictions at the end of the month but how much will depend on how this current wave is going. In Tamarindo, you won’t feel the impacts too much, other than the business closures at 9 pm. We hope that gives you a better idea of what’s going on.

Thank you so much for all the great info. My family (husband, a toddler and a small child) are coming next month. I have so many questions… This will be our first trip to the country, so your site has been incredibly helpful. I just booked our car through your link. I was wondering if you could offer a bit of advice. First, our flight arrives in San Jose around 5:30 PM. We will have to pick up our rental car from Adobe, and then were planning to drive to our AirBNB, 3 and a half hours away… 20 ish min south of Quepos. But I just read in one of the comments that sunset is usually before 6:00 pm? In your experience, would it be unwise for us as first time travelers to CR to drive this distance in the evening like this? Thanks so much for any advice!

Hi Carly, Glad our site has been helpful! Thanks for booking your rental car through our link.

Yes, it does get dark here around 5:45/6 pm. We don’t recommend driving long distances after dark, especially in rainy season, because visibility can be poor. We actually just came out with an article today about driving in rainy season, which will give you a better idea of what it’s like. Here’s the he link: https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/rainy-season-driving-costa-rica/

You could either stay overnight near the airport, or another option is to take a shuttle to your Airbnb then pick up the rental car the next day in Quepos. If the shuttle option sounds good and you need help making the arrangements, feel free to reach out through our shuttle booking page: https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/costa-rica-shuttle-transfers/

We hope your family has an amazing trip!

Wow! No other website gives such thorough information about Costa Rica and the current COVID situation – thank you for all you do! Please keep this page updated as much as you can.

We have a family trip planned for November. However, the CDC has marked CR as a Level 4 threat in regards to COVID (the US is only a Level 3). This makes us apprehensive, but I keep reminding myself that most of the activities we will be engaging in are outside or just within our family. Does the current situation in CR there seem dire enough to be at a Level 4 in your opinion?

Hi Rose, I don’t think the situation here is any worse than in the US. Yes, we are having a spike due to the delta variant, but it is fairly easy to stay safe since most things are outdoors. By November, hopefully we will be in a better position, as vaccination rates increase. Currently, 60% of the population has had one shot. Costa Rica has been spacing out doses 12 weeks but just changed this to 8 weeks so a larger number of the population who received their first dose in late July will be fully vaccinated by October. This was the last group, when CR opened vaccinations to everyone, even those without risk factors. Vaccine hesitance is very low here so we expect that most will choose to vaccinate. I hope that helps give you a better idea!

Hi this site is so great! Me and husband are planning a trip next March (last 9 days). After reading how tours and restaurants are now having to scale back again, wondering if we should move it to last week of April beginning of May. Our itinerary is San Jose to Monteverde (2nts) then down to Manuel Antonio for 5nts. We are not sure if end of March is a “peak” time. But also not sure if moving to last week in Apr into May we would get too much rain. Do you think that last 9 days in March would hinder us in going on ATV and Catamaran tour. I know it is a long ways off; I read how the surge of covid hit you this past April and am also a little worried about the crowds in March vs. late April into May or would the crowds still be there last of Apr into 1st week of May. If it doesn’t matter we would like to keep it planned for March, the hotels I picked are the same price so that’s good. Thanks again.

Hi Cindy, We’d keep it at the end of March like you have planned. That’s a long ways off and who knows what it will be like then with COVID so we wouldn’t change your plans based on that. Hopefully we are mostly out of this by that point anyway. If we aren’t, March would be a much better time than late April, as late April/early May is when we would begin to see a spike because of Easter Week. The weather is more reliable in March too. I hope that helps!

Sept12/2021 – Thanks for your Sept 2 Covid update. Its about what I expected, but I appreciate the validation. Its our second trip to CR, this time for a month, arriving Nov 4. Hopefully it won’t be too rainy. We have rented a car using your Adobe suggestion and plan to start in Liberia and head south, leaving Dec 2. We will purchase additional Covid insurance just to be sure and will be diligent with the usual precautions, as well we are fully vaccinated. I feel that if we are careful, we can manage the risk.

Hi Bill, Yes, and hopefully we will be in better shape when you are here in November. Vaccinations are going strong right now. They just started a big campaign this week, with extended hours at all public clinics. Here’s a link to our post in vaccination rates in case you haven’t seen it. We just came out with it a few days ago.

Thanks for renting your car through our site!

What a great site! We have been coming to CR for many years. We stay in Santa Teresa Guanacaste for about 2 weeks each time. We are triple vaccinated. Do you think it is relatively safe to travel to CR and go to the outdoor restaurants in santa teresa? If we do get sick is there good medical care available? We will have travel insurance, but if we become covid positive, the US won’t let us back in and we will be dependent on medical care there. What do you think? Thank you very very much for your site. Pamela

Hi Pamela, Santa Teresa is one destination that we don’t recommend if you are concerned about Covid. In most places in Costa Rica, people are following the protocols like wearing masks, distancing, etc., but that’s typically not the case in Santa Teresa. So you may not feel comfortable eating in restaurants and things like that. Of course, it all depends on your comfort level and being boostered is great. We are just starting to experience a fairly significant increase in cases because of omicron right now (you can find current data here ). Not sure when you are planning to come again.

Health care is very good, though, if you did end up needing it. COVID care through the public health care system is great and there is also an excellent network of private hospitals in San José. Hope that helps with your question.

Thank you VERY much for that advice. When we looked at the numbers in the Nicoya area, they looked quite low compared to the rest of the country. Do you think Santa Teresa would be disproportionately higher because of the attitudes towards masking and distancing? When we go to Santa teresa we do 2 things – surf all day and then eat in restaurants at night, so not going to restaurants would be an issue for us.

Thank you so much again – this is an amazing site! Even though we have been coming to costa rica for years, we have learned a lot from it!

Hi Pamela, Santa Teresa is in the canton of Puntarenas. This is a big area, which includes the city of Puntarenas. We don’t have a breakdown by district (it’s part of Cobano), but there are 526 active cases in that canton right now. You can see the map here: http://geovision.uned.ac.cr/oges/index.html I’m not sure if it is disproportionately higher right now, but I know they have been one of the higher areas in the past. Maybe another beach town would be better for this trip? You could go online and see what people are saying about what the feeling is like at restaurants there. Last time we checked, some people were concerned about restaurant employees not wearing masks, partying, etc.

To clarify my question above, we are talking about the santa teresa that is out in puntarenas, north of montezuma.

Thank you so much for your continued help with this. Where would I go online to see what the feeling is? Are you talking about trip advisor?

May we arrange a conversation on the phone – we wouldn’t need an hour, but maybe 10 minutes?

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Costa Rica Projecting Record Number of Tourists This Year (2023-2024)

Costa Rica is projecting a record number of tourists, with authorities anticipating an unprecedented influx of visitors in the coming year. This projection is driven by the country’s stunning natural attractions and vibrant cultural scene.

Costa Rica’s tourism industry is booming, with the country expecting a record number of tourists in 2023 and 2024. The first half of 2023 already saw a remarkable 19.4% increase in tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2022. This growth is projected to continue, with Costa Rica set to welcome between 2.3 and 2.5 million tourists by air this year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

Key Takeaways:

• Costa Rica is experiencing a significant increase in tourist arrivals, projecting a record number of visitors for 2023 and 2024.
• The country’s diverse range of activities and attractions, along with its strong safety record, contribute to its popularity as a travel destination.
• North America is the largest source market, with a substantial rise in tourists from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
• Tourism from Europe is also on the rise, with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom being top contributors.
• Air travel plays a significant role, with approximately 90% of tourists arriving by plane, and the Juan Santamaría International Airport and Guanacaste Airport serving as the main entry points.

Increase in Tourism from North America

Tourism from North America has experienced significant growth, with a record number of tourists visiting Costa Rica from the region. In 2023, there was a 21% increase in visitors compared to the previous year. The United States, Canada, and Mexico were the top contributors to this surge in tourism.

“Costa Rica has always been on my travel bucket list, and I finally had the opportunity to visit this beautiful country. The stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and warm hospitality of the Costa Rican people made it an unforgettable vacation,” said Samantha, a tourist from California.

“I have been traveling to Costa Rica for the past decade, and I must say that the increase in tourism from North America is truly remarkable. The country’s commitment to sustainability and adventure tourism makes it an ideal destination for travelers seeking unique experiences,”

This surge in tourism from North America is a testament to Costa Rica’s popularity as a top travel destination. The country’s natural beauty, rich biodiversity, and range of activities, such as surfing, zip-lining, and exploring national parks, continue to attract visitors from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Rise in Arrivals from Europe

Costa Rica’s popularity as a travel destination extends beyond North America, with a significant increase in arrivals from Europe. During the first half of 2023, the country witnessed a 9.3% rise in tourist arrivals from the European region. This growth can be attributed to the allure of Costa Rica’s diverse attractions and natural beauty.

The top European countries contributing to this increase include France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. These travelers are drawn to Costa Rica’s stunning beaches, lush rainforests, and vibrant wildlife. The country’s commitment to sustainable tourism practices also resonates with European visitors, who are often conscious of the environmental impact of their travels.

With its unique blend of adventure, relaxation, and eco-consciousness, Costa Rica continues to captivate travelers from around the world. The increase in arrivals from Europe further solidifies its position as a popular travel destination . Whether it’s exploring the rich biodiversity of Manuel Antonio National Park, surfing the waves of Tamarindo Beach, or discovering the mystical beauty of Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica offers something for every type of traveler.

Air Travel and Airport Arrivals

Air travel plays a significant role in Costa Rica’s tourism industry, with approximately 90% of tourist arrivals being by air. The Juan Santamaría International Airport and Guanacaste Airport serve as the main entry points for international tourists. In June 2023, a total of 202,235 tourists arrived by plane, with 142,025 entering through the Juan Santamaría International Airport and 60,177 through Guanacaste Airport. These numbers reflect an increase compared to the same month in 2022. The growth in airport arrivals highlights the accessibility and convenience of traveling to Costa Rica.

To showcase the importance of air travel in Costa Rica’s tourism landscape, let’s take a closer look at the statistics for the month of June 2023:

“In June 2023, a total of 202,235 tourists arrived by plane in Costa Rica.” – Costa Rica Tourism Board

The data clearly demonstrates the preference for air travel among international tourists visiting Costa Rica. The convenience and efficiency of the Juan Santamaría International Airport and Guanacaste Airport make them popular choices for travelers.

With the continuous growth in airport arrivals, Costa Rica’s tourism industry is well-positioned to cater to the increasing number of visitors and provide them with a seamless travel experience.

Traveling to Costa Rica by Air

If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica, flying into one of the country’s international airports is the most convenient option. The Juan Santamaría International Airport, located near the capital city of San José, is the busiest airport in Costa Rica and offers a wide range of international flights. Guanacaste Airport, located in Liberia, is another popular choice, especially for tourists heading to the northwestern region of the country.

Both airports provide easy access to popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica, including stunning national parks, beautiful beaches, and vibrant cities. Whether you’re seeking adventure in the rainforests, relaxation on pristine beaches, or cultural immersion in charming towns, Costa Rica has something for every traveler.

• Arrival: Upon arrival, passengers will need to go through immigration and customs. A valid passport is required, and some nationalities may require a visa. It is important to check the entry requirements before traveling.
• Transportation: From the airports, travelers can easily find transportation options to their desired destinations. Rental cars, taxis, and private transfers are readily available, providing flexibility and convenience.

By choosing to travel to Costa Rica by air, visitors can enjoy a hassle-free start to their vacation and begin exploring everything this beautiful country has to offer.

Tourism’s Impact on Costa Rican Economy

The tourism industry in Costa Rica plays a pivotal role in the country’s economic development. With its remarkable growth and popularity, it has become a major contributor to job creation and various sectors of the economy. As the industry continues to thrive, Costa Rica’s tourism statistics highlight its positive impact on the country.

According to recent data, the tourism industry generated a staggering 158,810 direct jobs in the first quarter of 2023 alone. These jobs span a wide range of sectors, including hospitality, transportation, and entertainment, offering opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers. The employment opportunities provided by the tourism industry have had a significant positive effect on the livelihoods of Costa Ricans.

“The tourism industry has been a driving force of the Costa Rican economy, generating a significant number of direct jobs.”

In addition to job creation, the tourism sector contributes to the recovery and growth of other industries such as accommodation and transportation. The increased demand from tourists has led to investments in infrastructure development, improving accessibility and enhancing the overall travel experience in Costa Rica.

Moreover, the expenditure and length of stay of tourists visiting Costa Rica have shown an upward trend. Visitors are spending more and extending their stays, leading to increased revenue for local businesses and the government. This increased economic activity stimulates further growth and development, attracting more tourists and fueling the positive cycle of tourism in Costa Rica .

The Impact of Tourism on Costa Rica’s Economy

The tables below provide a comprehensive overview of the impact of tourism on Costa Rica’s economy:

The table above showcases the consistent growth of tourist arrivals, direct job creation, and the contribution of tourism to Costa Rica’s GDP over the years. It is clear that the tourism industry has been a vital driver of economic growth.

The positive trends in Costa Rica’s tourism industry, including the increase in arrivals, job creation, and economic contribution, indicate a promising future for the country’s economy. With continued investment in infrastructure, sustainable practices, and marketing efforts, Costa Rica is poised to maintain its position as one of the best places to visit and a flourishing tourism destination.

Close to Exceeding Pre-Pandemic Levels

Costa Rica’s tourism industry is on track to rebound strongly, with tourist arrivals nearing pre-pandemic levels. In the first nine months of 2023, the country welcomed a total of 1,848,208 tourists by air, representing a 16.4% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. This resurgence is a testament to Costa Rica’s enduring appeal as a popular vacation spot .

The United States remains the largest market demographic, contributing significantly to the growth of the tourism industry. European and Latin American countries also play a crucial role in driving visitor numbers to Costa Rica. Furthermore, the increasing number of direct flight offerings to Costa Rica’s international airports has made it more accessible for travelers, further fueling its popularity as a top tourist destination.

The continuous development of the tourism infrastructure and investments in the sector have positioned Costa Rica to cater to international visitors and meet their expectations. The country’s commitment to sustainability and preserving its natural assets has also resonated with travelers seeking eco-friendly and immersive experiences. As a result, Costa Rica is well-positioned to not only recover but surpass pre-pandemic tourism levels in the coming years.

Table: Top Tourist Destinations in Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s top tourist destinations offer a range of attractions and activities that cater to different traveler preferences. Manuel Antonio National Park boasts breathtaking beaches and abundant wildlife, attracting nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. Arenal Volcano offers a unique combination of volcanic landscapes and rejuvenating hot springs, perfect for those seeking both relaxation and adventure.

Tortuguero National Park is renowned for its turtle nesting grounds and immersive canal tours, providing visitors with an opportunity to observe wildlife up close. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve showcases misty cloud forests and thriving biodiversity, making it a paradise for nature enthusiasts. Lastly, Corcovado National Park offers pristine rainforest and secluded beaches, providing an untouched oasis for those looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience.

With its diverse range of attractions and commitment to sustainable tourism, Costa Rica is set to continue attracting visitors from around the world. As the country nears pre-pandemic tourism levels, it remains a top choice for travelers seeking a memorable and eco-friendly vacation.

Costa Rica continues to solidify its position as a popular travel destination , offering a wide range of attractions and activities for tourists to enjoy. The country’s exceptional natural beauty, combined with its strong safety record, makes it an appealing choice for travelers from around the world.

The thriving tourism industry in Costa Rica has not only brought in record numbers of visitors but also played a pivotal role in the country’s economic growth. The industry generates a significant number of direct jobs and contributes to the recovery of various sectors, such as accommodation and transportation.

With its commitment to sustainability and continuous development of tourism infrastructure, Costa Rica is well-prepared to meet the demands of international visitors and maintain its status as a top travel destination. Whether it’s exploring stunning national parks, indulging in adventure sports, or immersing in the local culture, Costa Rica offers something for everyone, making it an ideal choice for a memorable vacation.

-Article by  Glenn Tellier  (Founder of  CRIE   and  Grupo Gap ).

[email protected]

How many tourists go to Costa Rica each year?

Costa Rica annually attracts more than 3 million tourists, making it a popular destination for travelers seeking adventure and biodiversity.

What is the tourism outlook for Costa Rica?

Costa Rica’s tourism outlook remains bright, with sustainable practices and a commitment to preserving its natural wonders driving its appeal.

Where does Costa Rica rank in tourism?

Costa Rica consistently ranks high in global tourism indices, reflecting its vibrant culture, lush landscapes, and eco-friendly initiatives.

What is the current population of Costa Rica in 2023?

As of 2023, Costa Rica’s population is estimated to be approximately 5.2 million people, contributing to its diverse and welcoming society.

Is tourism increasing in 2023/2024?

Yes, tourism is on the rise in 2023 and 2024 as travelers increasingly seek the unique experiences offered by Costa Rica’s stunning environment.

What is the busiest tourist month in Costa Rica?

The peak tourist season in Costa Rica is from December to April, when travelers flock to experience its dry, sunny weather and festivals.

What is the projected number of tourists visiting Costa Rica in 2023-2024?

Costa Rica is expecting a record number of tourists in 2023-2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The country is projected to welcome between 2.3 and 2.5 million tourists by air during this period.

Which market demographic contributes the most to the growth in Costa Rica’s tourism industry?

The United States remains the main source market for Costa Rica’s tourism industry. North America has seen a substantial increase in visitors, with a 21% rise compared to the previous year.

Which European countries have contributed to the increase in tourist arrivals in Costa Rica?

France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are among the top European countries contributing to the growth in tourist arrivals in Costa Rica.

How do tourists primarily arrive in Costa Rica?

Approximately 90% of tourist arrivals in Costa Rica are by air. The Juan Santamaría International Airport and Guanacaste Airport serve as the main entry points for international tourists.

What is the impact of tourism on the Costa Rican economy?

The tourism industry is a crucial driver of the Costa Rican economy, generating significant direct jobs and contributing to the recovery of the accommodation and transportation sectors.

How close is Costa Rica to exceeding pre-pandemic tourism levels?

Costa Rica’s tourism numbers are on track to surpass pre-pandemic levels, with a 16.4% increase in tourist arrivals by air in the first nine months of 2023 compared to the previous year.

What factors contribute to Costa Rica’s appeal as a top travel destination?

Costa Rica’s natural beauty, strong safety record, and diverse range of activities and attractions continue to attract tourists from around the world.

Located in Central America, Costa Rica is bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south-southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. With a land area of just 51,100 square kilometers, Costa Rica is about the size of the US state of West Virginia.

Despite its small size, Costa Rica is one of the world’s top travel destinations, due in large part to its incredible variety of attractions and activities. From its pristine beaches and rainforests to its volcanoes and Adventure Parks, Costa Rica has something to offer everyone.

In 2019, Costa Rica welcomed more than 3 million international visitors, and that number is expected to grow in the coming years. Here are some of the factors that contribute to Costa Rica’s appeal as a top travel destination:

Pristine Beaches

Costa Rica’s Pacific and Caribbean coasts offer more than 800 kilometers of pristine beaches. Whether you’re looking for a secluded spot to relax or a world-class surf spot, you’ll find it in Costa Rica. Some of the most popular beaches include Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo, and Puerto Viejo.

Diverse Wildlife

Costa Rica is home to an incredible diversity of plants and animals. More than 25% of the country is protected land, which has helped to preserve its unique ecosystem. whether you want to go birdwatching, hiking, or zip-lining through the jungle, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to see Costa Rica’s amazing wildlife up close.

Adventure Parks

In addition to its many beaches and nature reserves, Costa Rica also offers a variety of Adventure Parks, which are perfect for adrenaline junkies. These parks offer activities like zip-lining, rappelling, ATV tours, and much more.

Costa Rica is home to six active volcanoes, as well as several inactive ones. Arenal Volcano is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, due to its spectacular views and nearby hot springs.

World-Class Surfing

Costa Rica is a surfers paradise, with some of the best waves in the world. The country’s Pacific coast is dotted with surf towns like Tamarindo, Jaco, and Puerto Viejo, which offer a laid-back vibe and ample opportunities to catch a wave.

Strong Safety Record

Costa Rica is generally a very safe country for travelers. However, as with any travel destination, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions to protect your belongings.

These are just some of the factors that contribute to Costa Rica’s appeal as a top travel destination. For more information on planning your trip, check out our website or contact one of our travel experts.

Want to invest? –  Click HERE . Looking for Real Estate? –  Click HERE . Looking for a Relocate Tour –  Click HERE . Need Residency status in Costa Rica? –  Click HERE .

Article by Glenn Tellier (Founder of CRIE and Grupo Gap)

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• Inbound tourism volume in Costa Rica 2010-2022

Expenditure on trips to Costa Rica

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January 2023

Costa Rica, Central and South America

2010 to 2022

including tourist arrivals by air, land and sea; excluding cruise visitors, nationals living abroad, and foreign nationals residing in the country

Data other than for 2019, 2021, and 2022 was retrieved from a previous report. Figures have been rounded.

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13 essential things to know before visiting Costa Rica

Aug 5, 2024 • 7 min read

Costa Rica's natural wonders call out like a beacon, but there are a few things to know before you go. Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock

Adrenaline-pumping activities, pristine beaches, untamed forests, show-stopping wildlife and a culture of welcoming visitors all serve to make Costa Rica an irresistible destination for adventurous travelers.

In 2019, Costa Rica received the Champions of the Earth award, the United Nation’s highest environmental honor – high praise indeed!

You'll hear the term "pura vida" – literally, "pure life" – everywhere you go in Costa Rica. More than just a phrase, it’s a philosophy of living in the moment, finding joy in simple things and respecting nature. Most visitors quickly fall in love with the Ticos' unhurried way of life.

But how safe is travel in Costa Rica, what do you need to pack and what do you need to know about the local etiquette? Here’s our guide to the most important things you need to know before you go.

1. How much time do I need in Costa Rica?

You could stay for weeks in Costa Rica without running out of things to do, but you can also squeeze a lot into a week if time is short. If you’re traveling to this accessible corner of Central America from the US, you can enjoy even shorter trips, perhaps even a long weekend.

But remember, although the country appears to be small, getting around will take longer than you think.

If you’re short of time and looking for memorable outdoor adventures, head to either La Fortuna and the Arenal volcano, or the dense forests of Monteverde . If you’re craving a beach break, fly into Liberia – close to the beaches lining the Pacific Coast – rather than San José .

On the Pacific shore, you can combine surf and jungle adventures in as little as a week; if you have longer, go off-the-beaten track on the biodiverse Osa Peninsula or explore the wild beaches along the Caribbean coast .

2. Costa Rica has two seasons but pack for four

Officially, Costa Rica has two seasons. The dry season runs from December to March – the driest and hottest month, when the temperature hovers around 35°C (95°F). The rainy season runs from May through to November, with September and October being the wettest months.

But the country has a multitude of microclimates. Rainforest trails tend to be hot and steamy, but it can get chilly when you enter Costa Rica's lofty cloud forests.

Alongside T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops, pack a raincoat and a fleece or warm jacket, waterproof hiking boots, closed-toe hiking sandals, a rash guard and lightweight, quick-dry clothing.

Rain can arrive without warning so bring a dry bag or other waterproof gear to protect your valuables. Don’t forget high-factor, water-resistant sunscreen and bug spray; both will be cheaper at home.

3. Plan ahead if you’re traveling at peak times

Book your accommodation well in advance if you plan to visit Costa Rica at peak times such as Christmas, New Year, Easter or the US spring break. Prices also rise during major festivals and events, and high-end restaurants and popular tours should be booked ahead of time.

4. Carry a mix of cards and cash

The colón is Costa Rica’s official currency, but US dollars are widely accepted. Carry a mix of both, with a stash of small bills for tipping, taxis, small shops and local restaurants. You can pay for everything else with credit and debit cards.

5. To tip or not to tip?

Tipping is optional in Costa Rica but a tip is much appreciated by hard-working guides and drivers. Aim for around 10% of the tour price, or more if the service is exceptional. Restaurants are required to add a 10% service tax to your bill as well as a 13% sales tax, but top it up if you feel your server went the extra mile.

6. Do I need to speak the lingo?

English is widely spoken in Costa Rica, but a little Spanish goes a long way. Rolling out a few polite phrases will be met by big smiles from locals. Add the phrases buenos días (good morning), por favor (please) and gracias (thank you) to your lexicon.

Another useful Ticos phrase is pura vida , which can be used to say everything from "hello" and "goodbye" to "what’s up?" or "that’s great."

7. Respect the flora and fauna

Costa Rica is famed for its dazzling biodiversity. This small Central American nation is home to an estimated 5% of the world's plant and animal species, with around 28% of its landmass under protection.

Locals take conservation seriously; Costa Rica generates 99% of its electricity from renewables and aims to be carbon neutral by 2050.

To play your part, choose lodgings with sustainable practices (look out for the Certification of Sustainable Tourism), travel with ethical tour guides and eat local. Always keep your distance from wild animals – use a zoom lens or binoculars to see wildlife up close.

Costa Rica was the first country to launch a #stopanimalselfies campaign, so decline offers of photo opportunities with animals. And national parks have banned single-use plastics, so carry a reusable water bottle.

8. Is Costa Rica safe?

Costa Rica is generally safe, although petty crime does occur. Take the usual precautions and don’t flash expensive possessions.

Avoid carrying all your credit cards together in one place, and if you need an ATM, try to use one inside a bank during the daytime. Foreign visitors are asked to carry their passports at all times but the police will usually accept a photocopy.

Watch out for pickpockets in busy areas, such as bus stations and markets, and keep an eye on your belongings on buses and beaches. Steer clear of poorly lit streets and avoid wandering around dodgy neighborhoods alone after dark – seek local advice on spots to avoid.

If you visit bars and clubs, don't leave your drink unattended, as there have been reports of spiking. In case of emergency, call 911.

9. Don’t climb Arenal Volcano

Up until 2010, Volcán Arenal’s lava pyrotechnics thrilled onlookers. Now in a resting phase, its picture-perfect cone may look ready for climbing, but resist the temptation unless you’re a permit-carrying volcanologist – it’s illegal and could get you fined.

Instead, you can crunch over its lava-covered lower slopes on a variety of hiking trails or get active in the surrounding national park. Make time for mountain biking, horseback riding, rappelling and ziplining, or kayaking and windsurfing on nearby Lake Arenal, then relax in the region’s natural hot springs.

10. Keep healthy and avoid bug bites

Costa Rica's healthcare system is ranked among the best in the world (according to the United Nations and the World Health Organisation), but you’ll have to pay for treatment, so it’s always wise to take out travel insurance with cover for medical care.

Malaria is rare but local mosquitoes can carry other nasty diseases such as dengue and Zika, particularly in low-lying urban areas and along the coast. The best way to avoid bug bites is to use insect repellent containing at least 20% DEET (diethyltoluamide), covering up bare skin, particularly in the evenings.

11. Stay safe in the surf

Costa Rica is a great place to surf, with cool surf camps and year-round rollers along the Pacific Coast. Playa Hermosa on the Nicoya Peninsula was declared Central America's first World Surfing Reserve in 2022.

However, rip currents are common and you won't always find lifeguards around, so look out for warning flags – a red flag indicates a danger zone, black means stay out of the water.

Don’t swim or surf alone. If a current starts to drag you out to sea, try to keep calm, shout for help, and swim parallel to the shore until you escape the current. And always check that rivers and lagoons are crocodile-free before diving in.

12. Be careful on the roads

Self-driving a hire car in Costa Rica offers the freedom to travel at your own pace, but there are a few things to consider. Most rental agencies require drivers to have comprehensive insurance in addition to purchasing mandatory liability insurance.

A 4WD is a must if you’re planning to tackle dirt roads; always check the vehicle's condition and ensure it has all the necessary safety equipment, including a functional spare tire.

On the road, drive slowly and defensively. In case of a breakdown, call the rental company or 911; it can be risky to accept unsolicited help from strangers.

Never leave valuables unattended in your car, and try to use public parking lots with surveillance. Road trips always take longer than you think, so plan your journey ahead to avoid driving after dark.

13. Tap water is usually safe

With Costa Rica's heat and humidity, it’s important to stay hydrated, especially if you’re doing anything active.

Tap water is normally safe to drink but if you’re going to remote rural areas or you’d rather not take the risk, save the environment (and some money) by investing in a water filter bottle such as the LifeStraw Go.

This article was first published Sep 1, 2023 and updated Aug 5, 2024.

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The World Bank In Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a development success story in many aspects. Considered an upper middle-income country, Costa Rica has experienced steady economic expansion over the past 25 years, but the COVID-19 pandemic, among other factors, challenges these achievements

Costa Rica has in many ways been a development success story. An OECD member country since 2021, it offers a unique trajectory underpinned by a long tradition of democratic stability and institutionality while earning a reputation for being at the forefront of green development outcomes, being the first tropical country in the world to have reversed deforestation. The country has achieved all this while also moving to strengthen its macroeconomic fundamentals with growth averaging over 3% over the last decade, reaching 5.1% in 2023, surpassing expectations. This has been anchored by an outward-oriented model that has successfully targeted foreign investment and promoted gradual trade liberalization.

Despite these strong foundations, the development model thus far is facing significant threats. Inequality is high. With a GINI coefficient of 46.7 in 2023, Costa Rica is among the most unequal OECD member countries. Moreover, even though poverty levels have declined following the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching 22% of households in 2023 according to the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC), this process has been slow despite the country’s ongoing economic growth. The pandemic also exacerbated challenges to the social compact. Despite continued investments in education for instance, deficits in learning outcomes worsened, exacerbating existing inequities. 

Finally, despite the commendable efforts on deforestation, the country’s emissions have increased rapidly in the last two decades and could continue to grow in the absence of emission reduction reforms. Costa Rica also remains vulnerable to natural disasters with 78% of the population at high risk from multiple hazards.

These challenges are taking place in a context of broader global considerations including a recent increase in migration levels. The country is also facing perceptions of higher crime levels tied to the drug trade. They present nevertheless an opportunity for Costa Rica to consolidate and preserve some exemplary gains while addressing underlying threats to its development model.  

It will be crucial for Costa Rica to undertake measures to promote inclusive growth while continuing its efforts to consolidate an effective fiscal management strategy. The country needs to put in place the conditions for growth to be broad-based, and to fully reach its workforce and territory. Improving revenue mobilization and spending efficiency, especially in the social and infrastructure sectors, will be essential to tackling poverty and inequality, while strengthening climate resilience, reducing emissions, and consolidating the sustainability of its model.

Last Updated: Oct 07, 2024

The Country Partnership Framework (CPF) established by the World Bank (WB) and the Government of Costa Rica continues to foster a close partnership based on mutual learning and knowledge sharing in support of the country’s overall growth and development objectives.

A new CPF for the 2024-2028 period was approved by the WB Board of Directors on April 30, 2024. This strategy, which reflects the analytical underpinnings of the  Systematic Country Diagnostic Update (June 2023), focusses on promoting broad-based, inclusive economic growth; reinforcing and preserving human capital in key sectors like education and social protection; and enhancing resilience to natural and social shocks and the effects of climate change. All while supporting a transition to a climate-smart economy.

These efforts are underpinned by two cross cutting themes that guide the overall strategy’s implementation. They refer specifically to the aims of strengthening institutions, and to enhancing equity and inclusion across all the various WB interventions. This approach takes into consideration Costa Rica’s evolution as an upper middle income and OECD member country. 

As of early October 2024, the active portfolio in Costa Rica includes six operations totaling USD 1231.8 million in net commitments. It includes 4 investment projects (USD 571.82 million) and 2 development policy loans for budgetary support (USD 660 million).

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of the Fiscal Management Improvement Project (USD 156.64 million), known as “Hacienda Digital”, which supports tax compliance and overall expenditure management capabilities, highlights how the WB has worked in partnership with Costa Rica’s authorities to strengthen the State’s capacity to respond to key challenges and consolidate recovery efforts and set the basis for sustainable growth. 

The second “ Fiscal and Decarbonization Management Development Policy Loan (DPL) ,” totaling USD 300 million, was approved by the WB in June 2021. This operation was designed to support the Government’s program to protect people’s income and jobs from the impact of COVID-19. It looked to benefiting the sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), reinforcing the fiscal framework in the aftermath of this health crisis, and laying out the foundations for a strong post pandemic recovery by promoting green growth and low-carbon development. A third in the series of these DPL loans builds on these efforts to support Costa Rica's fiscal and decarbonization management and was approved in June 2023 totaling USD 500 million.

Two instruments aim to strengthen fiscal, social, and physical resilience against disaster and climate risks in policymaking at the sectoral and territorial levels:

• A second Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan with a Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat DDO) , approved in March 2023, aiming to enhance the Government’s capacity to manage disaster risks resulting from the occurrence of natural and health-related hazards and the impacts of climate change. 
• The Climate Resilient Recovery & Territorial Development project , approved in March 2024, will work to increase access to disaster and climate-resilient infrastructure and services in selected regions while working closely to strengthen a broad level of engagement with community stakeholders. 

Costa Rica has also benefited since December 2020 from the Emission Reductions Payment Agreements with a commitment of up to USD 60 million to purchase verified reductions of 12 million tons of CO2 emissions through its emission reduction (ER) program. The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) already paid Costa Rica USD 16.4 million for reducing 3.28 million tons of carbon emissions during 2018 and 2019. The agreements cover the purchase of measured, reported, and verified ERs associated to reduced deforestation and forest degradation (known as REDD+), the enhancement of forest carbon stocks at the national level. The distribution of ER payments goes in accordance with an agreed Benefit Sharing Plan. 

Environmental, climate change, and disaster risk interventions have also been supported through trust funds, such as the Partnership for Carbon Market Readiness (PMR) , the Nationally Determined Contribution Just-in-Time (NDC JIT) , the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility , the Global Partnership for Sustainable and Resilient Landscapes (ProGreen) , and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) .

In addition to these efforts, support was provided to enforce a Sustainability Protocol at the Reventazón Hydroelectric Plant of the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity , an international example that highlights how it can be possible to develop hydroelectric projects while applying the industry’s best environmental and social practices.

Regarding energy and transportation electrification, the World Bank is supporting the initiative to transition towards an energy model that optimizes the use of renewable resources. The aim is to decarbonize top emitting sectors, such as transport, through the progressive electrification and diversification of the energy matrix, in an environment that promotes greater regional integration and the opening of international energy markets.

For the benefit of the Costa Rican population, through the Program for Results project " Strengthening Universal Health Insurance ", the availability and quality of the universal health insurance system, as well as the institutional efficiency of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), were improved. Under the project, objectives such as the reduction of waiting lists and improvements in the treatment of chronic diseases were met. For example, the goal of 43 percent of patients with type II diabetes identified and with optimal clinical control was exceeded. Improvements in colorectal cancer screening also exceeded the goal of 40 percent of the target population. In addition, expectations were exceeded in the percentage of surgeries performed on an outpatient basis (46 %). One of the greatest achievements is in the expected percentage of the total number of primary health care units equipped with the Unique Digital Health Record (90.10 % achieved). The successful implementation of a pilot of integrated health care networks is another one of the attainments of the project.

A series of five informative notes , prepared in collaboration with the CCSS, analyses the factors that drove the success of the project " Strengthening Universal Health Insurance .” It describes how challenges were tackled and key lessons learned during the design and implementation, as well as their transformative actions. The series provides a practical guide to other countries interested in implementing similar programs and can be accessed here .

Disaster Risk Management (DRM) programs  have further improved Costa Rica’s preparedness to respond to disasters through risk reduction and prevention programs. The regulatory and institutional DRM framework was strengthened with the introduction of a legal framework that requires all new public investments to follow DRM best practices and include a hazards assessment. This enhanced capacity of Costa Rica to implement its DRM program was supported by the WBG’s Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (CAT DDO), which provides a source of immediate liquidity in case of disasters.

In December 2020,  Emission Reductions Purchase Agreements  for US$60 million were signed. In August 2022,  Costa Rica became the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to receive payments from the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility  (FCPF), receiving $16.4 million for reducing 3.28 million tons of carbon emissions during 2018 and 2019.

Through the  Higher Education Project , Costa Rica’s public higher education system has benefitted from an improvement in access and quality. Enrollment in undergraduate programs has reached the target of more than 102,000 students, and in graduate programs, more than 7,000. The total number of officially accredited programs in the four participating universities has also surpassed the target of 106. In the area of  infrastructure , more than thirty construction projects have been completed, including new schools and university buildings, research laboratories and dormitories. The benefits for the indigenous population also stand out, with the number of indigenous students enrolled in the four universities doubling between 2014 and 2017.

The World Bank also conducts research and analysis in Costa Rica. In recent years, a  Poverty and Inequality Assessment  stands out, which contributed to understanding the factors that explain the stagnation of the poverty rate and the increase in inequality in a context of economic growth. The report provides high-level policy recommendations, which have made it possible to prioritize areas for dialogue with the government and other actors in the country.

Other analytical work has included a case study entitled “ Primary Health Care Achievements and Challenges within the Framework of the Social Health Insurance ,” research series on green and inclusive growth, the working paper “ A Behavioral Approach to Water Conservation ,” and  a gender landscape  paper showcasing key indicators helpful for monitoring gender equality and designing effective policy interventions.

Costa Rica: Commitments by Fiscal Year (in millions of dollars)*

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Where to go in 2025: chasing the travel trends.

Posted on October 16, 2024 October 16, 2024 Author Chris Owen

Get ahead of travel in the new year by learning where and how travelers will be hitting the roads and skies. Looking at some of the biggest names in travel— Hilton, Skift, SmartFlyer, and Virtuoso —there are some major trends shaping up for 2025. Consider the following destinations and experiences with the freshest ways to get in on next year’s trends now.

Travel Trend: Silver Bullet Wellness Tourism— Virtuoso’s 2025 trend report  expects “Silver Bullet Wellness” to increase, where travelers seek to cure what ails them.

Wellness tourism is set to grow 16.6 percent annually and reach $2.1 trillion by 2027.  Ananda in the Himalayas  is one of the best places to tap into those wellness experiences. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, this world renowned retreat is at the forefront of wellness with time-tested traditional sciences like Ayurveda, TCM, yoga, and meditation. The retreat has developed a repository of case studies that document transformational outcomes across various health concerns, including digestive health, hypertension, obesity, autoimmune diseases, chronic musculoskeletal pain, hormonal imbalances, sleep disorders and more. Each program is built on therapeutic treatments combined with ancient healing practices, offering guests proven solutions to their specific health challenges. They’ll find pathways to address health issues such as menopause, hormonal health, better sleep, fertility enhancement and more.

More than 50% of its guests arrive with concerns regarding mental wellbeing, and Ananda has positioned itself as a positive force for good in the world of travel, offering a sanctuary where guests can reconnect with themselves, heal from emotional and physical challenges, and restore their sense of purpose. Ananda addresses spiritual health, incorporating Vedanta lectures, meditation and mantra chanting in its daily activities alongside mindfulness, self-awareness, and inner growth into its programs. With a blend of mindfulness practices, yoga, and emotional healing practices such as transpersonal psychology, Ananda’s programs address deep-seated emotional disturbances to help guests find balance while also fostering long-term resilience.

This holistic approach offers a pathway for guests to achieve long-term health, emotional balance, and spiritual peace. The combination of personalized care, ancient practices, and deep research into traditional wellness systems results in life-changing experiences. By setting the benchmark for wellness tourism, Ananda has made travel not only a means of rejuvenation but a positive force for personal and societal well-being.

Travel Trend: Sustainability and Regenerative Travel— Skift’s Megatrends 2025  shows that 50% of travelers will pay more for greener travel, while 59% want to support businesses that engage in more responsible travel practices.

Hotel Belmar  in Monteverde, Costa Rica, celebrates its 40 th  anniversary in 2025. This carbon-neutral, family-owned ecolodge located in Costa Rica’s cloud forest has 26 beautifully appointed rooms and suites. The luxury ecolodge debuted a new food and beverage menu in 2024 along with an extensive redesign and renovation of almost all of the property’s rooms—both initiatives furthering their sustainability ethos. Hotel Belmar has pioneered programs that transform the travel experience to encourage environmental stewardship, regeneration of the ecosystem, economic benefit to local communities, and cultural activities that promote diversity.

Onsite vegetable gardens, the nearby Finca Madre Tierra farm, Restaurante Celajes, the Juice Bar, and the Belmar Brewery create the regenerative cycles that distinguish Hotel Belmar’s commitment to long-term sustainability. Menus pay homage to Costa Rica’s agrarian traditions, transforming the land’s gifts into balanced. nutritional dishes. Vegan or vegetarian options are offered for most dishes. Their “garden to glass” mixology menu showcases the garden-fresh herbs, fruit, and grains that can be hand-picked and crafted as freshly squeezed juices, aromatic infusions, bitters, and garnishes for colorful cocktails and drinks. Their onsite juicing and local sourcing have enabled the hotel to operate a bar that is virtually plastic-free.

Getting there is easier than ever. Montverde is located equidistant from international airports in San Jose and Liberia. Costa Rica and Delta announced a new route from Boston Logan International Airport starting on January 11, 2025, and will run through May 31. Alaska Airlines, the largest U.S. carrier between the West Coast and Latin America, announced new nonstop service to Liberia, Costa Rica from San Francisco and Seattle. American Airlines added a new Saturday-only service starting December 7 from Philadelphia to Liberia Airport.

Travel Trend: Culinary Tourism— 20% of travelers seek out new culinary experiences according to  Hilton’s 2025 annual trends report , making food travel big business in 2025.

Traveling Spoon  won the Tour Innovator at this year’s Arival & TourReview Spotlight Awards. This category honors tour operators that demonstrate innovative approaches, offer creative itineraries that set them apart from traditional offerings. Founded in 2013,  Traveling Spoon  connects travelers with private food experiences, from home cooked meals to cooking lessons, with personally vetted hosts. Traveling Spoon’s mission is to create meaningful travel connections, preserve food traditions, and provide income for food producers around the world by connecting travelers directly with hosts to ensure that each host receives the majority of the tourism dollar. In addition to cooking sessions, Traveling Spoon has also launched 150 online cooking classes led by home cooks, as well as producer tours and outdoor experiences.

New in 2024, Traveling Spoon has added more destinations and off-the-eaten-path culinary experiences and currently offers private experiences in 233 cities in 70 countries globally. Traveling Spoon’s co-founders Aashi Vel and Steph Lawrence have identified where travelers will be eating in 2025. Trending destinations include Buenos Aires, Seattle, France’s Provence region, and the Azores. For travelers seeking to tap into these culinary hotspots, Traveling Spoon offers multiple experiences to taste them in unique ways.

For example,  Nico  is an artist living in the Chacarita neighborhood in Buenos Aires where an emerging food scene is making  NYTimes  headlines. His pasta making classes are an immersive way to explore the city. The company recently also launched several experiences in  Seattle , where Pike Place Market is just the start of a foodie’s journey. A new  host in Gordes, France , a town in Provence, is home to unique flavors—and a filming location from Emily in Paris. Out in the Azores, Portugal, this new foodie scene is providing  an alternative  to the beaten paths of Lisbon.

Travel Trend: Skipping AI for human inspo  –  SmartFlyer’s 2025 trends report  reveals that people are looking for human recommendations when they travel, not AI-generated ones.

While in Rome, getting the personal touch is key to avoiding the crowds and having a more authentically Italian experience. Rome is a perennial favorite destination that’s even more enticing next year when the Jubilee 2025 takes over Rome and the Vatican City. It will be an exciting time to visit Rome for its cultural and religious celebrations, but also a time to seek out personalized advice and experiences to avoid the masses.

Skip the AI itinerary and visit iconic locations like St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums early in the morning or later in the afternoon to dodge the biggest crowds with a custom-tailored itinerary with  ArcheoRunning  who specializes in early bird morning tours and just announced an array of new private experiences for 2025—fully free of AI! Early risers will get an insider’s view of Rome without the crowds with a private running, power walking or walking tour led by ArcheoRunning’s founder, Isabella Calidonna, an art historian, archaeologist and physical trainer. Since entire country of Italy will be bustling with Jubilee 2025 festivities, take a train to Orvieto where Lucianna Coppola, owner of  Umbria in Tour   takes travelers on a personalized insider’s tour of the breathtaking Umbrian countryside. And don’t miss visiting the charming and magical small town of Allerona for a customized private tour with Elizabeth Heath, founder of  Villaggio Tours . 

Already a travel destination that tops many a bucket list, Italy promises to be an extraordinary cultural and spiritual celebration during Jubilee 2025, throwing a spotlight on the cultural heritage of this timeless country. Located in Monti just steps away from the Termini Station,  Bettoja Hotels   offers three hotels ideal for travelers seeking the excitement of Rome without feeling stuck in the middle of the crowds. Surrounded by the famous artistic and cultural wonders of the Eternal City, Bettoja Hotels is a family run hotel chain born from the passion of the Bettoja family for hospitality in 1875. Bettoja Hotels is ready to welcome families at the four-star Hotel Mediterraneo, with its severe and monumental luxury standing among the best examples of Art Déco in the capital. Hotel Massimo d’Azeglio, the first property to be acquired by the group, maintains its “Umbertino” style and exudes all the charm of the Risorgimento: it boasts a precious cellar of fine wines where the suggestive Italian atmosphere of the turn of the century reigns supreme. The Hotel Atlantico, also located on the Esquiline, welcomes guests in a charming building from 1935.

Travel Trend: Overlooked Destinations— According to  SmartFlyer’s 2025 trends report , travelers are seeking cachet when they travel, not cliché, and achieve that by going where no one else is going.

Travel planning company  Naya Traveler  recommends these three overlooked destinations to visit in 2025. Each destination boasts a rich tapestry of culture, history, and natural beauty, making them ideal choices for discerning travelers seeking unique adventures in 2025.

Cambodia in Southeast Asia blends the architectural marvel of Angkor Wat and the serene Tonle Sap Lake, captivating travelers with deep spiritual roots and vibrant history. The country’s remote jungles, colonial capital of Phnom Penh, and pristine islands like Koh Rong make it worth visiting. Despite its tragic history, Cambodia’s resilience and cultural wealth make it an intriguing place to explore in 2025.

Meanwhile, both Kashmir and Ladakh are two of India’s most beautiful regions, but often overlooked when compared to more frequented spots in India like Goa, Kerala, or Rajasthan. Nestled between the Himalayas and Karakoram ranges, these regions boast dramatic landscapes, from lush green valleys and serene lakes to high-altitude deserts and ancient monasteries. Visitors can explore the historic Mughal gardens of Srinagar, meet artisans, or trek through the awe-inspiring Nubra Valley.

Rooted in first-hand expertise and intimate knowledge, Naya Traveler’s highly personalized itineraries focus on exclusive insider experiences that bring back purpose and value to travel and provide a unique space to discover a destination through the eyes and knowledge of those who know it best. Naya Traveler works with an exceptional group of local hosts and expert guides in each destination, from historians and artists to ethnographers and chefs.

Travel Trend: Hotels are back— Hilton’s 2025 annual trends report  makes one thing clear: luxury travelers are on the rise, especially for those under 6o years old.

Luxury travelers looking for a top experience in the Caribbean need look no further than  Calabash Cove Resort and Spa , one of the most popular all-inclusive, adults-only boutique hotels in Saint Lucia, a Caribbean treasure offering seclusion, beauty, and mesmerizing views. With nearly 20,000 new hotel rooms opening on the island, increased airlift from the US, and projects for a cruise port expansion, St. Lucia is a luxury escape on the rise. But with just 26 suites, Calabash Cove Resort and Spa keeps things intimate, blending old Caribbean charm with modern luxurious resort amenities. Highlights include the Windsong restaurant and lively C-Bar overlooking the infinity pool, and the peaceful Ti Spa. Personalized attention is key to every guest’s experience. The culinary team at Windsong Restaurant accommodates any dietary needs and personal requests including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free, and more.

The unconditional all-inclusive covers all meals and beverages including room service, daily food specials including a daily lobster dish (when in season), premium drinks, a stocked in-room bar (with full size bottles), over 20 wines from the wine list by the bottle for breakfast, lunch or dinner, gratuities/tips, and Wi-Fi. The only restriction is the “Reserve du Patron” section of the wine list. Calabash Cove has a small Cybex cardiovascular fitness center and provides kayaks, paddle boards and snorkeling gear free of charge to guests.

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Your Trip to Costa Rica: The Complete Guide

• Best Time to Visit
• Weather & Climate
• Juan Santamaría International Airport Guide
• Top Destinations in Costa Rica
• Top Resorts in Costa Rica
• Best Honeymoon Resorts
• Complete Guide to San Jose
• Costa Rica's Islands
• Day Trips From San Jose
• 48 Hours in San Jose
• Top Things to Do in Costa Rica
• Adventurous Things to Do
• Best Diving Sites
• Best Beaches
• Top Things to Do in San Jose
• Food to Try in Costa Rica
• Best Restaurants in San Jose
• Nightlife in San Jose

The name of this Central American country—meaning “rich coast”—evokes paradisiacal visions of beaches lapped with world-class waves and bordered by dense jungles. Costa Rica has that and much more: the highest level of biodiversity in the world (sloths, sea turtles, and rainbow-colored birds, to name just a few), towering volcanoes and winding rainforest trails to trek, a lively capital with a growing culinary and craft beer scene, and a taste of Caribbean culture on the eastern coast. It’s the perfect place to get your blood pumping with an active adventure and then slow down and immerse yourself in nature—at an eco-retreat, on the beach, in the jungle, under a waterfall, or with a soak in some thermal hot springs. This guide will get you acquainted with some of the best of Costa Rica so you can design your dream trip.

Planning Your Trip

• Best Time to Visit : Dry season is the best time to visit, which is generally mid-November through April. However, prices are cheaper during the wet, green season.
• Language: Spanish
• Currency: Colones
• Getting Around: Due to rough and often winding roads, elevation changes, and weather conditions, journeys that appear short on the map can take much longer than you might expect. Public transportation is not always the most efficient way to get around and can be a challenge if you don’t speak Spanish (though it is quite safe), so it’s best to either rent a car if you’re comfortable driving; book a shuttle such as Interbus (which offsets 100 percent of its carbon footprint  ), or hire a driver-guide. In the main cities like San José, you can also make use of taxis and rideshare apps but keep in mind that the local taxis are currently opposed to rideshare apps so this can cause some tension. If you book a ride in a rideshare app, locals recommend sitting in the front seat to avoid becoming a target of disgruntled taxi drivers.
• Travel Tip: Pack a rain jacket and don’t be deterred by rain in the forecast, it's a common occurrence in Costa Rica but the sun is still out for at least part of the day. Embrace the rain; after all, it is one of the reasons this country is so lush and abundant.

Things to Do

Build an ideal itinerary that balances the best of Costa Rica: adventure, nature, culture, wildlife, and wellness. And, of course, food! Sample the comida tipica (typical or traditional food) around town or the local brew on a culinary or craft beer tour. Fly through the treetops on a zipline and immerse yourself in the natural environment at a jungle eco-retreat. Tour an organic coffee or chocolate plantation and learn to cook corn tortillas with a local family. Take a surf lesson, dive into the underwater world, or reset yourself with some peaceful days by the sea. 

• Get your adrenaline fix at Lost Canyon where you’ll hike deep into the jungle near Arenal Volcano and rappel a 200-foot waterfall. 
• If sun, sand, and surf are more your speed, head for the Pacific side and beach hop down the coast to find your favorite . 
• Visit the Caribbean coast from August through December and witness tiny green sea turtles as they hatch and scurry into the sea. Tortuguero National Park is the largest nesting site in the Western Hemisphere for endangered green sea turtles  .

Unearth more Costa Rican adventures with our articles on the best hiking trails and family-friendly resorts in Costa Rica .

What to Eat and Drink

Costa Rican food may not have the same level of international recognition as other Latin American cuisines, but you will certainly find hearty and delicious dishes here. Meals are traditionally uncomplicated and home-cooked, incorporating fresh produce, meats, cheese, rice, and tortillas. Start your day with some tropical fruits, a big scoop of gallo pinto (rice with black beans, seasoned with garlic, onions, peppers, cilantro, and often, Lizano sauce), eggs, a side of sweet plantains, and a mug of Costa Rican-grown coffee poured through the choreador (a cloth filter traditionally used here). Lunch is often arroz con pollo (a bowl of seasoned rice and chicken) or a casado of rice, picadillo (a cooked vegetable hash) or salad, and a protein such as beans, grilled chicken, or fish. If you want authentic local food like a Costa Rican grandmother makes, try La Esquinita de JM in San José. Wherever you dine, don’t forget dessert; grab a locally-made bar of chocolate to go or lap up a plate of tres leches (cake doused in three kinds of milk and considered the national dessert).

Beer lovers rejoice: Costa Rica has a growing craft beer scene. Join local guides from Carpe Chepe for a craft beer tour and sip your way around the city, learning how local brews like Cerveceria Calle Cimarrona are made and where they are served.

Explore more articles on the best restaurants in Monteverde , the best restaurants in San José , must-eat foods in Costa Rica , and a guide to tropical fruits in Costa Rica .

Where to Stay

When you touchdown in San José, a stay at Gran Hotel puts you in the heart of the city, next to the National Theatre and walking distance to a number of attractions like the Central Market and the trendy Barrio Escalante neighborhood.

Arenal has it all—except a coastline. And it should be your next stop. Spend at least a day or two here soaking in thermal hot springs, hiking an active volcano, zipping through the forest canopy, and scouting wildlife (yes, sloths live here) before you head for the beaches. You can find the full range of accommodations in the area around Arenal: sustainable farm stays at Rancho Margot , luxury hotels such as Arenal Kioro with direct views to the volcano, and serene escapes at eco-inns such as Living Forest .

If you’re after black sand beaches and breaking waves, spend some time on the Caribbean coast. En route, book a stay at family-run Chilamate Rainforest Eco Retreat in the Sarapiqui area for wildlife (toucans, howler monkey, red-eyed tree frogs, and green macaws are common in this biological corridor) and white water rafting.

On the opposite side of the country, the Pacific coast is the perfect place to soak up some sun and do some deep diving—both into the ocean and internally, as this Blue Zone is known for its colorful marine life as well as its wellness retreats.

Explore the different regions of Costa Rica and our recommendations on the best family-friendly resorts , the best all-inclusive resorts , and the best hotels in San José

Getting There

From the U.S., the majority of travelers arrive by plane to San José’s Juan Santamaria International Airport or Liberia International Airport on international carriers such as Delta Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Jet Blue, and Southwest. Decide first where you will be staying in Costa Rica before choosing your arrival airport. If you’re starting your trip in Guanacaste, for example, flying to Liberia will get you closer to your destination. Whereas if your trip begins with Arenal, you’ll need to arrive in San José. 

If you’re confident about driving in Costa Rica, you can rent a car at the airport. It’s wise to book ahead to ensure one will be available. Shared shuttles are another option and most, such as Interbus, are efficient and comfortable. Ask your hotel what shuttle options are available to your first stop, as many of them run set routes. Private shuttles or private driver-guides are other (and arguably the best if you’d like to relax and let someone else handle the driving) possibilities, though they are more expensive.  

Culture and Customs

• The spirit of pura vida (translated directly to “pure life” but is used to convey many meanings including “no worries” and “all is good”) is infectious and you’ll find Ticos (Costa Ricans) are typically friendly and welcoming, particularly if you spend time in the rural areas.
• Tipping is not mandatory but you’ll see that restaurants include a 10 percent service charge and leaving some extra cash for the server is always appreciated. It’s also common to tip $1: per bag to the airport driver and bellhop, per drink to the bartender, to the doorman for hailing a cab, to the concierge, if they help with a difficult request or make an exceptional recommendation
• You should also tip tour guides and drivers that give great service. These tips range from $5-20 per day per person depending on the group size; the larger the group, the less per person. If you are pleased with your salon or spa experiences, leave 15 percent for the provider.
• Ask permission before photographing anyone.
• Costa Rica contains 6 percent of the world's biodiversity  , so do your part to protect it. Don’t disturb wildlife and natural environments and always heed guide instructions.
• Be mindful of your valuables when walking in crowded areas or on public transportation. While Costa Rica is generally a safe country, pickpockets do exist. Necklace snatching occurs occasionally in San José, so it’s best to leave jewelry in a safe or at home.
• San José is a growing city with neighborhoods evolving every day. If you’ll be spending time in San José, take advantage of the free city tour so you can familiarize yourself with the walkable neighborhoods and get the best and most up-to-date insight from locals.

Money Saving Tips

• Take a free walking tour in San José.
• Skip expensive meals and hit up a local pulperia (grocery store) for snacks such as tortilla chips, cheese, refried beans, and avocados instead. 
• Book a homestay experience to connect with locals and save some cash. 
• Travel in the green season when rates are lower. 
• If you’re visiting Arenal area, consider staying at a hotel with hot springs on-site so you can avoid paying an additional fee for one of the larger hot springs facilities. 
• Buy gifts such as coffee, Lizano sauce, and chorreador in a grocery store where prices are generally lower than the tourist shops. If you’ve got time in San José, the Mercado Central (Central Market) is also an option. Patrons are largely local, so prices tend to be more reasonable than you might find in other areas frequented by visitors.
• Bring your own reusable water bottle to refill from the tap. You will not only save money but you’ll also help the planet by creating less single-use plastic waste. Tap water in Costa Rica is generally safe to drink, but you can pack a purification bottle such as GRAYL or a device like the Steripen for peace of mind (and stomach). 

Learn more about affordable ways to have fun with our article about what to do on a budget in San José .

Interbus . "Corporate Social Responsibility."

National System of Conservation Areas . "Tortuguero National Park."

Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington, D.C. "Environment."

Related Articles

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Welcome to the official site of Costa Rica

Welcome to Costa Rica! This beautiful country is known for its stunning beaches, lush rainforests, and incredible wildlife. Whether you’re looking for adventure or relaxation, Costa Rica has something for everyone.

Some of the top attractions include Arenal Volcano, Manuel Antonio National Park, La Paz Waterfalls, Papagayo Peninsula, Tamarindo beach, Rio Celeste, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Corcovado National Park.

You can enjoy activities such as surfing, snorkeling, fishing, ziplining and hiking. Costa Rica is also home to many unique and diverse animal species such as sloths, monkeys, birds, turtles and more. We hope you enjoy your stay!

The Costa Rica Essentials

Essential Costa Rica is about promoting organic ingredients, unspoiled nature and authentic experiences.

Fill your calendar with the most wonderful natural and wildlife events.

Sun and Beaches

Costa Rica occupies a privileged spot with beaches in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

Costa Rica is a land of volcanoes, rainforests and cloud forests, huge waterfalls and mighty rivers.

If stress is a part of your daily life, Costa Rica is the cure.

Costa Rica has a great place to experience nature’s wonders with your children; the country is a must for families!

Costa Rica is considered one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world.

Costa Rica in English, means rich coast. Every cruise ship visiting Costa Rica understands why.

Costa Rica has a wholesome environment and is an excellent place for families.

The richness of Costa Rica stems from the cultural diversity of its people.

Honeymoon & Weddings

Costa Rica is waiting for you to live this experience.

Where to Go?

Located on the central Pacific coast, the Puntarenas region extends from Punta Conejo south to Puerto Caldera to the mouth of the Bongo River. The region’s rich coastline overlooks small islands, inlets, beaches and beautiful natural wonders. The port town of Puntarenas serves as the center of the region and is home port to a ferry that carries visitors over to the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula.

South Pacific

The combination of breath-taking white-sand beaches, sweeping mountain views and an ideal tropical climate has made Guanacaste one of Costa Rica’s most popular regions. It boasts many of the country’s popular beaches, including Playa del Coco, Playa Flamingo, Playa Conchal and the Papagayo Peninsula. By day visitors can challenge themselves with a surf lesson, cool off under a waterfall at Rincón de la Vieja National Park, discover the craters of an active volcano with the same name and more before enjoying the active nightlife in Tamarindo.

Northern Plains

Recognized as home of Arenal Volcano National Park, which boasts 75% of Costa Rica’s bird population, the Northern Plains present endless activities for visitors. Excursions range from hiking and waterfall rappelling to canopying and exploring via a hanging bridge tour. Those looking for activities on the water will find that Lake Arenal is an ideal location for canoeing, fishing and kite surfing.

Central Valley

Those in search of cultural and natural attractions will find both in the Central Valley region. Home to the destination’s capital city, San José, many of Costa Rica’s most popular museums can be found in this urban setting including the Gold Museum, Jade Museum, National Museum and Children’s Museum, in addition to the architectural jewel of San José, the National Theatre.

Central Pacific

Beautiful beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, lagoons, rivers and waterfalls make the Central Pacific region an ideal destination for visitors in search of variety. The region stretches from the city of Puntarenas to Dominical de Osa and is made up of some of Costa Rica’s most visited areas including Monteverde, Quepos, Jacó, Bahía Ballena and Manuel Antonio. The region’s climate creates a unique landscape that transitions from tropical wet forest to tropical forest to tropical dry forest, providing the opportunity to observe a wide range of plants and animals.

The diverse coastline of the Northern Caribbean region attracts anglers, naturists and water enthusiasts in search of unique experiences. The North Caribbean region is famous for its interconnected canals and for Tortuguero National Park, where visitors have the opportunity to witness green turtles nesting. Limón City, the largest city on the country’s Caribbean coast, is perched in the center of the coast. The Southern Caribbean boasts some great beaches and picturesque parks, which are complemented by the area’s inviting culture.

Planning your Trip to Costa Rica

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Season Swapping And Detour Destinations: These Are The Biggest Travel Trends For 2025

By Maisie Gray

17th Oct 2024

Did your last getaway leave you dreaming of a 2025 adventure? To help you decide where to head next, we've teamed up with the legends at Expedia , Wotif , and Stayz to bring you what’s trending in travel for the year ahead. 

No matter the health of your post-silly season wallet or your ability to swindle that extra week of leave, these 2025 travel trends will ensure that the next holiday in your calendar is one to remember.

Detour Destinations  

When it comes to appeasing your inner travel bug, a decent detour can turn into an adventure of a lifetime. Whether it is lingering a little longer at a pit-stop or making the decision to add a smart side-trip, travelling in 2025 is about making your trips work that little harder. Although it is a must to have those big-hitter destinations like Cancun, Barcelona and Paris on your wishlist, a well-chosen detour from your original destination should not be overlooked. Whether you’re hoping to immerse yourself in a thrilling new culinary scene, soak up artistic inspiration, marvel at natural beauty, or simply get yourself off the beaten path, these 10 on-the-rise destinations make for easy detours and are the perfect way to switch up your itinerary.

Expedia ’s Top 10 Trending Detour Destinations for 2025

• Reims, France (detour from Paris)
• Brescia, Italy (detour from Milan) 
• Cozumel, Mexico (detour from Cancun)
• Santa Barbara, California, USA (detour from Los Angeles) 
• Waikato, New Zealand (detour from Auckland) 
• Girona, Spain (detour from Barcelona) 
• Fukuoka, Japan (detour from Tokyo) 
• Abu Dhabi, UAE (detour from Dubai)
• Krabi, Thailand (detour from Phuket) 
• Canmore, Alberta, Canada (detour from Calgary)

Goods Getaways 

Keychains and fridge magnets from overpriced hotel gift shops are so 2001. In 2025, the trendiest of travellers are going the distance in search of culinary treasures they can’t get at home. TikTok FYP pages are filled with viral chocolate bars and French butter that tourists can't bear to part with. 

From a coffee and chocolate tour in San Carlos, Costa Rica , to tea tastings in China—and even a gram-worthy matcha experience in Japan—there's a stack of goods getaway inspo over on  Expedia to help you kickstart your itinerary planning. 

JOMO Travel  

Forget FOMO (fear of missing out), 2025 is all about embracing JOMO (the joy of missing out). Travelling JOMO style is the little-to-no-effort approach to travel that can guarantee you enter the ultimate state of maxo-relaxo. Did we mention it is the travel trend helping 48% of Aussies to better reconnect with their loved ones?

Thanks to the crew at Stayz , you can say goodbye to planning day trips, organising transport, buying tickets, or even moving at all. With more than 50,000 places available to book in Australia, all that’s left to do on your end is recruit a crew park-up with a good book.  ​​Think a coastal stay on Hamilton Island , a rural retreat in Redhill  or a country escape in the Hunter Valley . 

The Phenomena-List  

With boutique rural holiday homes booking up during epic eclipses, and tourists up at dawn for a glimpse of the penguins parading around Victoria's  Phillip Island , thanks to the help of  Stayz , travellers are going to great lengths to witness a slice of all things natural.  Hit up the International Dark Sky Park at Arches National Park in Utah, or snap incredible pics of bioluminescent plankton on Vero Beach in Florida. Find plenty more natural phenomena for your 2025 trip  here . 

Dine-Inn  

With over half of Aussies interested in booking a hotel with a notable dining experience, it is clear that when it comes to choosing hotels, we're not just booking rooms, we're booking tables. What once was an average club sandwich or an overpriced steak at the dated in-house bistro downstairs, is now a fine-dining experience that rivals some of the most notable standalone venues. 

Interested in a night of contemporary comfort food in a modern and ambient setting, we can guarantee that the Sydney Common at Sheraton Grand Sydney will not disappoint. And if you find yourself in Townsville, head straight to Terasu at Ardo . Located on the waterfront, Ardo’s Tokyo-inspired restaurant blends traditional Japanese techniques with tropical North Queensland flavours. For more on the best in Dine-ing Inn the food-loving crew at   Wotif   have got you covered.

Season Swapping  

We're now living in a world where a cheeky $3.50 cappuccino has become an $8 investment. So to ensure we're not missing out on the fun, cash-savvy Aussies are swapping seasons to save on travel, avoid crowds, and soak up the best of our domestic destinations. 

Forget visiting Falls Creek or the Snowy Mountains for a session on the slopes, hit up these beautiful locations over the summer and open your eyes to a whole new exciting adventure. Plus, by performing a cheeky season swap thanks to Wotif you can hit up the likes of Launceston and Byron in the winter seasons and save up to 30% on accommodation. With more discount-boasting deals in the likes of Cairns, Darwin and Townsville, Wotif have got all your bank-loving Season Swapping needs sorted.

Set-Jetting  

If the concept hasn't hit your radar, set-jetting is essentially screen tourism, with travellers flocking to locations showcased on TV and in the movies. It's nothing new, but the airing of White Lotus season two saw droves of us jumping on an immediate flight to Sicily.

With a new season of Emily In Paris encouraging many to make a pit stop in the city of love—and an increase in trips booked to Montana thanks to Yellowstone—this trend will be sticking around for 2025, with a stack of new and noteworthy set-jetting destinations on our screens in the new year. 

One Click Trips 

Whether it's following The Inspired Unemployed on their adventures with Raygun in Paris, or Cartia Mallan tripping around the Big Apple, we're all turning to the travel-loving influencers in our lives for trip inspiration. Now with the help of  Expedia ’s soon to launch Travel Shop, Aussies will be able to scroll creator-curated collections and book these iconic trips for themselves. 

Already dreaming of that first sun-soaked beverage on vacay? Be ahead of the curve with your 2025 travel decisions  and book that trip ASAP. To learn more about the travel trends in Unpack ’25™, visit here.  

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Expedia and proudly endorsed by Urban List. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who make Urban List possible. Click here for more information on our editorial policy.

Image: Supplied

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Money blog: Britons pulling more cash from pensions in run up to budget

Britons are pulling more cash from their pensions as they fear potential tax rises in the 30 October budget, an investment platform has said. Read this and the rest of today's consumer and personal finance news below.

Thursday 17 October 2024 09:56, UK

• Britons pulling more cash from pensions in run up to budget
• Why you should consider sorting out your savings now
• Travel trends for 2025 revealed
• Benefits likely to rise by less than expected
• Analysis: Interest rate cut now 'nailed on'

Essential reads

• Cheap Eats: How to zhuzh up shop bought ravioli
• Which taxes could go up in the budget - and when?
• Money Problem: 'My bullying boss is withholding a month's pay after I refused to work my notice - is this allowed?'
• How to survive as a big-name chef in 2024

Ask a question or make a comment

Some couples are moving in together sooner than normal due to the cost of living crisis, a new survey has found, but when it comes to love and money, it can be a tricky one to navigate.

Research from Creditfix found that higher mortgage rates and soaring rent prices mean one in six couples are moving in together sooner than they feel ready to in order to save money.

And for many, one of the first steps in living together is opening up a joint bank account - but what exactly should you use it for?

We want to hear from you - what should the joint bank account be used for, what is an absolute no, and what is a grey area?

Send us your thoughts:

• WhatsApp us here
• Use the form above
• Email [email protected] with the subject line "Money blog"

Octopus Energy, Ecotricity and Good Energy have the best green credentials among energy firms, the annual Which? rankings reveal.

At the other end of the list, E and Outfox the Market finished bottom. They do not generate renewable power, sell less of it than average, do not sell green gas, offer no time-of-use products, have a below-average rate for exporting solar power, do not install low-carbon measures and could not provide greenhouse gas emissions data, Which? said.

The top three earned the Which? Eco Provider endorsement and scored full marks for buying and selling renewable power and their greenhouse gas emissions. 

Emily Seymour, Which? energy editor, said: "We know from our research that many consumers want to make sustainable choices and play their part in reducing carbon emissions. 

"Which? research shows some energy firms are doing much more than others when it comes to sustainability."

Britons are pulling more cash from their pensions as they fear potential tax rises in the 30 October budget, an investment platform has said. 

AJ Bell chief executive Michael Summersgill said some savers were increasing tax-free cash withdrawals from their pensions. 

Under the current rules, savers can normally take 25% of their pension (up to a limit of £268,275).

There's nothing but speculation to suggest this will be lowered - but the government has been told by left-leaning thinktanks that the 25% figure benefits the wealthiest.

Mr Summersgill said: "Pensions are the primary retirement savings vehicle in the UK and customers are unsurprisingly sensitive to changes in their tax treatment. 

"Amidst increased press coverage ahead of the upcoming budget, we have seen a noticeable change in both customer contributions to pensions and tax-free cash withdrawals."

However, Ross Lacey, director and chartered financial planner at Fairview Financial Management, advises his clients not to make any "rash decisions".

"Seeing as there's a greater emphasis on people providing for their own retirement and pensions already suffer with an image problem, we think it would be madness to make any changes to pensions that make them less attractive," he said.

It's also rare - though not unprecedented - for tax changes to be implemented immediately, as we explored in this budget preview...

For this week's Savings Guide,  Savings Champion  co-founder Anna Bowes has a round-up of the best ISA rates as Labour's autumn budget approaches. She says...

Activity in the savings market has paused once again, this time perhaps waiting to see what the budget will bring on 30 October.

There aren't many rumours about what the chancellor may do to savers, but if you've not yet opened an ISA this year, it's probably worth cracking on and doing so, just in case there is any tinkering with this important allowance. 

People can use an ISA to save up to £20,000 a year tax free.

For those who don't want to tie up their money, there are easy access and notice ISA accounts available too.

Remember that although the ISA rates look as though they are paying less than the bonds - especially on the fixed-term accounts - you need to consider what the after-tax rate would be on a bond, if you are already fully utilising your personal savings allowance and therefore paying tax on your savings. 

For example, although the top fixed-term bond rate on offer is 5% with Union Bank of India, after the deduction of basic rate tax, the net rate is 4%, so on £20,000 you would take home £800. 

The top one-year ISAs that do not require you to open a current account are with Secure Trust Bank and Charter Savings Bank, both paying 4.55% - so as this interest is tax free, you'd take home £910 instead.

Added to the spectre of the budget, with the higher-than-expected drop in inflation in the 12 months to September 2024, it's highly likely that there will be at least one further base rate cut this year, if not more, so we could see the fixed rates on offer start to fall in anticipation.

So, whether it's an ISA or not, there is now a renewed sense of urgency to lock up some of your cash.

By Jess Sharp , Money team

Detour destinations, goods getaways and the phenomena-list - ever heard of them?

If not, you might do soon - they are some of the travel trends expected in 2025, according to Expedia. 

Straying away from popular cities, picking up a speciality product and travelling to see a natural event will be some of the considerations people will make next year when picking their holiday destination, the travel company found. 

Here we take a look at the trends - and locations you might want to add to your wish list.

Detour destinations

These are places that are close to tried-and-tested tourist hotspots, but less crowded and less well-known. 

Expedia found 63% of travellers said they were more likely to visit one of these places on their next trip.

Based on search data, it also worked out the top 10 most popular detour destinations in 2025. 

Topping the list was Reims in France, which is roughly two hours away from Paris. 

It is known for its gothic cathedral and champagne houses (it is the largest town in Champagne). 

Here are the other locations that made the list: 

• Brescia, Italy - around an hour away from Milan
• Cozumel, Mexico - an island close to Cancun
• Santa Barbara, California, US - roughly two hours from Los Angeles
• Waikato, New Zealand - nearly two hours from Auckland
• Girona, Spain - a 39-minute train ride from Barcelona 
• Fukuoka, Japan - 13 hours away from Tokyo
• Abu Dhabi, UAE - just over an hour's drive from Dubai
• Krabi, Thailand -  nearly three hours from Phuket
• Canmore, Alberta, Canada - around an hour from Calgary

Goods getaways

Social media, particularly TikTok, has inspired people to take trips in search of a speciality product - these are goods getaways. 

Expedia said 60% of people in the UK prioritise visiting a supermarket to buy local delicacies while on holiday. 

Coffee tours in Costa Rica, tea tastings in China and matcha experiences in Japan were found to be some of the most popular activities booked on the travel site. 

A viral pistachio chocolate bar from Dubai, butter from France, and Japanese sweets were also popular items to bring home. 

Set jetting 

If you are a regular reader of the Money blog, you might have come across this term before.

It basically means trips that have been inspired by TV shows or films. 

Expedia found two-thirds of travellers say movies, streaming services and TV shows have influenced their travel choices - 16% more than last year. 

Destinations inspired by Emily In Paris and White Lotus have already proven to be popular. 

In 2025, The Real Housewives of Dubai is expected to inspire people to visit the city in the UAE. 

Yellowstone will see people visit Montana and Wyoming in the US, Scotland will get some visitors thanks to The Traitors, New York City will have And Just Like That fans arriving and One Piece will have travellers heading to Cape Town, South Africa. 

The Phenomena-list

Two-thirds of travellers said it was important to stay in a place that offered a prime viewing of natural phenomena in 2025. 

The Northern Lights was the top natural event to see, with 70% of people saying it was on their list, followed by volcanoes, geysers and hot springs. 

Expedia's partner, Vrbo, created this list of phenomena that people want to visit - the phenomena-list 

• Northern Lights - Lapland region, Finland
• International Dark Sky Park - Arches National Park, Utah
• Synchronous firefly season - Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg
• Penguin parade - Phillip Island near Melbourne, Australia
• Bioluminescent plankton - Vero Beach, Florida
• Black Sun starlings' migration - Wadden Sea National Park, Denmark
• Ballet of Japanese cranes - Hokkaido, Japan
• Highest tides in the world, walk on the ocean floor - Bay of Fundy, Canada
• Starling murmurations - Somerset, UK
• Volcanoes, lava fields and black sand beaches - Reykjavik, Iceland

All-inclusive trips, hotel restaurants and JOMO travel

The return of all-inclusive holidays is also a prediction for next year, with Hotels.com finding 61% of Gen Z travellers considering one in 2025. 

Half of them said they would book an all-inclusive stay for the cost savings, while 39% said they would for minimal stress. 

While people are booking hotels, they are looking at the experience offered by the on site restaurants as well, and the travel site predicts this will continue next year. 

Nearly a third of Brits said restaurant tables reserved exclusively for hotel guests would make them more likely to book a stay, while one in five said room service from a famous hotel restaurant would be their top reason. 

And, while the world is used to FOMO (the fear of missing out), next year is expected to be full of travellers embracing the joy of missing out, or JOMO. 

Doing less on holiday to escape the hustle and bustle of every day life, and going on trips that aid relaxation is predicted to be trending. 

The best way to experience this kind of travel is from a beach house, a lakeside lodge or farmhouse, according to British travellers asked by Expedia. 

It is common for hundreds of people to be turned away from a gig with invalid tickets, an O2 boss has said, amid criticism of third party resale sites like Viagogo.

Gareth Griffiths, director of partnerships and sponsorship at Virgin Media O2, told the PA news agency that its 21 venues regularly have "hundreds of people turning up at shows" that are turned away due to having a ticket bought on online marketplaces.

Many gigs have terms and conditions forbidding resale from unofficial sources. 

"We see it all the time, particularly for pop acts and those big, high-demand shows, where shows have sold out and then people have bought tickets on [the] secondary [market], sometimes those tickets just don't exist."

The majority of parents say fines for unauthorised school absences do not stop them going on holiday during term-time.

In a survey of 5,500 parents across the UK, 57% said they had pulled or would consider pulling their child from school.

The same percentage told the charity Parentkind that receiving a fine for the absence would not affect their decision.

School absence fines increased from £60 to £80 this academic year.

A parent who receives a second fine for the same child within a three-year period will automatically receive a £160 charge.

The Department for Education has said other actions, such as a parenting order or prosecution, will be considered if a parent exceeds two fines per child within a three-year period.

Those who are prosecuted could receive a fine of up to £2,500.

The RAC is warning learner drivers to avoid booking overpriced tests through unofficial websites.

The breakdown specialists said those wanting to beat the four-and-a-half month wait for practical driving tests are being sucked into a "black market" offering slots at more than three times the official price. 

A driving test through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is £62, but research by the RAC has found some sites are reselling tests for up to £195.

But it's not just money that learner drivers need to be concerned about. 

Freelance journalist Lara Olszowska paid £169 for a black market test to try to pass her practical test before her theory ran out. 

She told the RAC that after giving her details - including driving licence number, theory certificate number and home address - the company used them to book 52 tests under her name.

A single ticket-holder who won £7.4m in Saturday's Lotto draw has claimed their prize, the National Lottery has said.

The winner had all six main numbers (02, 11, 13, 17, 39 and 41) and the bonus ball (37) to claim a total of £7,422,407.

Today, the National Lottery's operator, Allwyn, confirmed it received the claim.

The National Lottery needs to ensure the winner adhered to the rules of the game before the cash is released. 

Once it all goes through, it's up to the winner if they want to go public. 

Last week we revealed the most commonly drawn numbers...

Every Wednesday we ask Michelin-starred chefs to take part in our  Cheap Eats feature.  This week we speak to Jean Delport from one-starred Interlude in West Sussex.

Hi Jean, w hat is your go-to cheap eat to cook at home when you have a night in?

When I'm not feeling up to a long cook and want to prepare something wholesome for myself at home, one of my go-to cheats has to be the store bought stuffed pasta parcels. 

I normally knock up a quick spicy tomato sauce from some tins in the cupboard, all sautéed off with some onions and fresh pork bangers that I empty from the casings. 

Finished with a little grating of Parmesan and some freshly chopped herbs from the garden. 

Done in 15 minutes, healthy and super tasty, also great for the budget.

What are your favourite places in Sussex to get a meal for two for less then £40?

Patty & Bun - Brighton

When out and about in Brighton for the day, one of my favourite quick stops has to be Patty & Bun. Always guaranteed a great burger.

Monte Forte - Horsham

Great Neapolitan pizzas just down the road, I love great ingredients, kept clean and cooked simply. A huge bonus is their lunchtime deal during the week, you can grab a pizza and a drink for under £11.

The White Lion Inn  - Thakeham

After a peaceful country walk, this classic pub hits all the notes for me. Great little menu cooked really well for any time of the day. Plus, they have a great little beer garden to catch the last of the summer.

How did you get into the industry? 

It was more intrigue and interest. 

I loved being kept busy and the fascination with the whole cooking process. 

I knew I couldn't be stuck behind a desk, and so it seemed the perfect fit for me. I jumped straight in.

One of the things I love most about being a chef and cooking at Interlude is that I have so many ingredients on my doorstep, literally on the estate at Leonardslee Gardens, which is such a privilege. 

I can't imagine doing anything else, and I haven't really looked back since. 

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Expedia Group surprising travel trend for 2025 sparked by Tiktok

Tourists are going out of their way to make a trip to a surprising spot while overseas, and it’s thanks to TikTok.

Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Tourists are going out of their way to make a trip to a supermarket while overseas thanks to a rising Tiktok trend.

Visiting supermarkets in a foreign country has seen a spike for jetsetters, according Expedia Group’s Unpack ‘25, which delves into travel trends for 2025.

According to the data, 39 per cent of travellers are visiting supermarkets while holidaying overseas and 44 per cent are seeking local items they can’t find at home.

“Going to a grocery store could technically be counted as sightseeing, right? Because not only is it a cultural experience, but you can also find lots of stuff to bring back as souvenirs,” one traveller said on TikTok.

The trend has also seen a move away from traditional souvenirs, such as key rings, mugs, and clothing, with jetsetters searching more for unique consumables and goods that are “share-worthy”.

“Unpack’25 is the go-to resource for travellers planning the year ahead. This year we’ve seen Goods Getaways and Detour Destinations be at the forefront of travel decisions,” Expedia Group AustraliaSenior Director, Darren Karshagen said.

“Platforms like TikTok inspire travellers, especially Gen Z, to seek trending items - such as viral chocolate bars from Dubai or skincare products from Korea.”

Detour Destinations are also growing in popularity as travellers opt to visit lesser-known spots like Reims in France, Brescia in Italy, and Cozumel in Mexico.

According Unpack ’25, the annual data-driven outlook for what’s motivating travellers and where they will go next year, tourists are on the hunt for less crowded and less well-known spots, with 63 per cent of consumers saying they are likely to visit detour destinations on their next trip.

“Looking ahead, travellers aren’t just sticking to the tried-and-true tourist spots—they’re embracing detours,” Mr Karshagen said.

“These lesser-known destinations offer a unique glimpse into a country and are perfect additions to any itinerary. In fact, 63 per cent of global travellers are likely to visit a Detour Destination on their next trip.”

The most popular iconic souvenirs were:

-Maple syrup from Canada (19%)

-Honey from New Zealand (16%)

-Watch from Switzerland (15%)

Detour Destinations for 2025:

-Reims, France (detour from Paris)

-Brescia, Italy (detour from Milan)

-Cozumel, Mexico (detour from Cancun)

-Santa Barbara, California, USA (detour from Los Angeles)

-Waikato, New Zealand (detour from Auckland)

Originally published as Expedia Group surprising travel trend for 2025 sparked by Tiktok

Former prime minister’s top honour

Prince William presented the damehood on Wednesday at Windsor Castle.

‘I really feel for the kids’: Ada Nicodemou’s big fear

The Home and Away star has grown some pretty thick skin after all her years in the public eye, but one thing has her really worried as her 12-year-old son prepares for high school.