Tourism in Costa Rica opened 2026 with its strongest pace yet, as official data showed 653,959 international visitors entered the country in January and February combined, up 10.4% from the same period in 2025. The latest figures from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute also showed 331,967 arrivals in February alone across all entry points, extending a five month run of year over year growth.
Air travel remained the main driver. Costa Rica received 602,960 visitors by air in the first two months of the year, a 12.2% increase from the same stretch in 2025. February air arrivals reached 308,873, with the sharpest gains again coming from North America.
North America continued to dominate Costa Rica’s inbound tourism mix. The country welcomed 454,889 visitors from the region in January and February, including 337,027 from the United States and 103,876 from Canada. Europe also remained a solid source market, helping support the strong start to the year as Costa Rica heads deeper into the late dry season and Easter travel window.
The airport split also helps explain where demand is landing. Juan SantamarÃa International Airport handled 372,295 international tourist arrivals in the first two months of 2026, while Daniel Oduber Quirós Airport in Liberia received 230,406. Liberia posted the faster growth rate, with arrivals there up 16.3% from a year earlier, reinforcing how strong Guanacaste remains with beach and resort travelers.
For travelers, the numbers point to a busy but not yet overloaded period. Costa Rica is clearly carrying strong peak season momentum into April, which means sought after hotels, domestic flights, rental cars, and tours in places like Guanacaste, Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna, and Monteverde are likely to tighten first. The broader picture still suggests room for spontaneous travel, but with less flexibility than usual on the most popular routes and lodges. That matters for anyone weighing shoulder season deals against crowd levels.
The new figures also arrive as Costa Rica faces more regional competition for visitors, especially on price. Even so, the latest official numbers show demand has held up well so far in 2026, with the country still pulling in large volumes from its biggest long haul markets. If the current pace continues through the next few months, Costa Rica could be on track for another standout year in international tourism.
