A significant earthquake shook Costa Rica’s Central Pacific region this morning, startling residents and visitors in Jacó, Garabito and parts of the Central Valley. The tremor struck at 10:22 a.m. The National Seismological Network reported a preliminary magnitude of 5.3 and placed the epicenter about 11 kilometers south of Jacó, in the canton of Garabito, Puntarenas.
The Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica reported the event at a preliminary magnitude of 4.8, with a depth of 9.42 kilometers and a location about 3 kilometers southwest of Tárcoles de Garabito, Puntarenas. A later explanation from Ovsicori described the earthquake as a magnitude 5.1 event at a depth of less than 10 kilometers.
Those differences are not unusual in the first hours after an earthquake, when seismic agencies continue refining readings as more data becomes available. The key point for residents and travelers was the same across reports: the quake was shallow, centered near one of Costa Rica’s busiest beach areas, and widely felt.
Reports came in from Jacó, Playa Hermosa, Caldera, San José, Alajuela, Santa Ana, Heredia and other parts of the Greater Metropolitan Area, according to local media. The RSN said the tremor was felt from light to moderate in areas including San José, Alajuela, Nicoya, Heredia and Puntarenas.
As of the initial reports Wednesday, no injuries or structural damage had been reported. That was welcome news for Jacó since its a beach destination that receives a steady flow of both foreign tourists and residents throughout the year.
Ovsicori said the earthquake was linked to internal faulting within the Caribbean Plate. Esteban Chaves, director of Ovsicori, said the event was relatively shallow and occurred inside the Caribbean Plate rather than along a deeper subduction zone.
The Central Pacific is one of Costa Rica’s more active seismic regions. Ovsicori noted that an earthquake of this size is not considered unusual for the tectonic conditions commonly seen in that part of our country. For people in Jacó and nearby beach communities, the shaking served as another reminder of Costa Rica’s regular seismic activity. Even moderate earthquakes can feel stronger when they occur at shallow depths, especially near the epicenter.
Authorities continued monitoring seismic activity after the event. Residents and visitors should follow updates from Costa Rica’s official seismic and emergency agencies, particularly if aftershocks are reported or if local conditions change.
