Costa Rica’s tourism industry opened the year with strong momentum, passing one million international visitors in the first quarter and posting growth compared with the same period last year. From January through March, Costa Rica received 1,033,777 foreign tourists through all entry points, according to official tourism data. That represents an 11.3% increase over the first quarter of 2025 and places this year’s start above the pre-pandemic first-quarter figure recorded in 2019.
The numbers offer a clear sign of recovery for one of Costa Rica’s most important economic sectors, even as tourism businesses continue to face pressure from a strong colón and a weaker dollar. The Banco Central’s MONEX data showed the weighted average exchange rate at ¢453.94 per U.S. dollar on May 14 and ¢453.48 on May 15, leaving dollar-based travelers and businesses with less buying power in colones.
North America remains the main engine of Costa Rica’s tourism market. The region sent 734,115 visitors during the first three months of the year, with the United States alone accounting for 556,648 arrivals. Canada also posted a strong showing, with 153,434 visitors in the quarter. Canada’s growth was especially notable. Tourist arrivals from Canada rose 26.7% from the same period last year, while arrivals from the United States increased 9.5%.
Europe also continued to recover as a key long-haul market. The region sent 175,596 tourists to Costa Rica in the first quarter, led by Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Spain. Germany accounted for 33,839 arrivals, France 30,742, the United Kingdom 27,416 and Spain 14,759.
Air travel carried most of the load. Costa Rica received 959,738 visitors by air from January through March, including 590,952 through Juan Santamaría International Airport and 368,413 through Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Guanacaste. That airport split shows how tourism demand continues to benefit both the Central Valley and Guanacaste. San José remains the country’s main international gateway, while Liberia continues to serve as a direct entry point for beach and resort travelers heading to the North Pacific.
The growth matters well beyond hotels. Tourism supports tour guides, restaurants, transport providers, small lodges, rental operators, artisans and family-run businesses across coastal, rural and mountain communities. A stronger first quarter means more movement through the wider economy, especially in areas where tourism is one of the main sources of income.
Still, the sector is not operating without challenges. The strong colón has made Costa Rica more expensive for visitors paying in dollars and has squeezed tourism companies that earn in dollars but pay wages, utilities and local suppliers in colones. For expats and visitors arriving with U.S. dollars, the same exchange-rate pressure means meals, tours, rentals and day-to-day expenses feel more expensive than in previous years.
The government and lawmakers are also looking at ways to support domestic tourism. Ruling-party legislator Wilson Jiménez introduced bill 25,593, titled “Feriados con Propósito,” which would permanently move five public holidays to the following Monday. The proposal was formally presented in the Legislative Assembly on May 11.
The bill would apply to April 11, July 25, August 2, August 31 and December 1. The goal is to create more long weekends and encourage Costa Ricans to travel inside the country, supporting hotels, restaurants and small businesses outside the Greater Metropolitan Area.
The idea is not new. Costa Rica temporarily moved several holidays after the COVID-19 pandemic as part of an effort to revive tourism and regional economies. That policy later expired, and the new bill seeks to bring back the long-weekend model on a permanent basis.
The proposal will still need to move through committee before reaching the full Legislative Assembly. It may also face debate over the cultural and religious meaning of certain dates, especially August 2, the day of the Virgen de los Ángeles, one of Costa Rica’s most important national religious observances. The Episcopal Conference has already expressed opposition to moving that holiday.
For now, the international numbers give the tourism sector a strong opening to 2026. The next test will be sustaining that growth through the slower months while managing the cost pressures tied to the exchange rate. Costa Rica remains in demand, but the data also show how heavily the country depends on keeping its main markets connected, confident and willing to pay premium prices.
