Costa Rica is the cover star and lead feature of the June 2026 edition of National Geographic Traveller (UK), one of the world’s most influential travel publications, in both its print and digital versions, the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) announced over the weekend.
The feature, titled “Costa Rica: Coast to Coast,” was written by content editor Georgia Stephens with a team of specialist journalists. It uses aerial and high-resolution photography to showcase landmarks including Punta Catedral in Manuel Antonio National Park, the near-perfect cone of Arenal Volcano, Corcovado National Park, and the country’s Caribbean coast. The cover itself features a photograph of Punta Catedral.
Beyond the scenery, the article leans into the themes that have defined Costa Rica’s international image: biodiversity, sustainability, and regenerative tourism. It points readers toward the Bribrí Indigenous community, quetzal watching in San Gerardo de Dota, the flight of the scarlet macaw along the Caribbean, night wildlife tours, and horseback riding on the slopes of Arenal. The piece also notes that local non-governmental organizations are expanding the protected areas around Corcovado, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.
The ICT estimates the report could reach more than 1.2 million unique monthly users across digital platforms, in addition to a certified print circulation of 58,242 copies in the United Kingdom.
For us here in Costa Rica, the placement is a strategic win in a market the tourism board has been working to grow. The United Kingdom is now the third-largest European source market for our country, with more than 30,385 British visitors arriving by air in the first four months of 2026 alone, according to ICT data. British travelers typically stay 12 to 14 days and show strong interest in ecotourism, wildlife watching, wellness travel, cultural experiences, and adventure activities.
Angélica Herra, the ICT’s Europe market coordinator, said the appearance is part of a broader effort to position the country across the continent, describing the British market as made up of conscious, high-value travelers drawn to the country’s sustainable character. The coverage was the product of two press trips carried out in December 2025 and January 2026, coordinated by the ICT’s vacation-segment promotion team in Europe.
The recognition continues a long relationship between the magazine and the destination; National Geographic Traveller UK has previously dedicated extensive features to Costa Rica’s national parks and its early embrace of conservation as a tourism strategy.
