Guanacaste Airport in Liberia has become the first airport in Costa Rica to partner with the U.S. Embassy to promote the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, known as STEP, in a new push aimed at improving safety information for U.S. visitors arriving in one of the country’s busiest tourism regions.
The airport, a member of the VINCI Airports network, will display information about STEP inside the terminal, including on screens in the immigration hall. The program allows U.S. citizens traveling or living abroad to register their trip so they can receive safety alerts and updates from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. It also helps embassy officials contact travelers or their emergency contacts during a crisis, natural disaster, or other unexpected disruption.
The initiative was launched during U.S. Ambassador Melinda Hildebrand’s first visit to the Guanacaste terminal, where Coriport authorities unveiled an informational screen featuring a water safety video. The content includes recommendations for enjoying Costa Rica’s beaches responsibly and will be shown to arriving passengers as they pass through immigration.
The focus on water safety is aimed directly at one of the region’s biggest risks for visitors. The U.S. State Department’s current Costa Rica travel advisory warns that rip currents are dangerous and are responsible for numerous drownings involving U.S. tourists each year. The advisory urges visitors to swim only in designated areas, look for lifeguards, follow beach signs and flags, avoid swimming alone, and stay out of the water after drinking alcohol.
“As ambassador, the safety and protection of U.S. citizens are my top priority,” Hildebrand said. “We want those who live in and travel to Costa Rica to enjoy everything the country has to offer, safely.”
Guanacaste is one of Costa Rica’s main beach tourism hubs, with visitors using the airport as a gateway to destinations such as Liberia, Papagayo, Tamarindo, Nosara, Playas del Coco and other Pacific coast communities. VINCI Airports describes Guanacaste Airport as a key link in Costa Rica’s eco-tourism strategy and says the terminal handled 1.9 million passengers in 2025.
The United States remains the leading source market for Guanacaste tourism. Data cited by the airport from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute shows 695,273 U.S. travelers visited the region in 2025. In the first quarter of 2026, U.S. tourist traffic through Guanacaste Airport rose 8.4% compared with the same period a year earlier.
That growth gives the safety campaign a practical audience. Many U.S. travelers arrive in Costa Rica for beach vacations, rental homes, surf trips, fishing, wellness retreats and national park visits. The U.S. advisory currently lists Costa Rica at Level 2, urging travelers to exercise increased caution due to crime, while also highlighting beach hazards, road delays, earthquakes, volcanoes and other risks that can affect visitors.
STEP is free and is designed to give travelers destination-specific alerts before and during their trip. The State Department says tourists can use it to stay aware of local threats and receive direct alerts from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if security concerns develop while they are abroad.
César Jaramillo, general manager of Guanacaste Airport, said the partnership is part of the airport’s effort to improve the passenger experience through clear and reliable communication.
“Guanacaste Airport promotes positive mobility through clear and reliable communication,” Jaramillo said. “The promotion of the U.S. Embassy’s STEP program reaffirms our shared commitment to strengthening safety, fostering international cooperation, and access to relevant information so that every traveler can begin their experience in Costa Rica safely and responsibly.”
The campaign places traveler safety messaging at one of the first points of contact for international arrivals in Guanacaste. For U.S. visitors, the message is simple: register before or during the trip, pay attention to local alerts, and treat Costa Rica’s beaches with caution, especially in areas without lifeguards or clear warning signs
