Costa Rica public holidays and festivals: dates and closures

Costa Rica's holiday calendar mixes fixed dates with a few that move to the nearest Monday. The list below is the standard national set; confirm the exact weekday with an official source before you book around one, because the government can shift a date.

The two dates that change travel most are Semana Santa (the week before Easter Sunday) and the Christmas–New Year stretch. Both are when Costa Ricans travel domestically, so buses, shuttles, rental cars and beach hotels sell out and prices rise.

The biggest festival is the Fiestas de Zapote in San José, held in the last days of December and the first days of January. It is a bull-and-rodeo event with food stalls, music and rides, and it draws crowds from across the country. If you are in the capital over New Year, it is the main thing happening.

In August, the pilgrimage to Cartago for the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels brings walkers from all over Costa Rica to the basilica. It is a religious event rather than a tourist show, but it is a genuine window into the country. Guanacaste's fiestas, with bull riding and traditional music, run through the dry season in towns such as Liberia and Santa Cruz.

The Limón carnival, on the Caribbean coast, is the country's biggest Afro-Caribbean celebration and usually falls in October. It is a different flavour from the Central Valley events and worth timing a Puerto Viejo trip around.

Banks, government offices, the postal service and most public institutions close on national holidays. Many private shops, supermarkets and restaurants in tourist areas stay open, especially in beach towns, but small sodas and family businesses may shut for the day or close early.

National parks and tour operators generally stay open, but holiday weekends are the busiest of the year. Book park tickets and guided tours in advance, and expect traffic on the main routes out of San José on the Friday before a long weekend and back on the Sunday.

If a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, many Costa Ricans take the Monday or Friday off, so the long weekend effect is bigger than the single date suggests.

The dry season, roughly December to April, is already the busiest time, and the holidays inside it make it busier. If you want the coast at Christmas or New Year, book accommodation and shuttles months ahead. If you are flexible, the first two weeks of December and the first two weeks of May are quieter and still good weather in much of the country.

Semana Santa is the single most crowded week for domestic travel. Many Costa Ricans head to the beach, so Guanacaste and Manuel Antonio fill up and prices peak. It is also a week when some businesses close entirely, so check that your hotel and tours are running.

For driving, holiday weekends mean more traffic and more police checkpoints. Drive by day, as the parent guide advises, and allow extra time on the San José–La Fortuna and San José–Pacific routes.

Costa Rica uses the colón, but US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, with change often given in colones. On holidays, carry cash for small sodas and parking, since some card machines may be off or the shop may be closed.

A 10% service charge and 13% VAT are usually included in restaurant bills, so no extra tip is needed on a holiday meal. If you are travelling with children, holiday weekends are a good time for the family-friendly parks and beaches, but plan around the crowds.

Travel insurance is worth checking before a holiday trip, especially if you plan to drive or take part in adventure activities. Confirm that your policy covers the dates and activities you have booked.