I’m undecided it is simply me, however it appears like ceaselessly since this nation’s identify got here up in right here. Blame it on El Salvador’s present regional stardom, particularly after Bukele completely crushed prison gangs, or Belize’s newfound trendiness, however Costa Rica appeared to take a backseat for some time.
Not anymore.
Central America’s no-brainer, most iconic getaway is still as popular as ever. In reality, it noticed a ten.4% rise in tourism this yr in comparison with similar interval in 2025. Between January and February 2026, 653,959 worldwide guests landed in Costa Rica.
In Feb alone, 331,967 arrivals had been registed. According to knowledge from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, that is a five-month streak of year-over-year progress.
Impressive numbers, however what’s the fuss all about?
Small Country, A Plethora Of World Wonders
For a small nation-state roughly the scale of West Virginia, Costa Rica packs fairly the punch.
Over half of the nationwide territory is blanketed by natural forest, with nature being central to the nation’s worldwide enchantment. This is someplace you go to unwind, decelerate, take pleasure in a weekend away in a distant, BoHo stylish jungle retreat, and take in the tropical vibes.
It hosts roughly 5% of the world’s biodiversity, regardless of its small measurement, and between the rainforests, misty cloud forests spanned by scenic suspended bridges, and towering volcanos, you are by no means precisely removed from a mindblowing view right here.
Oftentimes, all it takes is searching the window.
This Is The Fastest-Growing Destination In Costa Rica
The most visited attraction within the nation, Monteverde Cloud Forest is the place a majority of holiday makers will likely be headed. A mystical, fog-enveloped maze of lush trails, it is host to over 300 hen species and orchids, and it is Costa Rica’s prime destinationf or canopy-shaded walks.
The numbers do not lie: Daniel Oduber Quirós Airport in Liberia recorded 230,406 passengers to date this yr, a 16.3% progress from a yr earlier.
It’s the fastest-growing worldwide airport in Costa Rica, and the closest main hub to Monteverde, at a 2.5 hour drive.
Although we would nonetheless extremely advocate you ebook a non-public driver, Costa Rica is comparatively protected to drive in.
The nation itself might be probably the most superior, infrastructure-wise, in Central America, although El Salvador is shortly catching up.
It boasts a dense highway community (28,520 miles, to be exact), and near-full electrical energy protection supporting tourism hubs. Paved networks hyperlink parks and seashores—not one of the Honduras or Nicaragua-style dodgy dust roads—and total, it’s a lot safer to visit.
This Is How Safe Costa Rica Is
The U.S. State Department lists Costa Rica as a Level 2 vacation spot, that means Americans aren’t discouraged from visiting.
If they do, nonetheless, they need to train sure precautions: avoiding commuting after darkish, sustaining a better degree of situational consciousness in crowded areas, and checking credentials earlier than reserving guided activites from native operators.
The traditional stuff.
This continues to be Latin America, although, and if there’s one factor we have realized from Mexico’s February crime flare-up, it is that the safety scenario within the continent can deteriorate with out warning. Before you fly out to Costa Rica, although, examine any Travel Alerts that could be in place.
Where Are The Crowds Going?
Check Entry Requirements for Costa Rica here.
Liberia Airport (LIR) is the primary gateway to Guanacaste, a coastal stretch within the Costa Rican Pacific famend fro tis golden sands, browsing scene, and luxurious resorts.
Depending on the place you go, your vacation spot is a 25-90 minute drive.
Playas del Coco are a breezy half-hour taxi hop from the airport. These are the postcard-ready, volcanic, dark-sand seashores you see on Instagram.
A bit additional, some 45 minutes, the Papagayo Peninsula is occupied by powerhouses like Four Seasons, on pristine coves largely untouched by mass tourism.
North America continues to guide Costa Rica’s tourism surge, with 454,889 Americans and Canadians touching down there to date this yr (as of Feb).
If you are questioning the place the youthful crowds are going, look no additional than surf mecca Tamarindo, a 1-hour drive from Liberia Airport. It’s the fashionable backpacker city on the coast, with a thriving youth hostel scene, a vibrant nightlife, and loads of paradisiacal seashores with barrelling waves to select from.
Peak ‘Pura Vida’ vibes, if you realize what we imply.
Costa Rica’s #1 Destination
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is the busiest airport within the nation proper now, with 372,295 worldwide guests hosted within the first two months of 2026.
It serves not solely the capital, San José—someplace most vacationers join via on their strategy to the Costa Rican jungle—however the wider highland area.
Poás Volcano National Park is a 30 minute drive out of city, with its large turquoise crater lake spewing sulfur fumes, and the iconic La Paz Waterfall (60 min) is a quintet of cascades surrounded by a verdant rainforest.
Keep your eyes peeled for the odd jaguar up within the bushes.
Can’t get sufficient of Costa Rica’s pure wonders?
Irazú (1h away) is the best volcano within the nation, with moon-like craters and otherwordly views from the highest.
A bumpy 2 hour journey from the capital, the dormant, cone-shaped Arenal Volcano is one more must-see. The nationwide park it is enclosed inside is dotted with sizzling springs and historical lava flows, and there is a plethora of distinctive jungle stays to select from.
Check out Amor Arenal, a 31 rustic-luxury cabin ensemble nestled within the coronary heart of the rainforested canyon.
Think tropical hardwood design, non-public jaccuzis with panoramic views of Arenal, and open-air spas.
