Festivals & Holidays
Costa Rica loves to celebrate — from religious holidays to bullfighting festivals:
The Most Important Holidays
| Date | Holiday | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Año Nuevo | New Year's celebrations, fireworks |
| April 11 | Día de Juan Santamaría | National Hero Remembrance Day, parades in Alajuela |
| March/April | Semana Santa | Holy Week — the whole country comes to a halt. Beaches are crowded, alcohol sales partially banned! |
| May 1 | Día del Trabajo | Labor Day, demonstrations |
| July 25 | Anexión de Guanacaste | Celebration of the annexation of Guanacaste (from Nicaragua), rodeos and folk music |
| August 2 | Día de la Virgen de los Ángeles | Pilgrimage to the Basilica in Cartago — hundreds of thousands walk from San José |
| September 15 | Día de la Independencia | Independence Day — lantern parades at 6:00 PM, the entire national anthem is sung |
| October 12 | Día de las Culturas | Carnival of Limón, Afro-Caribbean celebrations |
| December 25 | Navidad | Christmas, family gatherings, tamales |
| December 25–31 | Fiestas de Zapote | Costa Rica's largest folk festival: bull run (Toros a la Tica), music, food |
★★ Fiestas de Zapote (December–January)
Between Christmas and early January, the suburb of Zapote (San José) transforms into Costa Rica's largest folk festival. Main attraction: the Toros a la Tica — the Costa Rican bull run, where brave (or drunk) volunteers enter the arena and run from a free-roaming bull. Unlike the Spanish corrida, the bull is NOT harmed — the injured are always the people. It is chaotic, loud, boisterous, and absolutely Costa Rican.
★★ La Romería (August 2)
The pilgrimage to the Basilica in Cartago on August 2 is Costa Rica's most emotional religious festival. Over two million people — almost half the population — walk to the Basilica on foot to honor "La Negrita" (the Black Madonna). Many walk the 22 km from San José, some on their knees. The road is lined all night with pilgrims, food stalls, and a unique atmosphere of devotion and festivity.
★ Envision Festival (February/March)
On the beach of Uvita, the Envision Festival takes place every year — a mix of music, yoga, art, and sustainability that attracts visitors from all over the world. Comparable to Burning Man, but in the rainforest instead of the desert. 4-day pass from 350 USD.
Achtung
Semana Santa (Holy Week, March/April) is the BUSIEST week of the year — all Ticos head to the beach. Hotels and buses are fully booked, prices rise by 50–100%. Some shops and ALL government offices close from Wednesday to Sunday. Thursday and Friday are legally "dry days" — no alcohol sales in stores and supermarkets!