Christmas in Costa Rica means tamales instead of turkey, fireworks instead of snow and half the country heading to the beach. It is a great time to visit, as long as you book early and plan around the busiest days.
Christmas in Costa Rica falls at the start of the dry season and the peak of high season. Costa Ricans celebrate mainly on the night of Dec. 24, with family, tamales and midnight Mass, and Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 are national holidays. December is also when schools are out and workers get their year-end bonus, so beaches, hotels and roads fill with local travelers as well as visitors. Expect the highest prices of the year, sunny weather on the Pacific side and a string of festivals in San José.
This guide covers local traditions, what’s open on the holidays, where to spend Christmas, what’s on and how far ahead to book.
| Christmas in Costa Rica | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Main celebration | Night of Dec. 24: family dinner, tamales, midnight Mass |
| National holidays | Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 |
| Weather | Start of the dry season on the Pacific side and in the Central Valley; the Caribbean side can still be rainy |
| Crowds | Very high from about Dec. 20 to early January |
| Prices | Peak-season rates; many hotels set minimum stays |
| Big events | Festival de la Luz, Fiestas de Zapote, the Tope horse parade, El Gordo lottery |
| Book | As early as you can, especially rental cars and beach hotels |
Traditions
How Costa Ricans Celebrate Christmas
Costa Rica is a mostly Catholic country, and Christmas is a family holiday. The main event is Christmas Eve. Families gather for a late dinner, often after or before the midnight Mass known as the Misa de Gallo, and gifts are traditionally brought by the Niño Dios, the baby Jesus, rather than Santa Claus.
- Tamales: The Christmas food. Families make them together in December: corn dough filled with pork or chicken, rice and vegetables, wrapped in banana leaves and boiled. You will see them sold in pairs, called a piña, at sodas and supermarkets.
- The portal: The nativity scene, set up in homes, churches and public squares. It stays up into the new year.
- Rompope: A sweet eggnog-style drink, often with rum, served through the season.
- The aguinaldo: The year-end bonus that workers receive in December. It fuels holiday shopping and travel.
- El Gordo: The Christmas lottery, drawn on a Sunday in mid-December. Our guide to El Gordo Navideño explains how visitors can buy a ticket.
Dec. 25 is quiet: people rest, visit relatives or head to a river or beach. The bigger fireworks come on New Year’s Eve.
Holiday hours
What’s Open on Christmas and New Year’s in Costa Rica?
Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 are national holidays, so banks, government offices and many shops close. Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 are not official holidays, but many businesses close early. In tourist areas, hotels, restaurants and tour operators generally keep running.
| Date | Banks and offices | Shops | Tourist businesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 24 | Open, some close early | Many close early | Mostly open |
| Dec. 25 | Closed | Many closed; some supermarkets open | Mostly open |
| Dec. 31 | Open, some close early | Many close early | Open, often with New Year’s events |
| Jan. 1 | Closed | Many closed | Mostly open |
Buses run reduced schedules on the holidays, and many small businesses take a break between Christmas and New Year’s. Stock up on groceries and cash on Dec. 23 and Dec. 30, and confirm tours and restaurant hours with your hotel.
Where to go
Where to Spend Christmas in Costa Rica
Pacific beaches
Guanacaste and the central Pacific are dry and sunny in late December, which is why they are the busiest. Tamarindo, Jacó and Manuel Antonio fill up with families and holiday crowds, and New Year’s Eve brings beach parties and fireworks. Great if you want sun and a social scene; less so if you want quiet. Watch for rip currents on crowded beaches; our beach safety guide explains what to look for.
Arenal and La Fortuna
La Fortuna mixes waterfalls, hanging bridges and hot springs, which make a good Christmas Eve or New Year’s treat. It gets busy but usually feels less packed than the beaches. Being on the Caribbean slope, it can see showers in December, so pack a rain jacket.
San José and the Central Valley
The capital is where the season’s big events happen, and the city empties out between Christmas and New Year’s as locals leave for the coast. Spend a day or two here for the parades and the Zapote fair, then move on. Our San José guide helps you plan.
| Region | Weather | Crowds | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific beaches | Dry, hot and sunny | Very high | Sun, surf and New Year’s parties |
| Arenal / La Fortuna | Warm, some showers | High | Hot springs, hiking, families |
| San José | Dry, mild, often windy | Busy for events, quiet between holidays | Festivals, culture, a short stay |
What’s on
Christmas Events in Costa Rica
- Festival de la Luz: A nighttime parade of marching bands through San José on a Saturday in mid-December (set for Dec. 12 in 2026). Some years it also features lit floats.
- Fiestas de Zapote: San José’s big end-of-year fair, with rides, food stalls and Costa Rican-style bullfighting, in which the bull is not killed. It runs from Christmas Day into early January. See our Fiestas de Zapote guide.
- Tope Nacional: A horse parade through downtown San José, traditionally on Dec. 26. Our guide to El Tope has more.
- Carnaval: San José’s carnival parade, traditionally on Dec. 27.
- Palmares: One of the country’s biggest fiestas follows in January. See our Palmares festival guide.
Event dates and routes change from year to year, so check local news in early December. For the full calendar, see our holidays and celebrations guide.
Planning
Prices, Crowds and When to Book
The weeks around Christmas and New Year’s are the most expensive and busiest time of year in Costa Rica. Many hotels set minimum stays, and rental cars, especially automatics and 4x4s, can sell out.
- Book early: Reserve hotels, rental cars and popular tours as early as you can. Several months ahead is not too soon for beach hotels and rental cars.
- Budget for peak rates: Expect noticeably higher prices than the rest of the year, and read cancellation policies before you pay.
- Plan around the traffic: Roads to the beaches are slow before Christmas and New Year’s, and again on the way back. Travel early in the day.
- Consider not driving: Private and shared shuttles save you from holiday traffic and parking. If you do rent, read our guide to car rental insurance first.
- Look at the shoulder: Arriving in early December or after the first week of January gets you similar weather with fewer crowds. Our guide to the best time to visit by region has more.
Good to know
Christmas in Costa Rica FAQ
Does Costa Rica celebrate Christmas?
Yes. It is one of the biggest holidays of the year, celebrated mainly on the night of Dec. 24 with family dinners, tamales and midnight Mass. Dec. 25 is a national holiday.
Is Costa Rica a good place to visit at Christmas?
Yes, if you book early. The weather is good on the Pacific side and the festive mood is real, but it is the busiest and most expensive time of year.
What is the weather like in Costa Rica at Christmas?
Late December is the start of the dry season on the Pacific coast and in the Central Valley, with sunny, hot days at the beaches. The Caribbean coast and the Arenal area can still see rain.
What do Costa Ricans eat at Christmas?
Tamales are the classic Christmas dish, often with rompope, a sweet eggnog-style drink. Families usually eat them on Christmas Eve.
Are things open on Christmas Day in Costa Rica?
Banks, government offices and many shops close on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Hotels, restaurants and tours in tourist areas generally stay open.
Where is the best place to spend Christmas in Costa Rica?
The Pacific beaches for sun and festivities, Arenal and La Fortuna for hot springs and nature, and San José for a day or two of festivals. Book early wherever you go.
When does the Christmas season start in Costa Rica?
Decorations start appearing in stores in November. The celebrations build through December, peak on Christmas Eve and run through the New Year’s events into January.
The short version
Costa Ricans celebrate Christmas on the night of Dec. 24 with family and tamales, and Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 are national holidays. It is the start of the dry season and the busiest, priciest time of year.
Book early, stock up before the holidays, try the tamales and catch at least one of San José’s December events.