Useful Information
Public Holidays

 

Holidays & Celebrations

Holidays are highly restricted in catholic Costa Rica and there are numerous reasons for omitted ceremonies.

One of the largest non - church celebrations is the carnival in Limón; this celeberation is accompanied by bull-fights without bloodshed.

 

All offices and most shops are closed on:

 

Public Holidays

 

  • 1st January (new years day)
  • 19th March (St. Josephs Day, patron saint of San José)
  • 11th April Juan - Santamaria - Day (national hero)
  • Easter week: Holy Thursday and Good Friday holidays, Easter Monday regular workday
  • 1st May (labor day)
  • 25th July (union of the province Guanacaste)
  • 2nd August (Maria of the angels, patron saint, pilgrimage to Cartago)
  • 15th September (Independence Day, torchlight procession)
  • 12th October (Columbus - Day, carnival in Puerto Limón)
  • 1st December (Abolition of the Army) 
  • 8th December (Mariä conception)
  • 24th and 25th December (Christmas)

 

Local holidays and fiestas

 

January:
Public-festival with bull-fights, in the middle of January in Santa Cruz, Guanacaste;
Tennis tournament Copa del Cafe.

February:
Fiestas in San Isidro de El General (agriculture, bull-fights)
Fiesta de los Diablitos in Boruca.

March:
Carrera de la Paz (Marathon) in San José; national Orchid exhibition in San José; pilgrimage to Ujarrás, Bonanza cattle exhibition at the road to Alajuela (rodeo, bull-fights, etc.); arts and crafts exhibition in front of the national theater in San José; ox-cart day (Dia del Boyero, pilgrimage with ox-cart) on the 2nd Sunday in Escazu.

May:
15th San Isidro (parish fair in villages named San Isidro);
17th. Carrera de San Juan (Marathon) near Cartago.

July:
16th Santa Maria, patron saint of the sea (procession of decorated fishing-boats, later carnival) in Puntarenas.

August:
International musical festival; Afro Costa Rican cultural week (shows, lectures etc.);
31st festival for San Ramón (procession in San Ramón)..

Oktober:
12th Diverse local festivals (carnival in Limón; Fiesta del Maiz in Upala). Costa Rica yachting club regatta.

November:
2nd divine services and visiting cemeteries in the whole country; coffee pick competitions, international surf competitions..

December:
8th Fiesta de los Negritos in Boruca (dancing); Dia de la Pólvora (fireworks in the whole country);
12th Dia de la Yeguita (little mare) in Nicoya (procession, indian influences)..
Christmas and New Years celebrations.

We would like to thank all our guests who have been travelling with us since 1994 in the most beautiful time of the year - their well-deserved holidays. When developing itineraries for groups and individual travelers, selecting our local service partners and caring about the well-being of our guests, we always focus on the highest possible quality standards. Since the founding of Amadeus Travel, we have been committed to sustainable tourism as the only long-term viable form of tourism, e.g. through our social commitment, visiting and supporting private and state nature reserves as well as the training of our team and experienced, fully licenced tour guides.