Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Public Holidays
Días feriados
(national holidays) are taken seriously in Costa Rica. Banks, public offices
and many stores close. During these times, public transport is tight and hotels are heavily
booked. Many festivals coincide with public holidays.
New Year's Day
January 1
Semana Santa
(Holy Week; March or April) The Thursday and Friday before Easter
Sunday is the official holiday, though most businesses shut down for the whole week.
From Thursday to Sunday bars are closed and alcohol sales are prohibited; on Thursday
and Friday buses stop running.
Día de Juan Santamaría
(April 11) Honors the national hero who died fighting William
Walker in 1856; major events are held in Alajuela, his hometown.
Labor Day
May 1
Día de la Madre
(Mother's Day; August 15) Coincides with the annual Catholic Feast of
the Assumption.
Independence Day
September 15
Día de la Raza
(Columbus Day) October 12
Christmas Day
(December 25) Christmas Eve is also an unofficial holiday.
Last week in December
The week between Christmas and New Year is an unofficial
holiday; businesses close and beach hotels are crowded.
Safe Travel
For the latest official reports on travel to Costa Rica, see the websites of the
US State De-
(
www.fco.gov.uk
)
.
Earthquakes & Volcanic Eruptions
Costa Rica lies on the edge of active tectonic plates, so it is decidedly earthquake-prone.
Recent major quakes occurred in 1990 (7.1 on the Richter scale) and 1991 (7.4). Smaller
quakes and tremors happen quite often (particularly on the Península de Nicoya) cracking
roads and knocking down telephone lines. The volcanoes in Costa Rica are not really dan-
gerous, though, as long as you stay on designated trails and don't try to peer into the crater
