Costa Rica Easter Holidays

What can you expect of Costa Rica Easter holidays that you won’t find elsewhere?

Easter in Costa Rica is always imbued with a sense of excitement, as Ticos (locals) prepare for their Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations. Normal life tends to cease during the week-long holiday, making way for elaborate processions, religious re-enactments and a whole menu of traditional Easter fare. If you find yourself in San José, the lively capital, you’ll be treated to costumed street parades and marching bands. However, it’s the city of Cartago that really knows how to party. Situated in the Central Valley near the foothills of the Irazú Volcano, the city was once the country’s capital and has maintained some of its main character energy by hosting Costa Rica’s largest Semana Santa celebrations. Ticos also tend to flock to both coastlines during Easter and take advantage of this time to totally switch off. Watch some of the city festivities, before joining natives on the Pacific or Caribbean Coast beaches for some well-deserved R&R.

There are a few deep-rooted traditions that you’ll want to adhere to if you choose to visit Costa Rica in Easter week. Superstition states that it’s best to avoid swimming in the ocean on Holy Thursday or Good Friday, as you might turn into a fish – bad news for aquanauts. Although, on the flip side, it’s rumoured that the most breath-taking sunsets take place during Semana Santa, so happy snappers should come armed with cameras. On both Holy Thursday and Good Friday, all bars and liquor stores are closed and most Ticos refrain from drinking throughout the week. It’s also worth nothing that public transportation generally doesn’t run during Holy Week.

Apart from the colourful celebrations, you can enjoy all of the country’s other treasures during Costa Rica Easter holidays. From wildlife watching in Corcovado National Park and hiking around Arenal Volcano, to surfing on the Nicoya Peninsula and zip lining through cloud forests, the list of things to do in Costa Rica is challenging to condense.

Who are Costa Rica Easter holidays best for?

Family time is a focus for all Costa Ricans during the Easter holidays, so it follows that family holidays are well-suited to this time of year. Coinciding with the school Easter break, there’s plenty to keep little ones entertained – the wildlife alone will have them entranced for hours. Even more good news is that Easter falls in the final few months of Costa Rica’s dry season, so the forecast will (hopefully) be clear blue skies and sunshine.

Easter in Costa Rica is also a festival fit for any foodie. Tradition states that pork and beef shouldn’t be consumed during Holy Week, but the country more than makes up for this with an abundance of fresh seafood. Other popular dishes include arroz con leche (rice pudding), sopa de pescado (fish soup) and chiverre (a pumpkin-like squash, prepared with sugar, tamarind seeds, cinnamon, cloves and lemon peel). In the Guanacaste Province, mangos are in season and used to make mango marmalade.

Special things to do during Easter holidays in Costa Rica:

- Watch the Semana Santa processions in San José and Cartago
- Tuck into traditional Easter feasts at local food spots
- Head to the Caribbean or Pacific Coast for surfing, sunbathing and R&R
- White-water raft down the Río Sarapiquí
- Hike through any of Costa Rica’s spectacular national parks, in the company of a local guide