20/10/2026
Is Tourism in Guanacaste Costa Rica Up or Down?
Here's something interesting happening with tourism in Costa Rica right now.
According to the latest numbers from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, tourism arrivals fell 2.4% in September compared to last year. That's the second consecutive month of declining arrivals.
But when you look a little closer at the numbers, there's a pretty interesting difference between what's happening around San José and what's happening here in Guanacaste.
Arrivals through San José's international airport were down 5.4% in September.
Meanwhile, Liberia Airport was actually up 11.8%.
And this isn't just a one-month thing. For the first nine months of 2026, Liberia Airport has seen almost 12% growth, while San José has been struggling for much of the year.
So what's going on?
Well, I think Guanacaste has a couple of pretty significant advantages.
First, the airport.
If you're coming down from Canada or the United States for a beach vacation, being able to fly directly into Liberia makes a huge difference.
You can land, grab your bags, and be sitting on the beach in Potrero or Flamingo in about an hour.
Compare that with flying into San José and spending half a day getting to the coast.
But I think there's more to it than just convenience.
Guanacaste has really developed its own identity as a destination.
Places like Tamarindo, Flamingo, Potrero, Las Catalinas, and Playas del Coco are communities that people specifically choose to visit, and increasingly, return to year after year.
Now here's another interesting part of this story.
Canadians.
Canadian arrivals to Costa Rica were up almost 19% in September, and they're up nearly 24% for the year.
That's pretty remarkable, particularly when you consider we're talking about September, right in the middle of our rainy season.
And I think part of the explanation has to do with what's happening between Canada and the United States.
There's been a noticeable shift in Canadian travel habits, with fewer Canadians choosing to vacation in the U.S., particularly with all the political and trade tensions we've seen over the past couple of years.
And it looks like Costa Rica is benefiting from some of that.
Airlines are responding too. We're seeing additional Canadian routes, more frequent flights, and even some traditionally seasonal flights becoming year-round services.
As a Canadian who's been living here for years, I find that pretty interesting.
Because Canadians have traditionally been a big part of the winter tourism market. But if more of them are starting to visit throughout the year, that could be a real benefit to businesses here that struggle during the slower months.
And there's another important detail.
Canadian tourists tend to stay longer. The average Canadian visitor spends almost 15 nights in Costa Rica.
That's a lot of restaurant meals, grocery shopping, tours, and potentially vacation rental nights.
Now, from a real estate perspective, I think this is encouraging.
But there's a difference between more people arriving at the airport and more people booking your vacation rental.
We still have to look at occupancy rates, rental prices, and how much competition there is in any particular area.
And Costa Rica is certainly not getting any cheaper.
The colón has strengthened considerably against the U.S. dollar this year, which puts pressure on tourism businesses and makes the country a more expensive destination.
So I wouldn't suggest everything is rosy just because Liberia Airport is doing well.
But I do think these numbers tell us something important.
Guanacaste is becoming less dependent on the overall Costa Rica tourism story. It has its own airport, its own established destinations, and a growing number of visitors who specifically want to come here.
And with high season just around the corner, it'll be interesting to see whether that trend continues.
Because if it does, I think that's very good news for Guanacaste.
