Costa Rica Tourism Heats Up in 2021

It’s not quite over yet, but 2021 has been a fantastic year for tourism in Costa Rica. Admittedly, 2020 was a little rough, but travel to this beautiful country has heated up this year and there are plenty of reasons to believe that 2022 is going to be even better.

That’s good news for both Costa Rica and the travelers who would love to come here. Costa Rica — with its oceans, cloud forests, volcanoes, waterfalls, unbeatable dining, and luxury hotels — is something that should be shared with the world. We’re truly happy to see that more people are getting to experience it.

As travel to Costa Rica roars back to life, now is a better time than ever to book your trip. If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we shouldn’t wait to do the things we’ve always dreamed of doing because we never know when the world will stop us from doing them altogether. To learn more about the state of Costa Rican tourism, read on. And to book your trip, contact Adventure Tours Costa Rica.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Costa Rica Tourism

Before 2020, you could truthfully say it’s a great time to travel to Costa Rica any day of the year. The weather is always pleasant. Natural wonders abound all year round. The fishing is phenomenal. The people are always welcoming.

Then, March 2020 struck, and the world was beset with a pandemic. Travel restrictions began popping up all over the globe — Costa Rica included. Incoming international flights to Costa Rica went from a peak of more than 350,000 in the month of February to absolute zero by the middle of April. This was due to both travel restrictions and travelers’ fears of the coronavirus.

We didn’t see incoming flights start to pick back up until the end of 2020, but even then, the number of flights was at less than 20 percent of what we saw in the same months of 2019.

Progress: Travelers Begin Returning to Costa Rica

Then, 2021 arrived. The pandemic wasn’t over, but vaccines were going into arms and immunity was starting to develop. Travel restrictions were dropped. And travel to Costa Rica started to warm up again.

Incoming flights increased slowly all the way to July, when they peaked at around 150,000 per month. With surges in the pandemic, the flights would dip, but overall, 2021 flight numbers more than doubled 2020 flight numbers in almost every month.

The Future of Costa Rican Travel Looks Bright: 2022 and Beyond

As 2021 draws to a close, the pandemic still isn’t over. But it’s better. People are vaccinated. We have a better understanding of the virus. The world is ready to enjoy traveling again.

Airlines are starting to take notice of the world’s desire to visit Costa Rica, too. American Airlines added a direct flight from Chicago to San Jose’s Juan Santamaría Airport. Avianca added new flights to connect Costa Rica and Cancun. Frontier has added a new flight from Orlando to Liberia, Costa Rica. The list goes on.

There’s every reason in the world to believe that 2022 is going to be better for Costa Rica tourism than 2021 was, and we see no reason that it will slow down in the coming years.

Get in on This: Book Your Costa Rica Getaway

Tourism in Costa Rica may have taken a punch from the pandemic, but it’s not down for the count — not even close. We saw a huge improvement in 2021 even as the pandemic raged on, and as things continue to get better and people get more and more restless, we fully expect to see travel to Costa Rica continue its upward trajectory.

In other words, this is your time to get in on a trend before everyone else figures it out. Hotels, resorts, attractions, national parks, beaches, and countless other Costa Rican destinations are dying for visitors like you, and now is the perfect time to find affordable accommodations, flights, food, and experiences. Why waste this moment?

If you’re ready to leave your day-to-day behind for a while and experience the joys of a Costa Rican getaway, you only have to make one call. Contact Adventure Tours Costa Rica to explore your trip options and build the perfect itinerary. Give us a call at 1-800-761-7250.