Published on Wednesday, April 9, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Costa Rican government has issued a decree allowing most public-sector employees in non-essential services to take vacations in April from 11 to 20. The extended break includes Holy Week and the Juan Santamaría National Hero Holiday.

The extended government break offers an opportunity for citizens to travel to the beaches and countryside, which is expected to benefit the tourism industry and boost the economy in rural and coastal regions, authorities noted.

According to the official decree, all public employees are entitled to a day off on Friday, April 11, in observance of the national holiday honoring Juan Santamaría.

In addition, the government authorizes public workers to take paid vacation throughout Holy Week, which spans in April from 13 to 20.

This means most public-sector workers will be away from their jobs for more than a week.

The vacation period applies to employees of institutions that provide non-essential services, including schools, high schools, universities, technical institutes, academies, banks, municipalities, clinics, Congress, ministries, and other government agencies.

Essential public services, such as electricity, drinking water, public security, transportation, and healthcare, are excluded from the extended holiday. Agencies providing these services, such as the Institute of Electricity, Water Institute, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Public Transport, and Social Security among others, must take necessary precautions to ensure uninterrupted operations during the break.

For the private sector, Costa Rica’s Labor Law grants three official holidays during this period: Friday, April 11 (Juan Santamaría Day), Thursday, April 17 (Holy Thursday), and Friday, April 18 (Good Friday). Employees who work on any of these paid holidays are entitled to double their regular pay.

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