Published on Friday, October 3, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

British singer, songwriter, and fashion designer Louis Tomlinson (33) says a recent stay in Costa Rica inspired his upcoming third solo album, "How Did I Get Here?"

Best known as a former member of the chart-topping band One Direction, Tomlinson spent about a month in Costa Rica this past April. He based himself near Playa Grande in Guanacaste, frequenting local bars and restaurants while taking in the country’s “Pura Vida” lifestyle.

In a cover interview with Rolling Stone UK, Tomlinson described the new record as “breezy” and a reflection of his renewed confidence.

“It’s been a long time since, professionally and personally, I’ve been able to have a little spring in my step,” he said. “Hopefully that comes across in the record.”

The trip also gave Tomlinson a chance to slow down and strengthen his creative partnerships with collaborators Nico Rebscher, David Sneddon, and Theo Hutchcraft.

“What it does for me is build up a lot of trust and confidence in the people that I’m working with,” he explained. “It isn’t about being in a room where people are hoping we write the single. Sometimes in that situation, you can feel more like a means to an end than someone who’s really working for the best record.”

Tomlinson stated the collaborative spirit reminded him of his early career. “Ever since being in One Direction, I’ve been searching for this kind of team mentality,” he said. “I’ve done it the same with my live band on tour, we very much move as a unit, and that’s really important to me.”

Several tracks on his new album, including “Lemonade,” “Sunflowers,” and “Lazy,” wouldn’t exist without Costa Rica, he added.

“As I’ve got a bit older, I’m really buying into more hippie-ish ideas,” Tomlinson said. “I liked the idea of just bathing in that atmosphere and seeing what happened to the music there. I don’t think those songs would have happened without Costa Rica.”

This was Tomlinson’s third trip to the country. In May 2024, he performed for about 15,000 fans at the Viva Park Amphitheater in Alajuela as part of his Faith in the Future world tour, named after his most recent album.

He also performed at the same venue in June 2022, marking his first concert in Costa Rica.

Tomlinson has also made headlines outside the stage. In 2021, he earned a spot in the Guinness World Records for hosting the most live-streamed concert by a solo male artist. More than 160,000 fans from over 110 countries bought tickets, raising money for global charities and touring staff impacted by the covid-19 pandemic.

Tomlinson is one of many international celebrities drawn to Costa Rica. Recently, English actor Clive Standen, known for his role as Rollo on the History Channel series Vikings (2013–2018), also vacationed in the country.

Tourism remains a key driver of Costa Rica’s economy.  From January through August, over 2 million travelers arrived in the country by air.

In 2024, the country welcomed over 2.6 million international air arrivals, a 7% increase from the previous year.

The sector also generated more than $5.4 billion in foreign exchange earnings in 2024.

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