Published on Wednesday, May 14, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Tourism Institute (ICT) announced that Costa Rica welcomed more than 1 million tourists by air during the first quarter of 2026.

According to ICT statistics, more than 1,033,000 travelers arrived in the country between January and March, representing an increase of about 13% compared with the same period in 2025.

Official figures showed that Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) located in Alajuela province, handled nearly 591,000 passengers during the three months, while Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) located in Guanacaste province, received more than 368,000 travelers.

The United States remained Costa Rica’s largest source of visitors, accounting for more than 556,000 arrivals. Canada followed with more than 153,000 visitors, while Mexico contributed about 23,000 travelers.

Europe accounted for more than 175,000 visitors, led primarily by travelers from Germany, France and the United Kingdom. South America contributed more than 36,000 tourists, with Colombia, Argentina and Brazil among the leading markets.

Between January and March, 70,111 tourists arrived in Costa Rica by land and sea, representing a 5.7% decrease compared with the same period last year.

To support continued tourism growth, ICT has launched international advertising campaigns and participated in major global travel events. Representatives from Costa Rica’s tourism sector recently attended the Americas Lodging Investment Summit Central and Latin America, also known as ALIS CALA, to promote the country as a leading destination for hotel development.

In addition, more international airlines are expanding service to Costa Rica. Porter Airlines recently announced an increase in its nonstop flights to the country.

Costa Rica’s tourism industry has continued to expand in recent years. The country recorded more than 2.6 million air arrivals in 2025.

The ICT is the government agency responsible for promoting tourism in Costa Rica.

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