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Photos via Mario Lopez social media.

Hollywood Star Mario Lopez Returns To Costa Rica For A Little ‘Jurassic Park’ Adventure




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Published on Wednesday, September 23, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff





American actor and television host Mario Lopez, best known for playing A.C. Slater on the 1990s television series Saved by the Bell, is back in Costa Rica.


According to public records from the General Directorate of Immigration, Lopez arrived in the country Monday, Sept. 21, accompanied by his wife, Broadway dancer, actress
and producer Courtney Mazza.


Lopez announced his visit to the Pura Vida country
on social media, posting a series of videos in which he explained that he was in Costa Rica as part of a work trip to film an advertising campaign.



The actor shared views
with his 1.3 million fans, of the natural landscapes in the countryside of the southern San José region. “I am checking in from beautiful Pérez Zeledón, in Costa Rica. I am down here right now shooting a campaign. Although with views like this, I don’t exactly feel like work,” Lopez said.


The American celebrity also highlighted Costa Rica’s wildlife. “We are way up in the mountains right now, surrounded by jungle, and apparently we need to watch out for jaguars because they can get you. They also have giant spiders that catch these small birds in their webs,” he said. “It’s all part of the adventure, Costa Rica!”






For Lopez, Costa Rica’s natural beauty is comparable to something out of a movie.  “Some real Jurassic Park type stuff right there,” he added.


Lopez also referred to the popular belief connecting Costa Rica with the fictional setting of Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park novels and the subsequent films featuring iconic dinosaurs.


The actor also went hiking through the jungle until he reached an area he described as a wonderland of hidden rivers.  “Check out these little hidden rivers and haze. There’s like a waterfall over there. There’s something cool here,” he said.


Lopez also mentioned the excitement of the possibility of encountering crocodiles in the middle of the jungle.  “Here we go. Watch the crocodiles,” he said.


The American actor also highlighted the variety of fruits found in the region, mentioning Costa Rica’s impressive selection of bananas.   “Believe it or not, you have over 30 different types of bananas,” he said. “Some taste like apples, some taste like pears. They are red, they are big, they are small. Plátanos from all over right there. Pretty cool fruit right here. Next level.”





Lopez added that he will continue traveling around Costa Rica through next Friday.



This is not the first time the American celebrity has visited the Pura Vida country. In March 2019, Lopez enjoyed a family vacation in Costa Rica with his wife and children.



Lopez began his acting career in 1984 in the short-lived ABC comedy series a.k.a. Pablo. He rose to fame playing A.C. Slater on the Saturday-morning sitcom Saved by the Bell (1989-1993) and its spinoff, Saved by the Bell: The College Years (1993-1994). He has appeared in approximately 20 television series and movies.



Costa Rica continues to attract high-profile visitors from around the world, including celebrities and prominent U.S. political figures. Ivanka Trump, daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, returned to Costa Rica in August 2026 for another family vacation. Her August visit was at least her sixth documented visit to the country since 2022, according to recent reports based on immigration records.



Ivanka Trump is the second member of the Trump family to vacation in Costa Rica this year. In July, Kai Trump, President Trump's eldest granddaughter, celebrated the end of high school with a trip to Costa Rica before beginning classes this fall at the University of Miami in Florida, U.S.A.







Earlier in July, Australian actor and producer Chris Hemsworth, best known for portraying Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, vacationed in Costa Rica with his family.



Most recently, U.S. Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia vacationed in Guanacaste.



Earlier in April, billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez, visited Cocos Island.



Tourism remains one of Costa Rica’s most important economic sectors. More than 1.6 million travelers arrived in the country by air during the first half of 2026, underscoring the industry’s continued role as a major contributor to the national economy.



In 2025, Costa Rica welcomed more than 2.6 million air travelers.

  

  

The tourism industry also reached a significant economic milestone during the first quarter of 2026, generating more than $2 billion in tourism revenue for the first time in the country’s history.


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Have you ever spotted a celebrity while visiting Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com




 







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