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

NBA legend Michael Jordan is once again vacationing in Costa Rica.

The retired basketball star, 62, arrived Wednesday morning aboard his black-and-white Gulfstream private jet at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)  in Alajuela Province, according to records from Costa Rica’s General Directorate of Migration.

Jordan is reportedly returning to participate in a sportfishing tournament scheduled to take place at Herradura Bay in Puntarenas Province. Fans shared sightings on social media, including photos of his jet landing at SJO and his yacht docked in Puntarenas earlier this week.

A six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan played 15 seasons in the league from 1984 to 2003. Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, he helped popularize the NBA worldwide during the 1980s and 1990s.

The NBA champion remains one of the most marketable athletes in history, with endorsement deals that have included Nike, Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, Gatorade, McDonald’s, Wheaties and Hanes. Forbes estimates his net worth at $3.5 billion as of 2024, ranking him as the fourth-richest African American.

The visit marks Jordan’s fourth trip to Costa Rica within a year. In February 2025, he traveled to the country three times to participate in a sportfishing tournament held in Puntarenas Province.

Jordan is among several international celebrities who have recently highlighted Costa Rica as a vacation destination. Last week, American actor and producer Channing Tatum and his girlfriend, French-Australian model Inka Williams, spent time in the country.

Israeli actress Gal Gadot, known for portraying Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe, also rang in the New Year in Costa Rica for the second consecutive year.

 

During the Christmas season, television host Jimmy Fallon vacationed in Costa Rica with his family.

Australian actor Hugh Jackman, best known for his role as Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, also visited the country.

In November 2025, American singer and actress Demi Lovato spent a holiday in Costa Rica.

Tourism remains one of Costa Rica’s strongest industries. As of September 2025, more than 2.2 million travelers arrived in Costa Rica by air overall.

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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