Published on Monday, June 23, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Costa Rica made its debut at the 13th annual MURAL Festival in Montreal, Canada, as part of a broader strategy to attract more Canadian tourists.

The Tourism Institute (ICT) invited local artist Sebastián Ayala to represent the country by creating a mural that showcases Costa Rica’s rich cultural and natural heritage. The large-scale artwork covers an entire wall of a downtown Montreal building, located near Saint-Laurent Boulevard, Sherbrooke Street, and Mount Royal Avenue.

“The public’s reaction to the mural has been very positive,” said Ayala. “It’s an honor for me to create this piece inspired by Costa Rica.”

The canvas features the country’s iconic slogan, "Pura Vida," alongside colorful tropical wildlife such as a sloth, scarlet macaw, frog, monkey, and toucan. Additional visual elements reflect Costa Rican culture and natural beauty.

The painting will remain on public display for at least one year, aiming to capture the attention of passersby and encourage them to consider Costa Rica as a winter travel destination.

“We invite Canadians to escape the cold winter and break from routine by experiencing something unique in our country, always in contact with nature, enjoying outdoor activities, and getting to know the warmth of our people,” ICT said in a statement.

To further promote Costa Rica during the festival, food trucks offered tropical fruit-based snacks and ice cream to the public. Visitors also received coupons offering a 10% discount on flights to Costa Rica during the Green Season (May through November), available through Air Canada.

Canada remains Costa Rica’s second-largest source of international visitors and continues to show strong potential for growth. Between January and May 2025, more than 147,000 Canadian tourists traveled to Costa Rica.

As of April 2025, Costa Rica reported more than 1 million international tourists arrived by air.

Recently, Porter Airlines, a Canadian carrier based at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, has received approval to begin scheduled international flights to Costa Rica.

Tourism continues to be a cornerstone of Costa Rica’s economy. In 2024, the country received over 2.6 million air arrivals, marking a 7% increase over the previous year.

In 2024, the tourism sector generated more than $5.4 billion in foreign exchange revenue, according to the Central Bank of Costa Rica.

The Tourism Institute (ICT), the government agency responsible for promoting tourism, continues to support infrastructure improvements to accommodate growing international interest.

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