Tourism statisticsCountry2026

Costa Rica Tourism Statistics: 2.9M Arrivals in 2024

Q: How many tourists visit the Costa Rica?

The Costa Rica had 2.9 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, according to UN Tourism, via Our World in Data. Domestic trips are not in that count. AirROI estimates 557,232 Airbnb stays in the Costa Rica in the 12 months to October 2026, which is a separate count of bookings.

Q: What is the quietest month in the Costa Rica?

September was the quietest Airbnb month in the Costa Rica in the 12 months to October 2026, ranking 12th of 12, and October ranked 11th. Stays in September were booked about 31 days ahead, against 70 days for December.

Q: How long is a typical Airbnb stay in the Costa Rica?

A typical Airbnb stay in the Costa Rica lasted 4.8 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 52 days ahead. By month, stays ran from 3.5 nights in September to 6.1 nights in January.

The Costa Rica recorded 2.9 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, UN Tourism reports, via Our World in Data. This counts people crossing a border, so domestic trips are not in it. AirROI estimates 557,232 Airbnb stays in the Costa Rica in the 12 months to October 2026, with La Fortuna the most booked city. The busiest month was March.

Source: AirROI Reviewed by Jun Zhou, Founder @ AirROI Updated November 4, 2026

Airbnb figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026. Read the method

Estimated Airbnb nights: 2,645,646
Typical Airbnb stay: 4.8 nights
Busiest Airbnb month: March
From abroad, among guests who left a review: 73%

Key facts

Costa Rica Tourism Facts

Each sentence names its place, period and source, so it can be quoted alone.

Official

UN Tourism puts the Costa Rica at 2.9 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, via Our World in Data.

Airbnb stays

AirROI puts Airbnb stays in the Costa Rica at 557,232 in the 12 months to October 2026.
AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in the Costa Rica added up to 2,645,646 nights in the 12 months to October 2026.
AirROI estimates a typical Airbnb stay in the Costa Rica lasted 4.8 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 52 days ahead.

Busiest months

AirROI ranks March the busiest Airbnb month in the Costa Rica in the 12 months to October 2026, followed by January and February, with September the quietest.
AirROI estimates the four busiest Airbnb months in the Costa Rica ran unbroken from December to March in the 12 months to October 2026.
AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in the Costa Rica in December were booked furthest ahead, about 70 days, against 31 days for September, in the 12 months to October 2026.

Guests

AirROI estimates 73% of Costa Rica Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 came from abroad, led by the United States at 38% and Canada at 11%.

By place

AirROI ranks the Costa Rica 32nd for Airbnb stays among the 157 countries in the 12 months to October 2026.
AirROI estimates La Fortuna had the most Airbnb stays of the 44 towns it lists in the Costa Rica in the 12 months to October 2026, at 50,350, ahead of Cahuita and Jacó.

Official numbers

How Many Tourists Visit the Costa Rica?

UN Tourism counted 2.9 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, via Our World in Data.

Official tourism figures for Costa Rica: what each counts, its year and its publisher
Figure	What it counts	Year	Publisher
2.9 millionInternational tourist arrivals	Trips by visitors arriving from abroad who stay at least one night, each arrival counted separately	2024	UN Tourism, via Our World in Data

Airbnb stays

Airbnb Stays in the Costa Rica

The Costa Rica had 28,752 Airbnb homes in the 12 months to October 2026. They took an estimated 557,232 stays and 2,645,646 nights. A typical stay lasted 4.8 nights and was booked about 52 days ahead. AirROI's figures cover the 154 towns it tracks in the Costa Rica; places it does not track are not counted, so every total is a floor.

Airbnb homes: 28,752
Airbnb stays, estimate: 557,232
Airbnb nights, estimate: 2,645,646
Typical stay: 4.8 nights
Booked ahead: 52 days

Busiest months

When Is the Busiest Time in the Costa Rica?

On Airbnb, March was the busiest month in the Costa Rica in the 12 months to October 2026, then January and February. September was the quietest. The four busiest months run unbroken from December to March.

March ranks first, September last

Airbnb months in calendar order, 12 months to October 2026. The number is the month's rank, and 1 is the busiest. The bar shows its part of Airbnb nights.

Three busiest months
Other months

From busiest to quietest: March, January, February, December, July, April, June, November, May, August, October, September.

Month by month: rank, typical stay and days booked ahead

Airbnb months in the Costa Rica by rank, with share of nights, typical stay and days booked ahead, 12 months to October 2026
Rank	Month	Share of nights	Typical stay	Booked ahead
1	March	10.7%	4.6 nights	56 days
2	January	10.4%	6.1 nights	68 days
3	February	10.3%	5.7 nights	69 days
4	December	9.3%	4.9 nights	70 days
5	July	8.8%	5.1 nights	49 days
6	April	7.9%	4.1 nights	48 days
7	June	7.8%	4.8 nights	39 days
8	November	7.6%	4.9 nights	57 days
9	May	7.3%	4.3 nights	38 days
10	August	7.2%	3.8 nights	49 days
11	October	6.5%	4.6 nights	37 days
12	September	6.4%	3.5 nights	31 days

Share is each month's part of the year's Airbnb nights. Typical stay and days booked ahead are AirROI estimates for stays in each month.

Where guests come from

Where Do Costa Rica Airbnb Guests Come From?

Among Costa Rica Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 73% came from abroad, led by the United States at 38% and Canada at 11%, AirROI estimates. Among the same guests, San José was the top origin city at 6.3%, ahead of Heredia at 2.5%. The figures rest on 1,712,061 reviews, written over many years.

73% from abroad

Among guests who left a review, as of October 2026

Top countries abroad

Among guests who left a review

United States 38%
Canada 11%
Germany 4.3%
France 1.9%
Mexico 1.5%

Top origin cities

Among guests who left a review

San José 6.3%
Heredia 2.5%
New York 2%
Toronto 1.1%

By town

Most Booked Towns in the Costa Rica

La Fortuna, Cahuita and Jacó took 24% of Airbnb stays in the Costa Rica in the 12 months to October 2026. March is the busiest Airbnb month in 17 of the 44 towns, led by La Fortuna, and January in 14, led by Cahuita. Among guests who left a review, the share from abroad across the 25 most booked towns runs from 43% in Parrita to 95% in Bahía Drake.

Most Booked Towns in the Costa Rica: Airbnb stays, nights and typical stay, 12 months to October 2026; with origin among guests who left a review
#
1	La Fortuna	50,350	151,363	3.0 nights	86%	US	March
2	Cahuita	43,698	194,164	4.4 nights	64%	Costa Rica	January
3	Jacó	37,976	196,857	5.2 nights	61%	US	January
4	Quepos	32,795	132,126	4.0 nights	88%	US	March
5	Tamarindo	29,571	174,754	5.9 nights	82%	US	March
6	Cóbano	28,014	173,387	6.2 nights	77%	US	January
7	Bahía Ballena	22,850	117,568	5.1 nights	81%	US	January
8	San José	22,343	115,648	5.2 nights	72%	US	March
9	Monteverde	21,798	59,886	2.8 nights	91%	US	March
10	Sardinal	18,856	117,352	6.2 nights	75%	US	January
11	Cabo Velas	15,315	89,086	5.8 nights	77%	US	March
12	Nosara	13,410	94,001	7.0 nights	88%	US	March
13	Peñas Blancas	13,117	39,390	3.0 nights	90%	US	March
14	Tempate	10,810	59,857	5.5 nights	69%	US	January
15	Sámara	10,271	71,187	6.9 nights	91%	US	February
16	Parrita	9,200	43,425	4.7 nights	43%	Costa Rica	January
17	Mata Redonda	7,761	37,815	4.9 nights	59%	Costa Rica	March
18	Puerto Viejo de Talamanca	7,131	30,058	4.2 nights	55%	Costa Rica	June
19	Tárcoles	5,609	20,074	3.6 nights	43%	Costa Rica	January
20	Alajuela	5,001	17,079	3.4 nights	84%	US	December
21	Veintisiete de Abril	4,881	29,525	6.0 nights	67%	US	March
22	Uvita	4,211	20,725	4.9 nights	68%	Costa Rica	December
23	Puerto Jiménez	3,987	18,366	4.6 nights	84%	US	March
24	Puntarenas	3,450	16,537	4.8 nights	66%	Costa Rica	February
25	Bahía Drake	3,288	12,571	3.8 nights	95%	US	March
26	Coco	3,212	19,882	6.2 nights	69%	US	January
27	Liberia	3,159	10,164	3.2 nights	69%	US	March
28	Paquera	3,084	15,098	4.9 nights	62%	Costa Rica	February
29	Santa Cruz	3,075	14,488	4.7 nights	51%	Costa Rica	January
30	San Rafael	3,011	18,422	6.1 nights	61%	Costa Rica	March
31	Savegre	2,986	18,397	6.2 nights	88%	US	February
32	Playa Langosta	2,874	18,161	6.3 nights	86%	US	January
33	Talamanca	2,535	11,261	4.4 nights	50%	Costa Rica	October
34	Puerto Cortés	2,481	15,465	6.2 nights	75%	US	January
35	Cuajiniquil	2,220	12,425	5.6 nights	63%	Costa Rica	January
36	Pinilla	2,147	10,153	4.7 nights	44%	Costa Rica	March
37	San Pedro	2,114	14,157	6.7 nights	57%	Costa Rica	March
38	Ulloa	1,975	11,556	5.9 nights	56%	Costa Rica	March
39	San Antonio	1,854	8,065	4.4 nights	73%	US	December
40	Pavón	1,710	11,690	6.8 nights	83%	US	May
41	Puerto Carrillo	1,687	9,090	5.4 nights	72%	Costa Rica	January
42	San Isidro de El General	1,530	7,188	4.7 nights	43%	Costa Rica	February
43	Barú	1,422	9,259	6.5 nights	83%	US	February
44	La Cruz	1,307	5,071	3.9 nights	36%	Costa Rica	December

* Among guests who left a review. Stays, nights and other figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, and cover Airbnb only. Lists the 44 of the Costa Rica's 154 towns with 100 or more Airbnb homes. A town with no tourism page of its own links to its Airbnb market page.

FAQ

Questions About Tourism in the Costa Rica

How many tourists visit the Costa Rica?

The Costa Rica had 2.9 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, according to UN Tourism, via Our World in Data. Domestic trips are not in that count. AirROI estimates 557,232 Airbnb stays in the Costa Rica in the 12 months to October 2026, which is a separate count of bookings.

When is high season in the Costa Rica?

The busiest Airbnb month in the Costa Rica in the 12 months to October 2026 was March, then January and February. The four busiest months run from December to March.

What is the quietest month in the Costa Rica?

September was the quietest Airbnb month in the Costa Rica in the 12 months to October 2026, ranking 12th of 12, and October ranked 11th. Stays in September were booked about 31 days ahead, against 70 days for December.

How long is a typical Airbnb stay in the Costa Rica?

A typical Airbnb stay in the Costa Rica lasted 4.8 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 52 days ahead. By month, stays ran from 3.5 nights in September to 6.1 nights in January.

Where do Airbnb guests in the Costa Rica come from?

Of Costa Rica Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 73% came from abroad, AirROI estimates. The largest groups were the United States at 38% and Canada at 11%. Among the same guests, the top origin city was San José at 6.3%, ahead of Heredia at 2.5%.

What is the most booked town in the Costa Rica on Airbnb?

La Fortuna was the most booked town in the Costa Rica on Airbnb, with an estimated 50,350 stays in the 12 months to October 2026, ahead of Cahuita and Jacó.

Are Airbnb stays the same as tourists?

No. UN Tourism counts international tourist arrivals (2.9 million in 2024). An Airbnb stay is one booking on one platform, however many guests it holds. AirROI's 557,232 stays are estimates for the 12 months to October 2026.

Method

How These Numbers Are Made

Official figures come from their publishers, linked above, and were last checked in November 2026. Stays and nights are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, built from Airbnb listing data, and cover Airbnb only. Nights add up each town's stays times its typical stay, across 154 towns. Month ranks compare each month's part of Airbnb nights. Origin rests on 1,712,061 reviews and describes guests who left a review, not everyone who stayed. Read the method page.