Costa Rica is known for places of great natural beauty and the Pura Vida spirit. But, while it’s the ideal country to relax, it’s also a nation where there are plenty of opportunities to experience the culture and learn with the Costa Rican people.
During 2019 there are many events that you can attend. From music to sports or local festivities, if you are planning to travel to this Central American country, take note.
Envision Festival
February 28 to March 3, 2019
Founded in 2011, the Envision Festival is a “celebration dedicated to the awakening of human potential,” according to information released by Costa Rica Tourism Board.
The four-day festival, which hosts thousands of people each year, features a program that includes music concerts, yoga, workshops and lots of fun on the beach. The negative side? The price of the general pass is around $ 400. If this isn’t an obstacle, keep in mind that the Envision Festival takes place in Rancho La Merced, just three hours from the capital, San José.
Ultra Trail Costa Rica
April 6 and 7, 2019
If you are one of those that can’t resist a run, even when on vacation, then this event is for you.
Arenal is one of the most visited destinations in Costa Rica and is also the place that hosts a mountain race called Ultra Trail.
Don’t let the expression “ultra” freeze you. This is an event meant for nature lovers and adventurers, runners of all levels since the run has several lengths — 80k, 45k, 21k, 10k, and 5k.
The entrance costs $ 45 and gives you access to one of the most breathtaking scenery in the region, leading you into a tropical forest environment, by the lake and with the Arenal Volcano in the background.
Juan Santamaría Day
April 11, 2019
This festival celebrates the young soldier Juan Santamaría, a national hero of Costa Rica, who died in a battle against the troops of the American colonizer William Walker, in 1856.
The celebrations take place all over the country, but it is in the city of Alajuela — where Santamaría was born, 20km from San José — that you’ll find the most popular festivities.
In the days leading up to the April 11 holiday, Alajuela hosts a series of parades, marching bands, concerts and lots of dance.
If your trip doesn’t match this date, be sure to stop by the Juan Santamaría Historical Museum in Alajuela to learn more about the story behind this soldier.
Easter
April 14-21, 2019
Easter is one of the most popular celebrations in Costa Rica and, possibly, in all of Latin America and, for that, is an exciting time to visit the country. Even if you are not a believer.
During Holy Week, most of the cities of Costa Rica organize processions on the streets, where the last days of the life of Christ are staged. You can also watch the grand processions between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. San José, Heredia, Cartago and San Joaquín de Flores are the cities that attract more visitors for this happening.
If you choose Costa Rica to spend your Easter holidays, try some of the delicacies of this season: dry cod soup, chiverre (traditional pastry), pan casero (flatbread) and rice pudding.
Carnival of Puerto Limón
October 12, 2019
It’s one of the biggest street parties in Costa Rica. Every year the port city of Limón, in the Caribbean, hosts several parades, fireworks, and concerts.
The Carnival of Puerto Limón lasts a week and pays homage to Christopher Columbus, who landed in Uvita (an island just in front of Puerto Limón) in 1502 during his exploration of the new world.
This is the ideal time to feel the entire Caribbean heritage of Costa Rica. With a large and vibrant Afro-Caribbean community, it’s natural that by this time the streets will be filled with sounds of reggae and calypso and the smell of typical Caribbean street food. And the best of all? You don’t have to pay a dime to enter the festivities.
La Ruta de los Conquistadores
October 31 to November 2, 2019
This isn’t for the faint of heart… nor of legs. La Ruta de Los Conquistadores, known just as “La Ruta,” is the leading mountain biking race held in Costa Rica.
It’s considered by many to be the most challenging in the world since participants have to pedal from the Pacific coast to the Caribbean coast … in just three days! The same course that the Spaniards, aka “los conquistadores”, took 20 years to achieve.
These 400 kilometers annually attract the best mountain bikers from around the world. If pedaling is your passion, put aside about $ 900 for registration.
Fiesta de los Diablitos
December 30, 2019 – January 2, 2020
In fact, this festival happens throughout December, but it’s in the last days that takes on greater importance.
In the city of Boruca, in the southwest of Costa Rica, the country’s most famous indigenous celebration takes place.
The event tells an alternate story of the Spanish conquest, with men wearing wooden devil masks and costumes designed to stage, through dance, the battle between the “diablitos” (indigenous) and the “bull” (Spanish troops).
On the last day of the festivities, the “devils” defeat the “bull,” which is set on fire, followed by celebrations that last all night. Want a better suggestion to welcome 2020?
Surfer Girl’s Note: This post is based on information provided by the Costa Rica Tourism Board. For more information, visit the official website — www.visitcostarica.com
Events in Costa Rica In 2019
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