Recently updated on June 16th, 2025 at 04:32 pm
Spend Christmas in Costa Rica for an exciting and enriching experience like no festive season you’ve had before. The Central American country might be better known for its wild jungles and exotic wildlife, but the primarily Roman Catholic locals love to celebrate the religious holiday. Costa Rica has its own unique Christmas traditions and Christmas foods that you can only experience and taste if you visit in December. Here’s our six reasons why you should fly to Costa Rica for Christmas.
1. It’s a sunny holiday-season escape
December is the start of Costa Rica’s dry season, making it perfect weather for exploring and hiking. Average temperature in coastal areas is around 30°C (86°F), while in the mountains, it’s 18-22°C (64-72°F). Say goodbye to a shivering, frosty Christmas and welcome the warmth of the sun as you celebrate the holiday season on sandy beaches under clear, blue skies.
2. Landscapes you’ll never forget
Costa Rica is a gift that keeps on giving when it comes to natural beauty. From lush rainforest canopies to majestic volcanic peaks, pristine beaches and tropical lagoons, this little paradise has so many incredible landscapes to explore.
Trafalgar’s two tours to Costa Rica differ slightly in the landscapes you’ll unlock. Both are 8-day adventures that start in San José and venture into Tortuguero National Park. Meaning ‘turtle catcher’, this archipelago of volcanic islands where freshwater meets the sea is filled with lagoons, canals, wetlands and beaches where several species of turtle make their nest. On both tours you’ll learn all about the biodiversity of the region at a remote Eco-lodge only accessible by boat.
Towards the end of both tours, their paths go separate ways. On Monkeys, Jungles and Volcanoes you’ll head to Manuel Antonio National Park, renowned for its warm blue waters, beautiful beaches and abundant exotic wildlife soundtracking your visit – whooping howler monkeys and chattering mischievous squirrels filling the air. Choose from boat trips through sprawling mangroves, kayak tours to tiny islands, a catamaran ride along the coast with snorkeling, and even surf lessons!
On Costa Rica Eco Adventure you’ll go to Monteverde instead, an evergreen canopy of lush ‘Cloud Forests’ and dense jungle thickets. Here you can take a ‘Sky Walk’ atop a chain of six suspension bridges at canopy level with complete views of the forest. You’ll discover a completely different ecosystem that can only be found at the highest points of trees. A naturalist guide will point out intriguing plant and animal life, so you won’t miss out on any amazing details these forests offer. You can also visit a coffee and sugar farm, go horseback riding through the plantations and forest, and zipline along the forest too.
3. Enjoy the festive spirit of another culture
In December and January, Costa Ricans celebrate Christmas with a whole fair of fiestas, parades, rodeos, bull runs, street parties and dance festivals. Festivities kick off with the vibrant, loud and dazzling Festival de la Luz in San Jose on the second week of December. A major parade strides from Paseo Colon to El Parque de la Democracia, with more than 1500 musicians and volunteers making the spectacle one to remember.
GET INSPIRED BY: Monkeys, jungles and volcanoes Trafalgar tour
4. See how Costa Ricans decorate
Costa Ricans like to decorate their houses with stunning tropical flowers at Christmas time. They make wreaths using cypress branches and decorate them with red coffee berries and colourful ribbons. And, of course, they like to dress their houses, shops and towns with plenty of sparkling festive lights too.
Most Costa Ricans also create a nativity scene, called the pasito or portal. These scenes are built by the whole family and include traditional figures – Jesus, Mary, Joseph, wise men – plus often houses and animals too. Offerings such as fresh fruits and small toys are placed in front of the nativity scene.
RELATED CONTENT: 6 ways to live the Pura Vida lifestyle with Trafalgar in Costa Rica
5. Close encounters with wildlife
A family vacation in Costa Rica promises more than just beautiful landscapes. Say hello to nature’s wonders up close as you encounter sloths, playful monkeys, colorful birds, and other fascinating creatures in the country’s numerous national parks and reserves. You have so many opportunities to enjoy MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences on both Trafalgar tours:
In Sarapiqui, discover the family-run Snake garden wildlife center, and help support a local community and the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. Look out for the nesting sea turtles in Tortuguero National Park while you cruise along its natural canals, as well as the monkeys in the treetops, toucans and egres flying through the air, and crocodiles sunbathing from afar.
On Costa Rica Eco Adventure you’ll have the chance to go to Arenal National Park‘s Ecological Park. This includes an adorable frog sanctuary, bird watching, a serpentarium (home to different species of snakes found in Costa Rica), a reptile lagoon (to observe crocodiles) and a heliconia garden.
6. Thrilling adventures for all ages
Adventurers young and old will find their perfect playground in Costa Rica. The land of pura vida offers a wide range of exhilarating activities. We spoke about the Skywalk in Monteverde, where you walk on bridges suspended above the rainforest canopy. How about the Skytrek – a series of 10 ziplines atop the rainforest canopy that provide the ultimate adrenaline rush. You could also ride the waves with some glorious Pacific surf, go horseback riding through open fields and tropical forests, and for the real thrill seekers… There’s the option to go White Water Rafting on Costa Rica Eco Adventure. You’ll go on a class II and III river and navigate nearly 13 km (over 8 miles), a great introduction for first-time paddlers and families interested in a fun, wet rollercoaster ride. Get ready for an action-packed Christmas!
7. Receive gifts from Niño Dios
In Costa Rica there is still excitement in the air for the arrival of gifts at Christmas. The difference here is that it’s usually Niño dios (Child God, meaning Jesus) or Colacho (another name for St. Nicholas) that brings presents to good boys and girls. Most families only place a baby Jesus figurine in their nativity scene on the night before Christmas. This is the time when he brings gifts to the children!
GET INSPIRED BY: Costa Rica Eco Adventure
8. Head to midnight mass followed by a feast
Everyone puts on their best clothes and heads to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. In Costa Rica, the Misa de Gallo (mass of the rooster) is followed by the main Christmas feast. Expect an extravagant spread of delicious local dishes! Traditional Costa Rican Christmas food includes chicken and pork tamales cooked in plantain leaves, roast pork with rice or mashed potato and pastries. That’s followed by tres leches cake for dessert and plenty of eggnog and rum punch to wash it down.
RELATED CONTENT: How to eat like a local in Costa Rica
9. Family-oriented accommodations
Rest assured, Costa Rica has your family’s comfort in mind. Family-friendly resorts and eco-lodges are abundant, catering to your specific needs. One of our favorites is your Arenal accommodation, where the hotel boasts natural hot springs where you can relax and take in the surrounding volcanic landscape. Another stunning spot is the eco-lodge in Tortuguero, only accessibly by boat, surrounded by ancient mangroves and lush wetlands. Enjoy quality family time in these cozy accommodations, available on both tours, while surrounded by the Costa Rica’s natural beauty.
10. Create new traditions
A Christmas spent in Costa Rica paves the way for new family traditions. Embrace the Pura Vida lifestyle as you relax on pristine beaches and delight in thrilling adventures. In this tropical paradise, you can create memories that will bind your family together and endure for generations to come. Maybe this unique Christmas experience could open the door to a new family tradition?
Break free from the ordinary in enchanting landscapes, tropical weather, rich biodiversity, and a welcoming culture. Costa Rica is the perfect place to celebrate the holiday season. Whether this becomes a yearly tradition or a once-in-a-lifetime trip, Costa Rica for Christmas is family vacation you won’t forget.
11. The fun doesn’t stop on Christmas Day
On December 26 the Tope Nacional de Caballos horseback parade is one of the most important Costa Rica Christmas traditions. Here skilled horsemen from across the country head to the capital to parade their majestic horses in this national event. Wearing specially designed cowboy outfits, riders lead their horses through fancy steps to impress big crowds. Keep an eye out for hand-painted traditional oxen carts too.
The following day many towns and cities kick off Carnaval with huge colourful floats, costumed dancers, big rhythmic bands and parades. Stay in San Jose for the biggest fiesta where the parade runs along the main avenues of Avenida Segundo and Paseo Colón.
Costa Ricans celebrate Christmas until January 6 with the feast of the three kings, the day it is said the wise men greeted baby Jesus.
Have you experienced Christmas in Costa Rica or somewhere in South America? What makes you want to visit? Let us know in the comments…