Travel Costa Rica this Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa and New Year’s for a unique 2019 holiday season

Imagine celebrating the holiday festivities in a relaxed tropical paradise where the sunshine is plentiful. With a rental car, you have an opportunity to sample Costa Rica’s cultural celebrations, as well as snorkeling, ziplining, or relaxing on the beach.

Where to go in Costa Rica during this holiday season 

The northern beaches of Guanacaste are some of the most unspoiled in the country. Leatherback sea turtles nest in large numbers at Playa Grande, north of Tamarindo, through mid-February. The area is served by several top-class boutique hotels. Guanacaste’s dry tropical forests stand in stark contrast to the lush rain and cloud forests of the rest of the country. Life here is more isolated and moves at a slower pace. If you plan to travel to the Guanacaste coast, rent a 4WD as the roads, while passable, reflect the remote nature of the area.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is an excellent opportunity to sample Costa Rica’s famed biodiversity. Straddling the Continental Divide, the cloud forest is known for its micro ecological habitats. Birds, monkeys, sloths, and more live in the cloud forests that are home to numerous plant species. Again, this is another area where it pays to have a 4WD rental car.

Tortuguero, on the northern Caribbean coast, is a network of jungle, waterways, and wild beaches that become nesting sites for green, leatherback, hawksbill, and loggerhead sea turtles. Boat, kayak, or canoe tours are an excellent way to explore the local landscape. Bird watching is another popular activity here.

The beauty of having a rental car is that you can travel to different areas of the country to take in the country’s festivals.

Major holiday celebrations

If you plan to start or end your Christmas vacation in San Jose, there are several important holiday celebrations in and around the city. Elsewhere, there are plenty of local festivities to enjoy.

• Festival de la Luz or Festival of Lights is the second Saturday in December, in San Jose. The light parade, including white floats, marks the beginning of the official start of the holiday season. A massive firework show follows the processions.
• Las Posadas begins Dec. 15. Across Costa Rica, children go from house to house, caroling and re-enacting the Holy Family’s efforts to find shelter in Bethlehem.
• El Tope Nacional de Caballos, in San Jose Dec. 26, is a parade of riders from across Costa Rica demonstrating their horsemanship. Also included are Sarchi’s renowned hand-painted oxcarts.
• Also, in San Jose, Dec. 27, is the National Carnival, a festive parade of floats, marching bands, street dancers, and more.
• Las Fiestas de Zapote runs Dec. 25 – 31 in the San Jose suburb of Zapote. This is one of the biggest carnivals in Costa Rica. Highlights include bullfights, carnival rides, and “fair food.”
• New Year’s Day celebrations throughout Costa Rica are typified by street parties, with music and dancing. At midnight, many areas have firework displays.

For the best chance for the perfect holiday vacation in Costa Rica, book soon and be flexible with your dates. The Hannukah/Kwanzaa/Christmas/New Year’s holidays are a busy time for hotels, tours, and rental cars. If you can be flexible with timing, such as going early or staying longer, you’re more likely to have the holiday season of your dreams. Contact us for help in booking your rental car.