Costa Rica Public Holidays

Discover upcoming public holiday dates for Costa Rica and start planning to make the most of your time off.

2025 Public Holidays

Date	Day	Holiday
1 Jan	Wed	New Year's Day
11 Apr	Fri	Juan Santamaria Day
17 Apr	Thu	Maundy Thursday
18 Apr	Fri	Good Friday
1 May	Thu	Labour Day
25 Jul	Fri	Guanacaste Day
2 Aug	Sat	Lady of the Angels Day
15 Aug	Fri	Assumption Day
15 Aug	Fri	Mother's Day
31 Aug	Sun	Day of the Black Person and Afro-Costa Rican Culture
15 Sep	Mon	Independence Day
1 Dec	Mon	Abolition of the Army
25 Dec	Thu	Christmas Day

2026 Public Holidays

Date	Day	Holiday
1 Jan	Thu	New Year's Day
2 Apr	Thu	Maundy Thursday
3 Apr	Fri	Good Friday
11 Apr	Sat	Juan Santamaria Day
1 May	Fri	Labour Day
25 Jul	Sat	Guanacaste Day
2 Aug	Sun	Lady of the Angels Day
15 Aug	Sat	Assumption Day
15 Aug	Sat	Mother's Day
6 Sep	Sun	Day of the Black Person and Afro-Costa Rican Culture
15 Sep	Tue	Independence Day
1 Dec	Tue	Abolition of the Army
25 Dec	Fri	Christmas Day

2027 Public Holidays

Date	Day	Holiday
1 Jan	Fri	New Year's Day
25 Mar	Thu	Maundy Thursday
26 Mar	Fri	Good Friday
11 Apr	Sun	Juan Santamaria Day
1 May	Sat	Labour Day
25 Jul	Sun	Guanacaste Day
2 Aug	Mon	Lady of the Angels Day
15 Aug	Sun	Assumption Day
15 Aug	Sun	Mother's Day
31 Aug	Tue	Day of the Black Person and Afro-Costa Rican Culture
15 Sep	Wed	Independence Day
1 Dec	Wed	Abolition of the Army
25 Dec	Sat	Christmas Day

Many Costa Rican public holidays are based on cultural and religious traditions. As a predominately Catholic country, the majority of private and public businesses are closed for two weeks during Easter Holy week and the following week. This is known as Semana Santa. In addition to Easter weeks, the majority of businesses, banks and public offices are closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

According to Costa Rica’s Labor Code, employees are entitled to eight paid holidays per year. Employees may be entitled to paid days off for additional holidays and national or religious observances including Columbus Day, All Souls’ Day, Feast of the Immaculate Conception and New Year’s Eve. These holidays and observances are allowed at the discretion of the employer according to terms set forth in an employment contract or union bargaining agreement. If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, he or she will be compensated at a rate equal to double the normal salary.