Canada Teams Up With US and More in Propelling Costa Rica Tourism as North American Arrivals Surge Through August 2026

Costa Rica recorded strong tourism growth from its major North American markets during the first eight months of 2026, led by a 24.1% increase in visitors from Canada. Arrivals from the United States rose 2.7%, while Mexico recorded 7.6% growth, reinforcing North America’s importance to Costa Rica’s international tourism market. Overall, the country received 2,191,432 stopover visitors through August 2026, up 5.3% from 2,081,983 during the same period in 2025.

North America Drives Costa Rica Tourism Growth

North America remained at the heart of Costa Rica’s visitor economy through August 2026. The United States continued to dominate international arrivals, while Canada recorded the fastest growth among the three main North American source markets. Mexico also posted a solid increase, meaning all three markets delivered more visitors than during the corresponding period of 2025.

Together, the United States, Canada and Mexico generated 1,535,026 stopover visitors between January and August 2026, compared with 1,452,367 during the same period last year. That represents an increase of 82,659 visitors, or about 5.7%. The three markets accounted for approximately 70.1% of all Costa Rica’s stopover visitors during the period.

Canada Leads North American Growth With 24.1% Surge

Canada delivered the strongest percentage increase among Costa Rica’s three main North American markets. Canadian arrivals reached 232,949 through August 2026, compared with 187,781 during the same eight months of 2025. This represents growth of 24.1%, adding 45,168 visitors year on year.

Canada’s share of Costa Rica’s stopover market also increased significantly, rising from 9% in 2025 to 10.6% in 2026. The figures show that Canada not only generated substantially more visitors but also increased its importance within Costa Rica’s overall international tourism mix.

United States Remains Costa Rica’s Largest Visitor Market

The United States remained Costa Rica’s dominant international source market by a wide margin. The country received 1,232,794 US visitors through August 2026, compared with 1,200,185 during the same period in 2025. That represents an increase of 2.7%, or 32,609 additional visitors.

Despite the increase in visitor numbers, the US share of total stopover arrivals slipped from 57.6% in 2025 to 56.3% in 2026. The decline in market share does not mean fewer Americans travelled to Costa Rica. Instead, other source markets grew at a faster pace, reducing the proportional US share of the overall total.

Mexico Adds Momentum With 7.6% Increase

Mexico provided another source of growth for Costa Rica. Arrivals from the country reached 69,283 through August 2026, compared with 64,401 during the corresponding period last year. The increase of 4,882 visitors represents growth of 7.6%.

Mexico’s share of Costa Rica’s stopover arrivals edged upwards from 3.1% to 3.2%. Although its total remains considerably smaller than those of the United States and Canada, Mexico’s growth further strengthened Costa Rica’s performance across its major North American markets.

North American Tourist Arrivals to Costa Rica Through August 2026

Seven in Every 10 Costa Rica Visitors Come From These Three Markets

The scale of the North American market becomes clearer when the three countries are considered together. The United States, Canada and Mexico supplied approximately 70.1% of Costa Rica’s total stopover visitors through August 2026, or roughly seven in every 10 arrivals.

Their combined visitor numbers increased by about 5.7%, slightly faster than Costa Rica’s overall stopover growth of 5.3%. Canada contributed the largest absolute increase among the three, adding 45,168 visitors, followed by the United States with 32,609 and Mexico with 4,882.

Costa Rica Reaches 2.19 Million Stopover Visitors

Costa Rica recorded 2,191,432 stopover visitors from all international markets through August 2026, compared with 2,081,983 during the same period of 2025. This represents growth of 5.3%, equivalent to 109,449 additional visitors.

Of that overall increase, the United States, Canada and Mexico together accounted for 82,659 additional visitors. This means North America’s three principal markets contributed a substantial share of Costa Rica’s net visitor growth during the first eight months of the year.

North America Remains Central to Costa Rica’s 2026 Tourism Performance

The latest figures leave Costa Rica with a larger international stopover market than it had at the same point in 2025, with North America playing a central role in that growth. The United States remains overwhelmingly the largest source market, Canada has recorded the strongest percentage increase among the three major North American markets, and Mexico continues to expand.

With more than 1.53 million visitors from the United States, Canada and Mexico through August, North America remains crucial to Costa Rica’s tourism performance. Data for the remaining months of 2026 will show whether this growth continues through the end of the year.