Costa Rica distinguishes in law between holidays with mandatory pay and those without, and moves several of them to Monday to support domestic tourism.

How people take the days

Holy Week is the biggest break of the year: Thursday and Friday close banks, offices and much of retail, and the country moves towards Guanacaste and the Pacific.

If you're visiting

Some cantons restrict alcohol sales over Holy Week, and roads to the coast fill from the Wednesday.

If you live here

Watch the pay distinction: on a non-mandatory-pay holiday your employer may deduct the day if you don't work.

What these days actually mean

Observance, business closures and transport impact for the next few dates.

Army Abolition Day

1 Dec 2026

Public

Observance: Officially recognised as a public holiday, so most people have the day off work.
Business: Expect offices, banks and the majority of shops to be closed.
Transport: Public transport usually runs a Sunday or holiday timetable.

General guidance based on this day's official classification, not country-specific reporting.

Christmas Day

25 Dec 2026

Public

Observance: The central Christian winter feast; in most countries the household gathering matters more than the church service.
Business: Near-total closure of retail, offices and banks. Expect the preceding afternoon to shut early too.
Transport: Skeleton or suspended services in many countries. Book intercity travel well ahead.

CRCosta Rica · 2026

Bridge days worth booking

How the holiday year works in Costa Rica