Best Days to Take Leave in Costa Rica 2026
Use these holiday-anchored annual leave ideas to turn a few leave days into longer breaks:
- Take Wed, Apr 1 to get 5 days off from Apr 1 to Apr 5. Uses 1 leave day; anchored by Maundy Thursday, Good Friday.
- Take Mon, Apr 6 to get 5 days off from Apr 2 to Apr 6. Uses 1 leave day; anchored by Maundy Thursday, Good Friday.
- Take Fri, Jan 2 to get 4 days off from Jan 1 to Jan 4. Uses 1 leave day; anchored by New Year's Day.
- Take Thu, Apr 30 to get 4 days off from Apr 30 to May 3. Uses 1 leave day; anchored by Labour Day.
- Take Mon, May 4 to get 4 days off from May 1 to May 4. Uses 1 leave day; anchored by Labour Day.
Costa Rica 2026 Long Weekend & Vacation Planning Guide
Discover 7 long weekend and bridge day opportunities in 2026 to maximize your annual leave:
- New Year's Day (2026-01-01, Thursday) - 4-day Bridge Weekend: Take Friday off for a 4-day extended mini-vacation (Thu–Sun)!
- Maundy Thursday (2026-04-02, Thursday) - 4-day Bridge Weekend: Take Friday off for a 4-day extended mini-vacation (Thu–Sun)!
- Good Friday (2026-04-03, Friday) - 3-day Weekend: Automatic 3-day weekend (Fri–Sun) with 0 days of leave needed!
- Labour Day (2026-05-01, Friday) - 3-day Weekend: Automatic 3-day weekend (Fri–Sun) with 0 days of leave needed!
- Independence Day (2026-09-15, Tuesday) - 4-day Bridge Weekend: Take Monday off for a 4-day long weekend getaway (Sat–Tue)!
- Army Abolition Day (2026-12-01, Tuesday) - 4-day Bridge Weekend: Take Monday off for a 4-day long weekend getaway (Sat–Tue)!
- Christmas Day (2026-12-25, Friday) - 3-day Weekend: Automatic 3-day weekend (Fri–Sun) with 0 days of leave needed!
Costa Rica Official Public Holidays 2026 Schedule
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 (2026-01-01) | Thu | New Year's Day | Public |
| Apr 2 (2026-04-02) | Thu | Maundy Thursday | Public |
| Apr 3 (2026-04-03) | Fri | Good Friday | Public |
| Apr 11 (2026-04-11) | Sat | Juan Santamaría Day | Public |
| May 1 (2026-05-01) | Fri | Labour Day | Public |
| Jul 25 (2026-07-25) | Sat | Annexation of the Party of Nicoya to Costa Rica | Public |
| Aug 2 (2026-08-02) | Sun | Feast of Our Lady of the Angels | Public |
| Aug 15 (2026-08-15) | Sat | Mother's Day | Public |
| Sep 15 (2026-09-15) | Tue | Independence Day | Public |
| Dec 1 (2026-12-01) | Tue | Army Abolition Day | Public |
| Dec 25 (2026-12-25) | Fri | Christmas Day | Public |
About Costa Rica Holidays & Observances
Costa Rica's labor code regulates mandatory paid holidays (pago obligatorio) and non-mandatory paid dates for national and cultural events. Commercial banks, government offices, schools, and financial institutions are typically closed on statutory public holidays.