Semana Santa or Holy Week is the perfect time to NOT Come to Costa Rica. Those who do not understand Latin America culture are often surprised when planning a trip around Easter. From a Costa Rican perspective Semana Santa is sort of like Christmas and Spring Break rolled into one vacation package. Expect to see long lines at restaurants, hard to book hotels at tourists destinations, traffic jams of epic proportions, and most importantly a lot of girls on vacation.
[rau]
The result is that San Jose is a ghost town with little or no talent among the bars and massage parlors for at least three days. Also, the general level of talent in San Jose drops off for two weeks. Normally, the sale of alcohol will be totally banned for two days in an effort to limit the partying of the locals.
[rau]
Joining the party at the beach is also a bad idea for those who lack roots in the country. The lone gentleman tourist at the beach during Holy Week is clueless and NOT cool. Girls will be with their “real” boyfriends, husbands or at least their family.