5
January / February 2021
2021
Official Holidays, Observances, and Days Off in Costa Rica
Date
Day
Name
Type
01 Jan
Friday
New Year’s Day
National Holiday
19 March
Friday
Saint Joseph’s Day
Observance
02 April
Friday
Good Friday
National Holiday
11 April*
Sunday
Juan Santamaría Day
National Holiday
01 May*
Saturday
Labor Day
National Holiday
20 June
Sunday
Father’s Day
Observance
25 July*
Sunday
Guanacaste Day
National Holiday
2 Aug
Monday
Our Lady of Los Ángeles
Non-Compulsory Payment Holiday
15 Aug*
Sunday
Mother’s Day
National Holiday
24 Aug
Tuesday
National Parks Day
Observance
09 Sep
Thursday
Children’s Day
Observance
15 Sep
Wednesday
Independence Day
National Holiday
02 Nov
Tuesday
All Souls’ Day
Observance
22 Nov
Monday
Teacher’s Day
Observance
01 Dec
Wednesday
Abolition of the Army Day
Non-Compulsory Payment Holiday
08 Dec
Wednesday
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Observance
25 Dec
Saturday
Christmas Day
National Holiday
#
#
Dates followed by * indicate that an official Day Off will be taken the following Monday. Dates followed by # indicate that an official Day Off will be taken the preceding Monday.
DEFINITIONS OF HOLIDAY TERMS DAY OFF: Days designated as a “Day Off” are paid days for Costa Rican workers.
OBSERVANCES: If the date falls on a weekday, it is a paid day off for Costa Rican workers and will be celebrated on the actual date, not moved. NATIONAL HOLIDAYS: Non-essential businesses will be closed. These are paid holidays for Costa Rican workers. A worker who is required to work on a national holiday must, by law, be paid double wages. NON-COMPULSORY PAYMENT HOLIDAYS: These are official holidays, however the employer is not required to pay their employees double if they are required to work that day.
