The Swell Show

Edition 10 · Saturday, October 24, 2026

Saturday fills up all at once

Tomorrow, Saturday, more than half of the places in the area have guests, about 2,100 people. In the last week, about 130 more places were booked for that day. Have the dining room and stock ready from early on.

Morning, line-up.

Today’s story

Saturday's hotels fill up overnight

Today, Friday the 23rd: 54% of places have guests, about 2,000 people, and almost 4 in 10 hotels have no room tonight. 1.6 m waves at 12 seconds.

Tomorrow, Saturday the 24th: almost 4 in 10 hotels have no rooms left. Yesterday it was under 3 in 10: about 20 more full hotels in a single day. In the last week, about 130 more places were booked for that Saturday.

For your business: Saturday is the peak of the week. Sunday eases, and on Monday and Tuesday 4 or 5 in 10 places in the area have guests.

What to do today

Lodging
If you still have room for Saturday, hold your rate: almost 4 in 10 hotels are already full. If you want to move something, make it Monday the 26th and Tuesday the 27th.
Restaurants
Saturday is the peak of the week: add to your orders and your floor staff. Rain is almost certain in the afternoon: have something warm for people to stay in.
Shops and services
Saturday and Sunday bring 1.5 m waves and a full area: boards, lessons and tours on display from early on.

The numbers

38%of hotels are full for Saturday. Yesterday, for the same Saturday, it was 27%: about 20 more full hotels in a single day. Late bookers can no longer find a room.
130more places were booked for Saturday in the last week: it went from 46% to 55% booked. What is still open keeps filling until the day before.
US$79is the typical nightly price of what's still open for Saturday. Same as yesterday: nobody is slashing prices to fill up.

By price

Pricier homes, again the most booked

For Saturday, more than 6 in 10 places over US$350 already have guests. Among those up to US$60, 4 in 10. On Monday they all ease, but the order holds.

Budgetup to US$60
42%
Mid-rangeUS$61 to 150
54%
UpscaleUS$151 to 350
58%
Luxuryover US$350
64%

Share of places booked for tomorrow at each nightly rate. Every place in the area, classified one by one.

What the tide brings in

  1. In Costa Rica

    September brought fewer visitors

    From January to September, 2,310,320 tourists arrived, 4.8% more than in 2025, but September alone fell 2.4%. Canada (+23.9%) and Europe (+7.3%) are pushing; the United States grew just 2.4%.

    Source: El Mundo CR

See you in the water.

How we measure · Occupancy = 1 − places free for 3 nights ÷ total inventory. It’s a ceiling: some places block dates without being booked. Sources: the main booking platforms, Open-Meteo and the Central Bank of Costa Rica. Measured October 23 at 6:00.