The Swell Show

Edition 17 · Saturday, October 31, 2026

Saturday keeps filling up.

Tomorrow, Saturday, almost 6 in 10 places have guests, about 2,200 people. It's the busiest day since we started measuring in mid-October. In the last week, about 150 more places were booked for that day.

Morning, line-up.

Tide alerts

  • Heads up

    Gas goes up as soon as it's published. ARESEP approved the increase: regular goes to ₡808 per liter, ₡89 more than today. It takes effect the day after it's published in La Gaceta: if you run a work vehicle or transfers, fill up today. Source

  • Heads up

    Drought red alert still on. Cóbano and Paquera remain on red alert for El Niño, declared on October 22. Check for leaks and go easy on water, even if next week brings rain.

  • Heads up

    The Cambronero bridge reopens. Route 1 between San Ramón and Esparza, the way to the Puntarenas ferry, reopens on Tuesday the 3rd at noon. Let anyone driving in from San José next week know. Source

Today’s story

How the weekend wraps up

Today, Friday the 30th: almost 6 in 10 places have guests, about 2,100 people, and almost 4 in 10 hotels have no room left tonight.

Tomorrow, Saturday the 31st: the peak of the weekend. In a single day, about 20 more hotels filled up for Saturday, and what little is left isn't being slashed.

Then it drops. On Monday the 2nd about 190 fewer places have guests than on Saturday, and it rains every day from Sunday to Thursday. For your business: full staff on Saturday; from Monday, fill the gaps.

What to do today

Lodging
Don't drop your Saturday rate: about 20 more hotels filled up in a single day. Whatever you still have open, offer it for Monday the 2nd or Tuesday the 3rd.
Restaurants
Full staff and extra stock on Saturday: it's the busiest day of the weekend. Rain starts on Sunday: have something good for an afternoon indoors.
Shops and services
Saturday looks almost dry with 1.5 m waves. It's the best day for lessons and board rentals before a rainy week.

The numbers

39%of hotels are full for Saturday. Yesterday, for the same Saturday, it was 28%: about 20 more hotels with no room in a single day.
US$98is the typical nightly price of what's still open for Saturday. Yesterday, for the same Saturday, it was US$93: what little is left isn't being slashed.
190fewer places have guests on Monday the 2nd than on Saturday. Monday has guests in less than half the area: that's the gap to fill.

By price

Places over US$151 lead the way

For Saturday, more than 6 in 10 places over US$151 already have guests. Budget places, up to US$60, have guests in less than half.

Budgetup to US$60
46%
Mid-rangeUS$61 to 150
56%
UpscaleUS$151 to 350
62%
Luxuryover US$350
65%

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

    The Cambronero bridge reopens

    The Route 1 bridge between San Ramón and Esparza, closed since September 7 after a truck hit it, reopens on Tuesday, November 3 at noon. It's the route from San José to the Puntarenas ferry.

    Source: The Tico Times

  2. Around the world

    First class on three routes to Costa Rica

    JetBlue is adding its new first-class cabin on Fort Lauderdale–Liberia from December 26, and on Fort Lauderdale–San José and New York–Liberia from January 5. More nonstop options for the high season.

    Source: The Tico Times

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 30 at 6:00.