The Swell Show

Edition 25 · Sunday, November 8, 2026

Sunday holds up almost like Saturday.

Tomorrow, Sunday, there are guests in 6 out of 10 rentals, about 2,200 people. That's almost the same as today, Saturday. In six days, about 150 more rentals were booked for that day.

Morning, line-up.

Tide alerts

  • Heads up

    Today brings the heaviest downpours of the week. About 84 mm of rain is expected today, Saturday, and the CNE is keeping the green alert for the whole country. Check gutters and drains, and ask your guests to drive in daylight. Source

  • Heads up

    The red drought alert is still on. Cóbano and Paquera have been under a red alert for El Niño since October 22. This week's rain doesn't lift it: check for leaks and save water.

Today’s story

Sunday doesn't empty out

Today, Saturday the 7th: there are guests in 6 out of 10 rentals, about 2,300 people, and 4 out of 10 hotels are full. It's the wettest day of the week, with about 84 mm of rain.

Tomorrow, Sunday the 8th: the area barely drops. There are guests in 6 out of 10 rentals, about 2,200 people, almost the same as today. A week ago, this same Sunday had guests in half the area.

For your business: work Sunday like a Saturday. Monday the 9th drops to 55%, and the rest of the week is steady, between 55% and 60%.

What to do today

Lodging
If Sunday is still open at your place, don't discount it today. People keep booking at the last minute: about 150 rentals came in over six days.
Restaurants
Tomorrow, Sunday, staff up like a Saturday, because almost as many people are here. Today brings downpours, but the heat stays: have covered tables ready and the drinks ice-cold.
Shops and services
Today, offer indoor plans for the afternoon. Tomorrow, Sunday, brings 1.6 m waves and much less rain: have boards and lessons ready early.

The numbers

+5.1%sales in the area’s restaurant sector over the last week, versus the week before. Saturday the 31st to Friday the 6th; the previous week they had grown 10.5%.
35%of hotels are full for Sunday. Yesterday, for Saturday, it was 40%: about 8 fewer hotels with no room. Hotels still live off Saturday.
US$105is the typical nightly price of what's still open for Sunday. Yesterday, for Saturday, it was US$98: what's left for tomorrow hasn't gotten cheaper.

By price

The pricey places fill first

For Sunday, 7 out of 10 rentals over US$350 already have guests. Among those up to US$60, fewer than half.

Budgetup to US$60
47%
Mid-rangeUS$61 to 150
58%
UpscaleUS$151 to 350
63%
Luxuryover US$350
71%

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

    Tropical depression risk drops, but the rain doesn't

    The US National Hurricane Center lowered to 40% the chance that the low off the Pacific becomes a tropical depression; on Wednesday it was 60%. The CNE green alert remains for the whole country, and Pacific soils are 80% to 90% saturated.

    Source: The Tico Times

  2. In Costa Rica

    The dollar hovers around ₡450

    The Monex average closed Thursday the 5th at ₡450.26, 9.4% below January 2. If you charge in dollars and pay in colones, every rate stretches less: review your prices in colones.

    Source: The Tico Times

  3. Around the world

    The first direct flight from Poland arrives

    A LOT plane from Katowice landed in Liberia on Thursday the 5th with 251 passengers; there will be a flight every Thursday through December 17. Between January and September, 5,367 Polish visitors arrived by air, 20% more than in 2025.

    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 November 7 at 6:00.