The Swell Show

Edition 28 · Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Midweek is busier than Saturday.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, there are guests in 6 out of 10 rentals, about 2,300 people. Last Wednesday, half had guests. That's about 150 more rentals with someone in them.

Morning, line-up.

Tide alerts

  • Heads up

    The drought red alert is still on. Cóbano and Paquera have been on red alert for El Niño since October 22, and AyA asked people to save water as the dry season begins. Check for leaks and don't hose down sidewalks or patios. Source

Today’s story

The weekend starts on Friday

Today, Tuesday the 10th: 6 out of 10 rentals have guests, about 2,200 people, and 1 in 3 hotels is full. 1.4 m waves at 11 seconds and a short shower.

Tomorrow, Wednesday the 11th: the weekend of the 13th to the 15th is coming together, but the peak isn't Saturday. For Friday the 13th, more than 6 out of 10 rentals already have guests. Saturday the 14th has about 50 fewer rentals with guests, and Sunday the 15th a bit more than half.

Since Sunday, about 40 more rentals were booked for Friday and about 30 for Saturday. Compared with last weekend at this point, there are on average about 100 more rentals with guests per day. For your business, the strong days this week run from Wednesday to Friday, and Monday the 16th is the slowest.

What to do today

Lodging
Don't cut prices for Friday the 13th: it's already fuller than Saturday and keeps adding bookings. If you want to move something, make it Monday the 16th and Tuesday the 17th.
Restaurants
Schedule full staff from Wednesday to Friday, the busiest days of the week. Use Monday the 16th for deep cleaning or training.
Shops and services
Open more class and tour slots for Friday the 13th, with 1.4 m waves at 13 seconds. That day has more people than Saturday and better surf.

The numbers

+16.0%sales in the area’s restaurant sector over the last week, versus the week before.
38%of hotels are full for Wednesday. Yesterday, for Tuesday, it was 33%: almost 4 in 10 hotels full midweek.
71%of rentals for 6 people have guests on Wednesday; couples' rentals, 63%. More groups and families are coming: have big tables and sharing plates ready.

By price

Pricier places fill first

For Wednesday, 3 out of 4 rentals over US$350 already have guests; among those up to US$60, barely 1 in 3.

Budgetup to US$60
35%
Mid-rangeUS$61 to 150
59%
UpscaleUS$151 to 350
66%
Luxuryover US$350
75%

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. Around here

    Dry season starts in the North Pacific

    IMN expects the dry season to begin this week in Guanacaste and the North Pacific, with very dry conditions by the end of the month. Fewer showers and more beach days are coming: get ready for higher water use and more people outdoors.

    Source: The Tico Times

  2. In Costa Rica

    AyA asks people to save water, no rationing

    AyA asked for shorter showers, fixing leaks and not hosing down sidewalks, as the dry season begins under El Niño. It said this is a request and no rationing is planned.

    Source: The Tico Times

  3. In Costa Rica

    Costa Rica paid US$701 million more for fuel

    From January to September, the fuel import bill rose 44.8%, driven by diesel. If your business relies on freight or transfers, expect high costs through year-end.

    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 10 at 6:00.