Costa Rica attracts international celebrities as a paradise retreat
Actors, singers, political leaders, high-level athletes and content creators are seduced by the beauty of our beaches, mountains and outdoor activities to escape the routine and media spotlight in their home countries
Costa Rica is increasingly attracting various international personalities from the worlds of film, sports, politics, and entertainment, who see the country's privacy, nature, sustainability, the charisma of its people, and wellness tourism as reasons to choose the destination for their vacations and relaxation.
Actors such as the famous Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Dr. Strange in the Avengers film saga, the daughter of the American president, Ivanka Trump and her family, or the former basketball player Michael Jordan, to name a few, are part of the celebrities who have visited our country recently, along with an outstanding list that adds more than 40 celebrities between 2024 and 2025, according to a compilation made by the ICT, which also includes actresses Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman, Snow White), Alicia Silvestone (Clueless, Batman and Robin), actors Christian Bale (Batman saga), Tom Welling (Superman in the television series Smallville), Morgan Freeman, (Unforgiven, Almighty) Kevin Hart (Jumanji), singer Shawn Mendes, among many others.
The activities they promote on their social media platforms, primarily TikTok and Instagram, and which are replicated by international media outlets, range from sport fishing to surfing lessons, sunset on the beach, Costa Rican wildlife, and exposure to local culture and communities. The main areas visited are Tamarindo, Nosara, and Papagayo in Guanacaste; Santa Teresa de Cóbano in Puntarenas; La Fortuna in Alajuela; and Puerto Viejo in Limón, among others.
For the Minister of Tourism, William Rodríguez:
"The presence of these celebrities validates Costa Rica's positioning in our key markets and our ongoing promotional efforts, as well as a solid tourism platform for all segments, including celebrities, who choose Costa Rica as their vacation destination for the high-quality services offered, the unique experience amidst its nature, the wide range of outdoor activities, and the atmosphere of security and trust that inspires them to come and visit us."
According to the ICT Marketing Department, when celebrities and famous people visit our country and share their experience on social media, the value of those posts is enormous, not only because it allows their followers to learn about their experiences firsthand, but also because if a direct approach to each of them were established, the cost would be extremely high and there would be no possibility of covering it. However, when celebrities do it in a natural and organic way, it has an even greater value.
The more experiences and information they share with their followers on social media, the more it becomes a high-level promotion for the country. The combination of nature and privacy attracts these celebrities, who choose our country for honeymoons, romantic getaways, or family vacations, and many of them leave with such a positive impression that they even return to Costa Rica.
In the ICT marketing department, respect for the privacy and privacy of celebrities is encouraged, as this type of promotion enhances Costa Rica's tourism image worldwide, along with its natural wealth, the quality of service offered, and its diverse tourism platform, as well as attractions capable of pleasing and providing unique experiences to these celebrities who visit us voluntarily.
Remarkable positive image impact
When analyzing follower data on the Instagram profiles of at least 10 celebrities who have visited us during 2025, the combined potential audience is more than 91 million people on Instagram and 6.5 million more including Tik Tok.
As an additional example, a post made by Canadian-born singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes during his visit to Costa Rica on his Instagram profile garnered more than 780,000 likes.
In the case of 2024, globally, the audience or number of potential followers reached on Instagram rose to 1.2 billion people, based on the profiles of more than 30 personalities who visited the country for tourism, as well as 200 million followers on TikTok.
Actress Alicia Silverstone posted four times on her TikTok profile, reaching over 2 million people, during her visit in 2024.
These types of publications are considered a complement to the ongoing promotional strategies implemented by the country and the ICT, with a highly positive impact.
Source: ICT.