Costa Rica is probably already high on your travel list … but if not, it's time to change that. And if you still need convincing, this is your sign: We're noticing an emerging trend of cheap flights, easy-to-book award tickets, and super luxurious hotels bookable using points, too.
While Costa Rica is no stranger to affordable flights, things keep getting better and better – even from smaller cities that don't typically benefit from cheap fares. From coast to coast, we've found and sent flight deal alerts to our Thrifty Traveler Premium members from more than 200 airports across the U.S. – including mind-blowing fares from airports like Indianapolis (IND), Rochester, New York (ROC), Tallahassee (TLH), all for under $300 roundtrip!
We've also found and sent deals from dozens of other U.S. airports under $399 roundtrip. And deals using your Delta SkyMiles and American AAdvantage miles (and other points, too) to fly down to San Jose (SJO) or Liberia (LIR) this fall or winter as well.
This trend of cheap flights to Costa Rica has became undeniable. But what we didn't expect was that some of the most luxurious hotels in Costa Rica would become bookable using Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott points this year, too. These five-star hotels are typically go for $2,000 or more … but we've sent our hotel alerts subscribers a handful of alerts to book them for nothing out of pocket by using points instead!
You shouldn't need a great deal to want to travel to Costa Rica … but it doesn't hurt. This Central American hotspot is a true paradise. You can spend a few days forest bathing, hiking, and ziplining through the jungle to see the monkeys before heading to some of the best beaches in the world to unwind.
It was one of my favorite trips ever, and if you don't book some of these deals for yourself, I just might have to return …
Cheap Flights to Costa Rica (with Cash or Points & Miles)
So, why are flights to Costa Rica so cheap? If it's so great, doesn't everyone want to go? Wouldn't all that demand drive up prices?
While demand to Costa Rica is still strong, the supply is what is cratering flight prices.
With all the buzz surrounding Costa Rica over the past five years, airlines have been aggressively adding new flights to Costa Rica, hoping to be the one that takes you there.
The end result? Between December 2019 and December 2025, there has been a 55% increase in seats flying from the U.S. to Costa Rica! It's the second highest increase in Latin America (only Colombia saw a bigger increase), and this is the primary reason why we've seen so many unbelievably cheap fares post-pandemic.
Fares like these…
But here's a word of warning: There's no way these lowest fares are going to last much longer. The airlines have all hinted at scaling back their capacity (all over the world) – and that will likely include at least some Costa Rica flying. So the best bet for snagging a cheap flight might be still this year or early next.
If you wait another year to finally book that Costa Rica trip, not only will you be a year older when you finally do, but you might miss out on prices like this.
The same over-supply capacity issue is creating historically good availability to use points and miles to fly to SJO and LIR, too. Check out these rates on Delta's nonstop flights to Liberia and San Jose, for instance.
This deal was bookable with Delta's own SkyMiles program, but you could also get even better rates when transferring points to Air France/KLM Flying Blue to book the same flights!
If you're more of an American Airlines flyer, you're in luck: American charges even better rates on roundtrip flights to Costa Rica! From coast to coast, you could snag a 16,000-mile roundtrip fare to Costa Rica using American AAdvantage miles.
Even smaller airports like Birmingham, Alabama (BHM) benefitted from this 16,000-mile fare. The $84 in taxes and fees are a small price to pay for these quick flights to paradise!
Again, with the airlines looking to cull their capacity, the likelihood of deals like this popping up next year are dwindling. If you're on the fence, this is the year to do it!
How to Book $2,000 Hotels from 25K Points Per Night
This is the most unexpected development: Some of the nicest hotels in Costa Rica have become bookable with hotel points over the past few weeks and months.
The latest hotel deal alert we sent out was for the brand new Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique – which just opened in April. To book even the cheapest room at this resort, you'll need to shell out $1,600 per night … at least.
The five-star resort has a beach, guided hikes, paddle boarding, and more. Best of all, it's just a short 40-minute drive from Liberia (LIR) airport.
All of it could be yours for just 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night (or just 60,000 Amex points with that tasty 1:2 transfer ratio!) The day we found this availability for 120,000 Hilton points, the lowest cash rate was $2,300, making this a great use of Hilton points.
If you're more of a Marriott person, flush with Bonvoy points, how about the Riz-Carlton Reserve? Another new property, the Ritz just opened on the Peninsula Papagayo Reserve with its white sand beaches by the Pacific.
The hotels' spa, pools, hiking, and an Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course are all accompanied by six different on-site dining options – all for just 128,000 Marriott points per night – a far cry from the $1,600 they want for the same rooms when paying cash.
Finally, we also found some love for our World of Hyatt members, who were alerted to availability to book the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort.
The Andaz is bookable from just 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night, topping out at 35,000 points per night on peak dates. It's the best value overall for another hotel costing travelers more than $1,000 a night.
The hotel has everything that its peers do, including spas, golf, and access to mountain biking, zip lining, and other watersports, too. It's just about 30-45 minutes from LIR airport, too.
Bottom Line
You heard it here first: This is the year to visit Costa Rica.
Whether it's a getaway this fall or this coming winter, take advantage of a huge uptick in airline capacity to snag the cheapest flights using cash or points and miles.
Plus, if you have hotel points to spare, you might be able to book a brand new luxury resort for next to nothing, too.
