Learn what Guanacaste Day celebrates, how it’s honored across Costa Rica, and why it holds special meaning in the province that chose to join the country by its own will.
If you’ve spent any time in Costa Rica during July, especially in Guanacaste, you’ve probably experienced the colorful celebrations of Guanacaste Day.
Commemorating the annexation of the Partido de Nicoya into Costa Rica in 1824, the national holiday of Guanacaste Day is observed yearly on July 25th.
At Second Street, where we help people plant roots in this beautiful and vibrant country, we see Guanacaste Day as more than a holiday—it's a celebration of Costa Rica’s enduring values: community, peace, and national pride.
The story of Guanacaste Day begins more than 200 years ago, when Central America was divided into provinces under Spanish rule. The Partido de Nicoya—what we now call Guanacaste—had significant political, social, and economic ties to both Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
By 1821, as Central America gained independence from Spain and formed the Federal Republic of Central America, Nicoya faced a decision: join Nicaragua or Costa Rica?
At the time, Nicaragua was facing political unrest, while Costa Rica offered more stability and growing trade opportunities. The people of Nicoya—especially those in the key areas of Nicoya and Santa Cruz—voted to join Costa Rica.
Their decision became official on July 25, 1824. The region proudly became Costa Rican by choice.
It’s a common phrase you’ll hear today:
Though it’s celebrated nationwide, Guanacaste Day festivities are, understandably, the most celebratory in Guanacaste province itself. Towns like Liberia, Nicoya, and Santa Cruz, come alive with signs of national pride and community spirit—often for a full week (or more!) leading up to the 25th.
Most banks, schools, government offices, and even local businesses are closed for the holiday to plan ahead!
During the Fiestas Cívicas, you can expect:
It’s festive, welcoming, and proudly Costa Rican. The holiday embodies unity and inclusivity, inviting everyone to celebrate Guanacaste’s identity and Costa Rica’s national spirit.
At Second Street, we don’t just offer home financing—we believe in Costa Rica. We believe in its spirit, its communities, and the sense of connection that defines life here.
There are plenty of places in the world with ocean views or lush rainforests, but Costa Rica offers something more.
That’s why we’re proud to work with Americans who choose to be part of Costa Rica. In many ways, that’s what Guanacaste Day is all about.
However you’re celebrating this July 25th—dancing in a plaza, enjoying tamarind juice with your neighbors, or simply appreciating Costa Rica’s diverse landscape and culture—we hope you feel the joy and history behind it.
Guanacaste chose Costa Rica in 1824. Over 200 years later, people continue to make a similar choice—drawn to the same sense of peace, natural beauty, and community.
Whatever brings you here, becoming “Costa Rican by choice” is still an option—and we’re here to help make that choice a reality.
“De la patria por nuestra voluntad” – “Part of this country by our own choice,” often translated as “Costa Rican by choice”
Guanacastecos/as – the people of Guanacaste
Las Fiestas Cívicas – local civic festivals across Costa Rica with traditional music and dancing, as well as vibrant community gatherings featuring food, crafts, and cultural activities
Corridas de Toros – Costa Rican bullfights, more like rodeos than the traditional Spanish version
“¡Feliz Día de la Anexión!” – “Happy Guanacaste Day!”
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