COSTA RICA · EL NIÑO DROUGHT
Key Facts
- —The country Costa Rica is a Central American country of beaches and rainforest, popular with US visitors and expats.
- —Why it matters The red zone covers most of Guanacaste, home to Liberia airport and Pacific beaches that US visitors use.
- —Why now The national emergency agency (CNE) widened its alerts on Thursday 22 October 2026 as El Niño strengthened.
- —What happened CNE put 10 Guanacaste cantons, three Puntarenas districts and 12 nautical miles of Pacific sea under red alert.
- —The numbers Rain from January to September ran 43% below normal in the north Pacific and 63% below in Cañas.
- —What it means for you No travel ban is known; the public is asked to save water and electricity.
- —Still open Whether tourist areas face water cuts, and how long El Niño keeps the north Pacific dry.
- —Power Index Costa Rica ranks 9th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 36.5 points (October 2026 edition).
A Costa Rica red alert now covers most of Guanacaste, the Nicoya Peninsula and 12 nautical miles of Pacific sea, the national emergency agency CNE decided on Thursday 22 October 2026. The agency says a very strong El Niño left rain from January to September 43% below normal in the north Pacific.
In Plain English
- El Niño: a warming of the central Pacific Ocean that shifts rainfall across whole regions.
- CNE: Costa Rica’s national emergency agency, which sets the colour-coded alert levels.
- Canton: a county-sized local government area; Costa Rica’s provinces are split into cantons.
- Guanacaste: the north Pacific province around Liberia, with many beach towns and cattle farms.
- Red alert: the response level, above orange (mobilisation) and yellow (preparation).
For US readers the first question is travel, and none of the coverage reviewed announces closed beaches, hotels or airports. The alert is a status that tells public bodies to act, and CNE asked them to strengthen their contingency plans.
The red zone includes Liberia, the capital of Guanacaste Province, and the coastal cantons of Santa Cruz, Carrillo and La Cruz. United Airlines starts a Dulles to Liberia nonstop on 17 December, as we reported in United Flies Dulles to Costa Rica From 17 December.
What the Costa Rica Red Alert Means
CNE uses colours to rank its alerts: yellow means preparation, orange means mobilisation and red means response. Red is the highest of those three levels.
CNE president Alejandro Picado said the agency raised the alert level for 71 cantons in total. He asked the public to avoid wasting water, check for leaks and use electricity responsibly.
CNE stressed that the alerts respond to meteorological drought and uneven rain, so not every area faces the same conditions. It asked public bodies, emergency committees and risk-management groups to strengthen their contingency plans and watch essential services and productive activities.
Where the Alert Applies
The red alert covers 10 Guanacaste cantons: Abangares, Bagaces, Cañas, Carrillo, Hojancha, La Cruz, Liberia, Nandayure, Nicoya and Santa Cruz. It also covers the Puntarenas districts of Paquera, Cóbano and Lepanto.
For the first time the alert reaches 12 nautical miles of Pacific sea, about 22 kilometres (14 miles), along the whole Pacific coast. Picado said the step was taken because of the impact on fishing, which hits fishing families directly.
The orange alert, for mobilisation, covers 13 areas: Tilarán, Puntarenas, Esparza, Montes de Oro, Monteverde, Orotina, San Mateo, Garabito, Parrita, Quepos, Dota, Tarrazú and León Cortés. The yellow alert, for preparation, covers 48 areas that include San José, Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago in the Central Valley, and Pérez Zeledón, Golfito and Osa in the south.
How Dry the Pacific Has Been
From January to September, rain fell 43% below normal in the north Pacific, 37% in the central Pacific, 27% in the south Pacific and 20% in the Central Valley. In Cañas, in Guanacaste, the shortfall reached 63%.
The pattern is uneven, because the north Caribbean had 39% more rain than normal, the south Caribbean 25% more and the eastern part of the Northern Zone 29% more. Parts of Limón province saw totals up to 70% above normal, and CNE says the western part of the Northern Zone has left meteorological drought as rain recovered.
The sea is warm too, with surface temperatures off the Costa Rican Pacific coast about 1.5°C above normal in recent months. CNE said sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific over the last five months were the highest recorded since 1950.
The national weather institute IMN rates El Niño as very strong, with a three-month index of +2.2°C against a +2.0°C threshold for that label. It expects that strength to last from November 2026 to January 2027, and El Niño has been present since June 2026.
Water Strain Before the Alert
Water shortages were already reported in September. On 24 September the national federation of community water associations, Conaflu, said 32 local water systems in 11 cantons of Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Alajuela were rationing supply, affecting about 6,525 connections in 74 communities.
CNE had declared an orange alert for 23 cantons and a yellow alert for 52 on 18 September. The 22 October update raises the north Pacific to the top level.
What It Means for You
Travellers face no announced restrictions from the Costa Rica red alert, and none of the coverage reviewed mentions hotels or airlines. The CNE appeal to avoid wasting water and electricity applies to visitors as much as to residents.
Residents of Guanacaste and the Pacific coast, including US expats, are the most exposed to community water rationing. Our Costa Rica Weather and Climate Guide 2026 and Best Places to Live in Costa Rica for Expats 2026 explain the seasons and regional differences.
Fishing crews are named in the decision, because the sea strip was added for the impact on fishing. CNE also says the dry spell is hurting productive sectors across the country.
For the wider country, read Costa Rica Explained 2026 and Costa Rica Geopolitics Explained 2026. For the capital, see our San José expat city guide.
What Is Not Known
CNE’s own bulletin could not be opened for this article, because its website blocked automated access. The figures rest on three Costa Rican and regional outlets that quote the agency, Semanario Universidad, CR Hoy and Infobae.
The sources do not say whether any hotel, tour operator or airline has changed plans, and none gives estimates of losses. They also do not say how long the red alert will last.
The weather institute’s own bulletin was not opened either, so the El Niño strength figures come from Infobae’s account of CNE alert 0037-26. As CNE stresses, the strength rating describes ocean warming and not the size of the damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Costa Rica red alert?
It is the top response level of the national emergency agency CNE, raised on 22 October 2026 for 10 Guanacaste cantons, three Puntarenas districts and 12 nautical miles of sea. It responds to drought linked to El Niño.
Can US tourists still visit Guanacaste?
None of the coverage reviewed announces restrictions on visitors. Check hotel and local notices, because the alert concerns drought and water supply.
Which areas are under red alert?
Ten Guanacaste cantons, including Liberia, Nicoya, Santa Cruz and Carrillo, plus Paquera, Cóbano and Lepanto in Puntarenas. The alert also covers 12 nautical miles of sea off the Pacific coast.
How dry has it been?
From January to September rain fell 43% below normal in the north Pacific and 63% below in Cañas. The Caribbean side received 25% to 39% more rain than normal.
How long will El Niño last?
The weather institute IMN expects the very strong phase to continue from November 2026 to January 2027. CNE says the alerts stay in place as El Niño develops.
Sources: Semanario Universidad, 22 October 2026; CR Hoy, 22 October 2026; Infobae Costa Rica, 22 October 2026; Semanario Universidad, 24 September 2026; CNE, national emergency agency of Costa Rica.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief