Costa Rica Lands Two New US Flight Routes, Film Festival and Aterciopelados Show
Costa Rica · Travel & Culture
Key Facts
—Nonstop Austin to San José Southwest will launch a new weekly, nonstop seasonal route from Austin, Texas, to San José in March 2027, cutting travel time for Central Texas remote workers.
—Daily Dulles to Liberia United Airlines begins daily, nonstop winter service from Washington-Dulles to Guanacaste in December 2026, offering direct access to Pacific beach nomad hubs.
—Free International Film Festival The 14th Costa Rica International Film Festival (CRFIC) runs July 23 to August 1, 2026, with completely free screenings for creative professionals and residents.
—Aterciopelados 30th Anniversary Show The three-time Latin Grammy-winning Colombian rock band performs at Peppers club in San José on August 1, capping the film festival with a major live music event.
—Nine US-linked airlines service Costa Rica With nine carriers connecting Costa Rica to major US cities, expats and nomads have flexible, frequent options for multi-city and long-stay travel planning.
Costa Rica is set to expand its appeal for US-based remote workers with Costa Rica new US routes and film festival offerings, including a direct Southwest flight from Austin, a United nonstop from Dulles, and a major cultural burst in mid-2026 anchored by the country’s main film event.
Southwest to connect Austin and San José directly
Southwest Airlines will inaugurate a new nonstop, seasonal route between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José, with service beginning in March 2027. The weekly Saturday flight will operate on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with 175 seats, creating a new gateway for travelers from Texas, a fast-growing US market for Costa Rica tourism.
Currently, travelers flying from Austin to San José must connect through hubs like Houston Hobby, with the shortest itineraries taking around 7 hours and 3 minutes. The new direct flight eliminates the layover, significantly reducing total door-to-door travel time for digital nomads and expats based in Central Texas.
United adds daily Dulles to Liberia service
United Airlines will launch a new daily nonstop route from Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, Guanacaste, starting December 17, 2026. The service, scheduled during the year-end high season, will use a Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft configured with 179 seats including 20 business-class seats.
This is the first nonstop flight linking the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area directly with the Guanacaste region, a province home to popular expat and nomad beach communities like Tamarindo and Nosara. The daily frequency gives long-stay visitors from Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. more flexibility when planning arrivals and departures near the Pacific coast.
Costa Rica International Film Festival offers free screenings
The 14th edition of the Costa Rica Festival Internacional de Cine (CRFIC14) runs from July 23 through August 1, 2026, primarily in San José at venues including Cine Magaly and the Centro de Cine. Organizers have confirmed that all festival screenings will be completely free, making it a no-cost cultural asset for residents and visitors alike.
Last year’s 13th edition featured more than 70 films, industry workshops, and a new leadership vision under filmmaker Patricia Velásquez Guzmán. The free, multi-venue format of CRFIC14 offers remote workers in creative fields—film, media, and content creation—a significant opportunity to access international cinema and networking spaces without registration fees.
Aterciopelados 30-year show caps the cultural calendar
Colombian rock band Aterciopelados, winners of three Latin Grammy Awards, returns to Costa Rica for a concert celebrating the 30th anniversary of their iconic album “La pipa de la paz.” The show is scheduled for August 1 at 8 p.m. at the Peppers club in San José, produced by Black Line.
The concert date coincides with the closing day of CRFIC14, turning late July and early August into a dense cultural window. For nomads and expats in or traveling to San José, the back-to-back film festival and major Latin rock event create a unique, compact period of high-caliber entertainment at low or no cost.
Why new connectivity and events matter for nomads
The added nonstop routes from Austin and Washington-Dulles strengthen a US-Costa Rica network already served by nine airlines, including American, Delta, JetBlue, and United, connecting San José and Liberia to cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Miami, and Los Angeles. Costa Rican tourism authorities emphasize that new direct flights boost employment, attract investment, and reinforce business confidence.
For digital nomads, the combination of reduced travel friction, a free international film festival with industry programming, and high-profile music events makes Costa Rica an increasingly practical and stimulating long-stay base. A dense summer cultural schedule anchored by CRFIC14 and the Aterciopelados anniversary show adds creative and social value beyond the country’s well-known natural attractions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the new Austin to San José direct flight start?
Southwest Airlines will launch the nonstop, seasonal Saturday route from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in March 2027, using a Boeing 737 MAX 8 with 175 seats.
Are CRFIC14 film festival screenings really free?
Yes. The 2026 Costa Rica International Film Festival runs from July 23 to August 1, 2026, and organizers have confirmed that all screenings at official venues in San José will be completely free for attendees.
Which Costa Rican airport does the new United flight from Dulles serve?
United Airlines’ new daily nonstop from Washington-Dulles (IAD) serves Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, Guanacaste, beginning December 17, 2026, providing direct access to the Pacific beach region.
Sources: Infobae: US airlines expand bet on Costa Rica with two new direct routes, Teletica: Aterciopelados returns to Costa Rica to celebrate 30 years of ‘La pipa de la paz’, Algo Más Que Cine: CRFIC 2026 full programming, People of Costa Rica: CRFIC 2025 independent cinema in San José, Aviacionline: Southwest Airlines resumes flights to Costa Rica
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