British tourists in Central America have been sent a warning by the Foreign Office, advising against travel to Costa Rica as it faces very heavy rainfall. 

Costa Rica’s Emergency Services (CNE) declared a Red Alert for the entire Pacific Region, while an orange alert has been issued for the Northern Central Valley and Northern Caribbean regions and a yellow alert for moderate rainfall for the Southern Caribbean region. 

Flooding and landslides have been listed as potential hazards, which could affect roads throughout the country. 

“Please avoid unnecessary travel and remain updated on local weather conditions, while following local authorities’ advice,” the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) wrote. 

Belize also raised tropical storm warnings for the Central American nation’s coast on Friday due to Tropical Storm Sara lingering in the western Caribbean and battering Honduras’ northern coast with torrential rain.

As Storm Sara moves onwards, it is expected to move towards Florida by the middle of the week, bringing with it heavy downpours and localised flooding. 

“This is a life-threatening storm with the risk of mudslides and road washouts, “ said AccuWeather meteorologist Jon Porter according to GB News. “Remote communities in steep terrain could be cut off, and we’re concerned about the possibility of a humanitarian crisis.”

While some nations have been battling with issues around over-tourism, others are welcoming visitors. Costa Rica, luckily, is one of the latter. 

Tourism has been one of the fastest growing economic sectors and since 1999 it has earned more foreign exchange than bananas, pineapples and coffee exports put together. In 2023, Costa Rica welcomed 2.7 million tourists, a record-breaking number and a 16.7 percent increase from 2022, according to The Tico Times. 

Conde Nast Traveller recently labelled the Central American country as one of the friendliest tourist destinations, as voted by their readership. 

Announcing Costa Rica’s victory, the publication stated: “Taking the top spot, Costa Rica is home to dynamic rainforests, world-class surfing and, of course, friendly people.

“‘Pura Vida’ (meaning ‘pure life’) is their national expression, used by locals as a greeting but also as a guiding principle. Costa Rican lifestyle is centred around positivity and gratitude, and this infectious optimism enriches the outlooks of visitors too.”

Despite its compact size, Costa Rica boasts a vast range of terrain and attracts tourists from all over the world. This includes anything from active volcanoes and rugged mountains to pristine beaches.  

Visitors have the chance to stay in a wide variety of accommodation options, including all-inclusive hotels, mountain lodges and cosy cabins. 

The Visit Costa Rica website states: “Costa Rica is one of most highly valued tourism destinations on this planet. This small piece of land has all the necessary components to intrigue and continually satisfy the millions who visit each year. 

“Costa Rica has extensive tourism offerings, including rainforests, volcanoes, rivers travelling through the mountains, beaches, national parks and forest reserves.”

Exploring the beautiful country will have to remain on hold, however, until the torrential rain passes.