Religion in Costa Rica: Places of Worship and Communities

Published on March 11, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Nestled in the heart of Central America, Costa Rica intrigues with its exceptional biodiversity and cultural richness, but it is also a country where spirituality coexists harmoniously with lush nature. Religious life here is a complex tapestry of historical influences, where the Catholic heritage, largely a legacy of the colonial era, exists alongside more diverse spiritual expressions, such as Evangelical Protestantism, which is experiencing notable growth.

The many places of worship, ranging from grand Catholic sanctuaries to the modern temples of new Evangelical communities, reflect this spiritual dynamism. To explore these sacred spaces and the passionate communities that animate them is to immerse oneself in a world where tradition and modernity shape a unique and dynamic religious identity.

Major Religions in Costa Rica

The Costa Rican population primarily practices Christianity, with a historical and institutional predominance of Catholicism. Catholicism is recognized as the state religion, which strongly influences the country’s culture and social practices.

Religious Group	Proportion of Population (2023)
Catholicism	27%
Evangelical Protestantism	55%
No Religious Affiliation	16%
Other Religions	2%

Catholicism:

• Official religion according to the Constitution.
• Omnipresent in city names (San, Santa), daily expressions, national and local holidays.
• The state funds the maintenance of Catholic churches and grants legal privileges (e.g., automatic recognition of marriages celebrated by the Catholic Church).
• Members of the Catholic clergy are excluded from certain political positions (president, vice president, ministers…).

Evangelical Protestantism:

• Significant growth over several decades.
• Now represents the largest religious group according to some recent surveys.
• Growing influence on social values, sometimes in opposition to more progressive positions advocated by a segment of civil society.

Other Present Religious Groups:

• Jehovah’s Witnesses
• Seventh-day Adventists
• Mormons
• Judaism
• Islam
• Buddhism
• Bahá’í Faith

List of Current Trends:

• Continuous decline in the number of adherents to traditional Catholicism.
• Notable increase in Evangelical Protestantism throughout the country – particularly in peripheral urban and rural areas.
• Gradual but significant rise in people with no religious affiliation or who identify as agnostic/atheist.
• Maintenance of a modest but real religious diversity with various small denominational groups.

Religious diversity is slowly widening while the cultural influence of Catholicism remains strong. Official religious holidays still largely shape the national calendar; however, increased pluralism is evident in the public sphere as well as in local political life.

Iconic Places of Worship

The Catedral Metropolitana de San José is the main Catholic religious building in the capital. Built starting in 1776, it blends Neoclassical and Baroque styles, reflecting Costa Rica’s political instability in the 19th century. Its imposing dome, decorated columns, and stained-glass windows make it a major architectural landmark. It houses the remains of the country’s second archbishop as well as those of a former president. The cathedral plays a central role in major religious celebrations like Holy Week and Christmas, bringing together thousands of faithful.

The Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, located in Cartago, is the most venerated religious site in Costa Rica. Its basilica combines Gothic and Neo-Byzantine elements, with a majestic structure adorned with colorful stained glass and a golden altar dedicated to the Virgin of the Angels (“La Negrita”), the national patron saint.

Every August 2nd, the “Romería” takes place, an annual pilgrimage gathering nearly two million people who come to pay homage to La Negrita, making the site a national cultural symbol.

The Monasterio San Jerónimo stands out for its sober architecture inspired by traditional European monastic constructions: thick stone walls, a peaceful cloister conducive to spiritual reflection, and interior gardens for meditation. This monastery regularly hosts religious retreats for faithful seeking silence and deep spirituality.

Among other iconic places:

• Iglesia La Soledad (San José)
  • Baroque style influenced by English architecture.
  • Swiss stained-glass windows depicting biblical scenes.
  • Important for local urban development; integrated into the national historical heritage.
• Iglesia Nuestra Señora de La Merced (San José)
  • German Gothic architecture with a distinctive central tower.
  • Three interior naves under an ogival vault; ceiling painted in mahogany by an Italian artist.
  • Declared a historical monument since 1996; key site during local Marian processions.

To illustrate this architectural diversity:

Place	Architectural Style	Religious Role	Major Events
Catedral Metropolitana	Neoclassical/Baroque	National liturgical center	Holy Week, Christmas
Basilica Cartago	Gothic/Neo-Byzantine	National pilgrimage	Romería (August 2)
Monasterio San Jerónimo	Traditional monastic	Spiritual retreats	Meditations/recollections
Iglesia La Soledad	English Baroque	Historic neighborhood	Sunday Masses
Iglesia La Merced	German Gothic	Marian celebrations	Virgen Mercedes Procession

Costa Rican religious diversity is also manifested by:

• Buddhist temples located mainly in the Central Valley,
• Several synagogues serving an active Jewish community,
• Evangelical or Anglican Protestant centers distributed throughout the country,

These places foster cultural openness through their interreligious festivals or open house days that encourage intercultural dialogue and mutual respect among the different communities present in Costa Rican territory.

Expatriate Religious Communities

Main Diasporas and Dominant Religious Groups

• North American and European Community: Predominantly Christian (Evangelical Protestant, Anglican, Baptist), with a significant presence of Catholics and some Jewish and Muslim communities.
• Latin American Communities (Nicaragua, Colombia, Venezuela): Primarily Catholic and Evangelical, these groups maintain religious practices close to those of the Costa Rican population.
• Asian Communities (Chinese, Indian): Presence of Buddhists, Hindus, and Asian Christians.
• Jewish and Muslim Communities: Small groups, mainly in San José.
• Indigenous Communities (Bribris, Ngöbes, Cabécares, etc.): Mostly Catholic, but preserving elements of traditional religions.

Places of Worship and Religious Community Centers

Community	Place of Worship / Community Center	Location	Particularities
North American/English-speaking	International Baptist Church, Tamarindo Church, Beach Community Church	Escazú, Tamarindo, Playa Brasilito	Services in English, welcome for expatriates
Jewish	Centro Israelita Sionista de Costa Rica	San José	Synagogue, cultural center
Muslim	Mezquita de Omar	San José	Mosque, prayer in Arabic
Hindu	Centro Cultural de la India	San José	Hindu festivals, teaching
Chinese	Buddhist Temple	San José	Buddhist worship, lunar festivals
Indigenous (Bribri, Ngöbe)	Traditional community centers	Talamanca, Osa	Ancestral rituals, Catholic festivals

Religious Activities and Open Cultural Events

• Multilingual Religious Services: Masses and services in English, Spanish, sometimes in Portuguese, Hebrew, or Arabic.
• Festivals:
  • Hanukkah, Passover (Jewish community)
  • Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha (Muslim community)
  • Diwali (Indian community)
  • Lunar New Year (Chinese community)
  • La Posada and Holy Week (Latinos, indigenous)
• Traditional Indigenous Ceremonies: Open to visitors, allowing discovery of ancestral rites and local worldview.
• Intercultural Events: Neighborhood festivals, shared meals, conferences, exhibitions, and concerts organized by international churches and community centers.

Challenges Faced and Integration Strategies

Main Challenges

• Adaptation to a predominantly Catholic environment, sometimes marked by religious conservatism.
• Language difficulties (religious services mainly in Spanish).
• Lack of recognition or visibility for religious minorities.
• Risk of social isolation, especially in rural areas.

Adaptation Methods

• Creation of multilingual and inclusive places of worship.
• Organization of intercultural festivals to foster encounter and understanding.
• Partnerships with NGOs and local institutions to support migrants and refugees.
• Establishment of support networks and discussion groups.

Contributions to Religious and Cultural Diversity

• Enrichment of Religious Pluralism: Expatriate communities introduce new practices, festivals, and theological perspectives, fostering open-mindedness.
• Intercultural Dialogue: Organization of meetings between Costa Ricans and expatriates, facilitating mutual understanding and tolerance.
• Social Dynamization: Involvement in humanitarian aid, education, and support for the most vulnerable (migrants, refugees).
• Valuation of Cultural Heritage: Preservation and transmission of diaspora languages, rituals, and cuisines.

Costa Rican Government Policies

Official recognition of Catholicism in the Constitution, but freedom of worship guaranteed for all religions.

Religious minorities can found associations, acquire property, and organize public events, subject to respect for public order.

The government collaborates with religious organizations, particularly for the support of migrants and refugees, without discrimination based on faith.

Summary

The presence of expatriate religious communities in Costa Rica contributes to the richness of the country’s spiritual landscape, while posing integration challenges. Thanks to freedom of worship, the openness of some places of worship, and intercultural initiatives, these communities actively participate in Costa Rican dialogue and social cohesion.

Interreligious Initiatives and Integration

Costa Rica is experiencing a multiplication of interreligious initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue and mutual understanding among its diverse religious communities. Several concrete examples testify to a dynamic of collaboration and engagement for peace.

Initiative/Program	Organizers/Partners	Main Objective	Result/Impact
KAICIID Fellows Programme 2024	KAICIID, University for Peace (UN)	Training in interreligious dialogue and mediation	Creation of a network of religious and social actors committed to peace, training of leaders from different traditions
Costa Rican Interreligious Forum	Association bringing together various religions	Encourage dialogue among members and religious organizations	Promotion of tolerance, exchanges on common issues, organization of regular meetings
Presidential Meetings with Religious Communities	Government, Episcopal Conference, FAEC, Israeli Zionist Center	Discussion on education, public services, human rights	Strengthening of institutional dialogue and recognition of religious plurality

Examples of Concrete Collaborations:

• The KAICIID 2024 training program, organized in partnership with the University for Peace, brings together religious leaders from different faiths for intensive sessions on facilitating dialogue, preventing extremism, and managing interreligious projects. Participants develop projects in their own communities, fostering peace and inclusion.
• The Costa Rican Interreligious Forum constitutes a permanent platform for meetings, where Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Bahá’í, and other representatives share their experiences and develop common responses to social challenges like discrimination or poverty.
• Public events such as conferences, interreligious celebrations, or joint prayer days are regularly organized to mark solidarity in the face of crises or to celebrate the country’s cultural and spiritual diversity.

Successes and Challenges Encountered:

Successes:

• Networking of religious leaders for joint mediation actions in situations of social tension or crisis.
• Better mutual understanding and reduction of prejudices, notably through structured training and exchanges.
• Involvement of public institutions, which regularly consult religious organizations on topics like education or social cohesion.

Challenges:

• The institutional predominance of the Catholic Church can make it difficult to balance the representation of other faiths.
• Tensions persist on certain social issues (LGBT rights, secularization, etc.), sometimes exacerbated during elections or public debates.
• Equitable access to funding and official recognition remains an issue for religious minorities.

Illustrative Programs or Events:

• The KAICIID 2024 training cycle in San José, which brought together participants from across Latin America: “Interreligious dialogue is not just a matter of tolerance, but of social transformation,” said a Bahá’í participant.
• During an official meeting, a Jewish leader from the Israeli Zionist Center stated: “These dialogues show that religious diversity is a wealth and not a threat to Costa Rican society.”

Testimonials from Participants and Religious Leaders:

“This program allowed me to see the other not as an adversary, but as a partner for peace.” (Evangelical pastor, participant in the KAICIID program)

“The engagement of religious communities in public life strengthens the cohesion and resilience of our country.” (Representative of the Episcopal Conference)

“Our regular exchanges have dispelled many historical misunderstandings and paved the way for concrete collaboration.” (Muslim leader, Interreligious Forum)

Summary of Interreligious Dynamics in Costa Rica:

• Focus on peace education and prevention of extremism
• Institutionalized dialogue and concrete collaboration on the ground
• Persistent challenges related to recognition and equality, but notable advances in building a pluralistic and inclusive society

Important:
“Interreligious dialogue in Costa Rica is not a luxury, but a necessity to guarantee social peace and national cohesion.”