Q COSTARICA — Toronto’s streetcars bring the “Pura Vida” to Canadians this Christmas. A fleet of streetcars (trams) and immersive experiences invite Canadians to escape winter and plan vacations in Costa Rica during the holiday season.
The effort is to boost tourism promotion in Canada with a Christmas campaign that’s touring Toronto using streetcars, subways, and trains decorated with images of Costa Rica’s landscapes, wildlife, and biodiversity.
The initiative is being spearheaded by the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT)—Costa Rica’s Tourism Board—to inspire Canadians to escape the winter and choose Costa Rica as their destination.
Currently, three streetcars are running on different routes in Toronto, with high visibility in areas of heavy traffic and thousands of daily passengers.
The campaign also includes three GoTrain units and a Subway Supertrain completely wrapped with the Essential Costa Rica branding.
The messages feature phrases like “The Land of Reconnection” and “Pura Vida Energy,” along with the official website visitcostarica.com.
In addition, Costa Rica is present at the Distillery District’s Christmas Village with the “Pura Vida Chocolate Experience.”
“We extend an open invitation to Canadians to escape the cold and visit Costa Rica on their next vacation,” stated Ireth Rodríguez of the ICT.
The activation recreates a tropical atmosphere with Costa Rican chocolate, augmented reality, themed food, and family-friendly spaces until January 5, 2026.
Canada is consolidating its position as the second-largest source of tourists to Costa Rica, behind the United States, with more than 219,000 visitors between January and November 2025.
Currently, four Canadian airlines—Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet, and the most recent Porter Airlines—have direct flights to Costa Rica from Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Winnipeg.