Costa Rica in Film and Television

Costa Rica is a famous vacation destination for travelers of all ages and walks of life. It’s a safe place, family-friendly, with plenty of adventure, a welcoming ambiance, and lots of varied wildlife. However, not many are aware of its presence in film and television.

Whether the story is set in Costa Rica, about Costa Rica, filmed in Costa Rica, or all of the above, this tiny country has a lot to offer the world of cinema. Most often, its lush natural landscapes have been used as filming locations for various projects, from high-end productions to rich documentaries and relatively unknown TV shows.

Which of these films or TV series have you seen? Here is our curated list of  shows and movies filmed in Costa Rica as well as works that used it as a setting even if not filmed in-country:

To kick off the list, this is one of Ridley Scott’s more obscure but also most visually ambitious films. With a packed cast that included names like Gérard Depardieu and Sigourney Weaver, this movie went all out telling the story of Christopher Colombus’ arrival to the Americas. Locations included real historical places relevant to Colombus’ life, but shots of his descent into American soil were filmed in Costa Rica. They built sets in Jacó and hired around 170 Costa Rican indigenous people as extras for the movie.

No list about Costa Rica and films could ever be complete without mentioning Jurassic Park, Steven Spielberg’s classic. Most of the film was shot predominantly in Hawaii, though Costa Rica’s territory is the main setting. Early in the film you can spot the product placement of Costa Rica’s Imperial beer logo in the background of the "San José, Costa Rica" scene. Famously, San José looks very different from the set they used for the movie, and it’s certainly not found on the beach!

An episode of this famous TV series titled “Costa Rica: The Arribiatta” covers one of the country’s most incredible natural occurrences. The arribada sees countless sea turtles arriving on shore to build their nests and lay eggs. The episode highlights the country’s biodiversity by showcasing other animals such as capuchin monkeys, a bushmaster serpent, frogs, and marine wildlife like dolphins and whales.

This movie by Robert Rodriguez had a big cast, including Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Steve Buscemi, and Ricardo Montalbán. Mostly shot in Texas, some key scenes were filmed here in Costa Rica. Both the beach and rainforest of Manuel Antonio National Park, the Arenal Volcano itself, as well as a waterfall or two, were used as backgrounds for the island.

Mel Gibson’s movie (with dialogue entirely spoken in Yucatec Mayan) scoured many jungle locations in Central America before mostly settling for Mexico. However, Mel Gibson had an appreciation for Costa Rica at the time—and owned land near a secluded beach in Guanacaste—so some wide shots were filmed in Costa Rica. A Costa Rican actor, Mauricio Amuy, was also hired early in pre-production but didn’t end up in the final film. However, it was still an exciting time for the country! News came out regularly following the progress of the movie.

If you’re a sci-fi fan, you’ve probably heard of Gareth Edwards. The director of both Godzilla (2014) and Star War’s Rogue One (2016) was the creative mind behind the indie horror film Monsters. Set on the Mexican border with the USA, the story explores what life is like in a world six years into an alien invasion. It was partially filmed in Costa Rica and had other locations across Central and North America as well.

The Serbian version of the popular CBS show Survivor featured Costa Rica in its fourth season. Contestants were grouped into “tribes” named Matambo and Boruka, after two real Costa Rican Indigenous groups, and when they merged, they became Sibu, after one of the country’s main pre-Columbian gods.

This movie was not a success for M. Night Shyamalan or Will Smith, but it’s regarded as one of the most famous movies that have involved Costa Rica. Several scenes were shot in the country to represent a post-apocalyptic Earth, particularly around Arenal Volcano. At the time, photos of Will Smith and his son, Jaden Smith, were popularized as they admired the natural sights from their La Fortuna hotel.

Brad Furman’s Runner Runner is a curious case. It features stars such as Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck, but it was not a hit upon release. It is also set in Costa Rica, but not filmed here. After it came out, the Minister of Security at the time, Celso Gamboa, released an official statement complaining about the movie’s portrayal of the country as a den of druglords and corruption that the local police couldn’t handle. He perceived it as a slight on the country’s image, especially since the movie never asked for the nation’s permission to display the official symbols of the Costa Rican police.

The long-running reality TV series (17 seasons as of 2024, and counting!) had its premiere on Costa Rican soil. The very first episode of season one sees two contestants, one male and one female, trying to survive 21 days in the Costa Rican rainforest while naked and afraid. A highly advertised fact about this episode is that producer Stephen Rankin survived a venomous snake bite while scouting the location for his show, highlighting how dangerous the experience could be for those unprepared. Apparently, the male contestant quit early due to fatigue. Costa Rica 1, survivalist 0.

The beloved Peruvian-British character got to the big screen in live-action for the first time by the hand of director Paul King. It was mostly filmed on location in the UK, but Monteverde, famous for its dense and green forests, was used as the bear’s original home, Darkest Peru. The Costa Rican crew even built the marmalade machine that’s used in some scenes!

David Ayer’s Suicide Squad, featuring big names like Margot Robbie, Viola Davies, and Jared Leto, was definitely the least successful of the latest Suicide Squad projects. However, some scenes that appear at the beginning of the film depicting jungle environments were shot in Costa Rica. When Cara Delevingne’s character is introduced, she’s shown in the rainforests of Sarapiquí in Heredia, near the Braulio Carrillo National Park.

The prestigious Blue Planet documentary series is widely considered one of the best in the history of the medium. Produced by the BBC and presented and narrated by David Attenborough, it had crews filming different ecosystems and natural phenomena around the world. Local photographer Sergio Pucci was in charge of Costa Rica’s section in the episode titled “Coasts.” It focused on the anticipated arrival of olive ridley sea turtles at the National Wildlife Refuge Ostional, in Guanacaste. It took around two years to obtain all the appropriate shots. It was worth it!

Movie star Zac Efron joins wellness expert Darien Olien to explore how different people around the world adapt their lifestyles to be more ecological and community-oriented. One of the episodes focuses on Costa Rica, showcasing scenery from Manzanillo, on the Caribbean coast, as well as from the inland hills of San Mateo in Alajuela. The documentary was generally well-received among Costa Ricans, who saw their country praised for its biodiversity, food, and culture.

This is a Costa Rican film made by Costa Rican-Swedish director Nathalie Álvarez Mesén. A poetic and highly metaphorical movie, Clara Sola explores feminist themes through the lens of the most rural and conservative areas of Costa Rica. It won five Guldbagge awards and the main actor, professional dancer Wendy Chinchilla, was praised for her portrayal of the protagonist. Shot on location in the Heredia and Alajuela countryside, this movie is for those who like indie filmmakers and their unique approach to cinema.

This series is a stand-out in David Attenborough’s filmography for a couple of reasons. First, it covered a topic of personal interest to the naturalist: how animals use color as a survival mechanism. Second, the project was almost shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The crew fought tooth and nail to finish and release it. Luckily, they had already shot in Costa Rica, so they adapted the original plan to make the other locations a little safer and closer to Attenborough’s home (he was already in his 90s when filming began). The series depicts the beloved environmental activist surrounded by Costa Rica’s stunning natural landscapes and animals, including scarlet macaws, toucans, and hummingbirds.

ABC’s The Bachelor has been a success since 2002, and recently Costa Rica featured in the spin-off series The Golden Bachelor. The Springs Resort & Spa was the ideal romantic getaway for the contestant, Gerry Turner. As a retired restaurateur and a beloved father and grandfather, he found love in Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano area. From hot springs to canopy zip lines and candlelit dinners, Costa Rica was as key as the contestants for the success of the season.

This documentary series follows Dan Buettner–the man who originally coined the term Blue Zone–as he travels the world to showcase his findings on each of these unique areas. Partnering with National Geographic, he uncovers the lifestyles of the 100-year-old inhabitants of the Blue Zones. Among them is the Nicoya Peninsula, in Guanacaste. The combination of elements such as connection to nature, community-focused living, healthy diets, and physical work are among the stand-out reasons why Nicoyans boast such long and happy lifespans. The documentary series was well-liked among Costa Ricans, and the Nicoyan elders are known to have enjoyed the praise and interest shown in their lives.

With this limited list of examples, it’s clear that Costa Rica has had its share of attention for both the big and small screens! Because of its varied ecosystems, international fame, and cultural richness, it’s no wonder that many have found it a perfect fit for their visual projects. There is much Costa Rica can still offer the world, and with a little bit of luck, you’ll see more of it in the near future. Keep your eyes open and get ready to visit the land of Pura Vida!