The Tourism Institute is carrying out an advertising campaign to promote Costa Rica in New York.

The campaign consists of billboards placed in Brooklyn and Manhattan. They’ll be on walls in main streets inviting pedestrians to choose Costa Rica for their next vacation or getaway destination.

Ads show country famous destinations such as Arenal volcano, San Carlos hot springs, beaches, rainforest, among others, as part of the “Only The Essentials” tourism campaign developed by the institute.

"We always set ourselves the challenge of generating creative proposals that draw the attention of potential tourists to visit our country and reconnect with what is truly essential, enjoying nature, adventure and outdoor activities," said Carolina Trejos, director of marketing of the institute.

Banners will also be placed in the coming days in Manhattan and across the United States in Los Angeles, California. The two cities are among the most important places to attract tourists. The U.S. is the main source of tourists to Costa Rica. As of February, more than 200,000 U.S. citizens have arrived by air, according to the institute's statistics.

A contest for a free vacation to Costa Rica aims to drive social media buzz, according to the institute. The rules are simple. Take a selfie with one of the campaign billboards and post it on the institute's social media (Facebook or Instagram). The winner will be contacted. 

The tourism campaign includes a video about the top tourist destinations in Costa Rica highlighting beaches, waterfalls and volcanoes. The video is published on the institute's social media.