Costa Rica captain Celso Borges and Bryan Oviedo scored in the first 20 minutes and the Ticos routed visiting Nicaragua 4-0 on Sunday in their opening match of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The biennial showdown of CONCACAF region (North American) nations saw a rare start outside the US for Costa Rica, playing in the national stadium at San Jose.
In another Group B match played there Sunday, Haiti edged Bermuda 2-1.
Oviedo opened the scoring for Costa Rica in the seventh minute and Borges followed in the 19th as the Ticos seized command early.
Elias Aguilar, a midfielder for South Korean side Jeju United, scored on a free kick in the first minute of first-half stoppage time to boost Costa Rica's edge to 3-0 at halftime.
Allan Cruz added the final tally in the 75th minute.
Costa Rica, which made a semifinal run in the 2017 Gold Cup, last reached the final in 2002 and last won the trophy in 1989.
Bermuda took a 1-0 halftime lead over Haiti on captain Dante Leverock's header in the second minute of first half stoppage time. Leverock is a centre back for Irish side Sligo Rovers.
Frantzdy Pierrot, a striker for Belgian side Royal Excel Mouscron, scored in the 54th and 66th minutes in response to bring the Haitians victory.
The next Group B matches will be Thursday with Nicaragua against Haiti and Bermuda facing Costa Rica at Frisco, Texas.