Best time to visit Costa Rica

Pacific Coast

Caribbean Coast

Along the Caribbean coast, the temperature is around 28°C throughout the year. There is no real dry or wet season. The climate is influenced by winds and weather conditions on the Atlantic Ocean. When it rains it is in the form of short, heavy tropical downpours and shouldn’t affect your enjoyment at all. There is less rain in January, February and March and from August-September there is a short dry period. If it does rain, the day usually starts bright and the rain comes late in the afternoon.

Central Valleys

When you’re looking for the best time to visit Costa Rica, January is easily one of the top months to explore the country. In the middle of the dry season, you’ll find less rain on the Pacific coast and drier-than-average days on the Caribbean coast – although there are always some tropical showers here and in the rainforest – so it’s a perfect time to explore.

However, this fabulous weather is no secret, so you’ll also find more visitors heading to Costa Rica in January, making the most of the glorious beaches, the great conditions for viewing wildlife, the national parks and the string of activities. If you want to avoid the crowds, consider heading a little way off the beaten track. On the Pacific Coast, quieter corners like Costa Ballena are a tempting option, with the chance to spot dolphins, as well as to see humpback whales just up the coast near Uvita this month.

Or Corcovado National Park is more secluded than some of the more popular places to see Costa Rica’s wildlife, with a chance to go snorkelling and explore the rainforest, while you can escape the heat in the hills by the smoking volcanoes at Turrialba, by trekking up into the clouds at Cerro Chirripo or in the Talamanca Mountains.

But if you’re happy to share the sights, it’s a fantastic time to see the popular highlights too, including San Jose, Arenal volcano, the cloudforests of Monteverde and beaches galore – Samara Beach, Isla Venado and Montezuma beach on the Nicoya peninsula are all enticing options on the west coast, along with Manuel Antonio with its mix of beach and rainforest. Surf season is in full swing over on the Caribbean coast too, including at laid-back Puerto Viejo.

Festivals: Costa Rica doesn’t do New Year celebrations by halves, and you can expect the party to continue all day with dances in some of the main cities, including San Jose on January 1

The 12-day Fiestas Palmares is another good way to start the new year with a bang, usually running from the second to fourth week of February in Palmares, with music, fireworks, comedy, carnival rides, parades, food and drink. It’s worth knowing there are also bullfights as part of the festival.

Best for: Seeing the whole country, hitting the beach, trekking volcanoes, exploring the rainforest, whale-watching

 

The high season continues this month with some of the driest weather across the country, making it one of the best times for a holiday in Costa Rica – and one of the busiest months too. You can enjoy warm weather countrywide, with cooler days away from the coast in the Central Valley, both in the capital San Jose and if you head up into the hills and volcanoes. Discover iconic Arenal, but also the smoking volcanoes at Turrialba, climb Cerro Chirripo and explore the Talamanca Mountains.

Save some time to head to the coast as well, including a chance to see humpback whales not far from Costa Ballena on the Pacific coast, plus a string of fantastic beaches. You’re spoiled for choice on both coasts, including the Caribbean vibes and great surf beach at Puerto Viejo, along with the mix of beach and rainforest at Manual Antonio or Corcovado National Park to name a few.

The cloudforests of Monteverde may be busier but February is still an excellent time to explore, or you could head off the beaten track to an eco-lodge in Boca Tapada or learn more about rural life with the Tico in this corner of northern Costa Rica.

Festivals: Early February sees the Nicoya Rodeo and Fiesta Patronal in Guanacaste with a typical Costa Rican rodeo, bloodless bullfights (or toro a la Tica), fireworks, music, traditional food and dancing.

Or celebrate Carnival at Puntarenas, a week-long event including the Festival del Mar, with dancing, parades, live music and a focus on Afro-Caribbean traditions as well as Costa Rican culture in general.

Best for: Seeing the whole country, hitting the beach, trekking volcanoes, exploring the rainforest, whale-watching, festivals

There’s less rain again on the Caribbean coast this month, the last time the wet weather eases here until late summer, so March is another great time for a holiday in Costa Rica. With Easter holidays and Spring Break, the country can be busy this month while showers do start to creep in across the country during March, but it’s still a good pick if you’re planning to explore as much of Costa Rica as possible.

You can also see Leatherback Sea Turtles around Barra de Pacuare and Tortuguero on the east coast this month, with most beginning to arrive this month – team it with some Caribbean beach time around Puerto Viejo. On the Pacific coast, it’s one of the last months to see northern humpback whales at Uvita, before relaxing in the sun at Costa Ballena.

You can also make the most of wildlife-spotting opportunities in the rainforest at Manual Antonio, Corcovado National Park and the cloudforests of Monteverde. Or escape the crowds off the beaten track at an eco- lodge in Boca Tapada. It’s also one of the drier months to explore the Arenal volcano, although you can never guarantee to escape the showers here, as well as a good time to see the smoking volcanoes at Turrialba, climb Cerro Chirripo or explore the Talamanca Mountains.

Festivals: The second Sunday in March sees a fantastically colourful parade of handmade, painted ox carts for Dia de los Boyeros, or Day of the Drover. Taking place in San Antonio de Escazu, you’ll also see traditional costumes, plus plenty of dancing and colourful celebrations.

March 19 is also the feast day of San Jose, the patron saint of Costa Rica’s capital, where it’s an official holiday,

Best for: Leatherback turtles, wildlife spotting, beaches, hiking, volcanoes

Costa Rica’s green season starts this month with rainfall increasing across the country, although you can still find warm sunny days, especially in the Central Valley, and rain tends to appear as a short, intense downpour in the late afternoon or evening, before vanishing again.

April is a great time for surfers to visit, as the swells increase on some of the country’s top surfing beaches – Puerto Viejo, on the Caribbean coast, is among the best. If you’re looking to chill out in the sun, head to the Pacific coast though, where the weather’s more likely to be good. Samara Beach, Isla Venado and Montezuma beach on the Nicoya peninsula are all tempting options

Once the Easter holidays finish, it also means the national parks become quieter, so you’ll have fewer people to share the wildlife with, especially at popular spots such as Manuel Antonio and the cloudforests of Monteverde. If your heart is set on seeing the eye-catching quetzal, April is also one of the best times to visit San Gerardo de Dota to see the decorative birdlife.

Festivals: The Semana Santa (Holy Week) festivities are a big deal in Costa Rica, with religious parades and processions. Expect a lot of places to close for holidays in the days before and around Easter as many locals head to the beaches.

There’s also a national holiday on April 11 for Día de Juan Santamaría, celebrating a boy who helped Costa Rica retain its independence by fighting off a mercenary army.

Best for: Surfing, spotting wildlife, Pacific coast beaches

Green season is firmly underway, with Costa Rica’s lush plant life exploding into vibrant greens and colourful blooms thanks to more regular afternoon and evening rainstorms, although these do help cut through the humidity as the temperature rises.

It’s a fantastic time to dodge the crowds before the worst of the wet weather sets in too. The cloudforests of Monteverde are rarely ever entirely dry and by this month you’ll see it at its full glory. Unexpectedly, it’s also a great month to spot the perfect cone of the Arenal volcano, as clouds scud past rather than settling over the peak.

If you’re craving beach time, you can still find some sun, especially if you stick to the northern part of the Pacific Coast – the Nicoya Peninsula can be a good bet this month, including Samara Beach, the surf beaches at Montezuma and Isla Venado. Or head to the east coast, where the first baby leatherback turtles are beginning to hatch at Tortuguero. Venture inland, and you’ve also got one of the best chances of spotting quetzals at San Gerardo de Dota, along with the area’s other birdlife.

Festivals: May 1 is a national holiday in Costa Rica for Día de los Trabajadores or Labour day, with parties and parades to celebrate.

And May 15 is the Día de San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers, with fairs and more parades, including plenty of chances to try traditional food in locations across the country.

Best for: Avoiding the crowds, lush scenery, baby turtles, Arenal volcano

The height of the rainy season, or ‘green season’, you’ll find heavier rains and more humid weather at the coasts, although it’s still milder and drier in the Central Valley, including at San Jose. The start of June is another good time for a holiday in Costa Rica if you’re trying to avoid the crowds, although it does get busier from the end of the month as the US school holidays begin.

If you’re looking for adventure, this month is one of the best times to go whitewater rafting in the swollen rivers, while it’s the start of prime surf season for those looking for bigger swells – both coasts will be rainy, but you can find great surf beaches at Montezuma on the Pacific Coast and Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean Coast.

Wildlife can be more active during June too if you’re prepared to brave the wet weather to explore the vibrant green rainforests and forests, with fabulous opportunities to spot some native creatures at Manuel Antonio, Corcovado National Park and the Monteverde cloudforest. Green sea turtles start nesting at Tortuguero this month too.

Festivals: June 13 sees celebrations honouring San Pedro Apostol, the patron saint of fishermen, with celebrations lasting around a week at the Fiesta San Pedro de Montes de Oca, including rodeos and bullfights without bloodshed, as well as music and dance.

Best for: Adventure sports, surf, green sea turtles, lush scenery, avoiding the crowds

There’s similar weather this month as in June, with rainfall across the country, but also some great wildlife-spotting opportunities. It’s one of the peak months to see turtles at Tortuguero, with some of the highest numbers of green sea turtles nesting here as well as one of the last chances to see leatherback turtles in the same area.

The first Olive Ridley turtles also start making their way to Ostional National Wildlife Refuge on the Pacific Coast to nest, while southern humpback whales are heading to the same coast around Uvita – base yourself around Costa Ballena to make the most of any sunny hours on the beach. While the Caribbean coast is normally rainier than the west coast year-round, July sees the start of some drier time in the east; surfers can make enjoy the bigger swells around Puerto Viejo too.

It’s a good time too for bird-watchers, with young birds hatching and fledging, including at Monteverde cloudforest or San Gerardo de Dota where you could still be lucky enough to spot a quetzal. But if you want to escape the rain, the far north-west is one of the driest areas in the country overall this month, so it’s a good time to discover the volcanic landscape and waterfalls of Rincon de la Vieja, including its volcanic thermal pools. If you’re heading off the beaten track elsewhere, the months of rain start making it harder to explore, with muddy slippery roads and trails.

Festivals: Fiesta de La Virgen del Mar takes place on the Saturday closest to July 16 at Puntarenas, with brightly coloured fishing boats heading out onto the waves to pray for another safe year at sea. Expect plenty of dancing and a parade, not to mention traditional food to enjoy.

Dia de Guanacaste on July 25 celebrates the day the province became part of Costa Rica, with fiestas, rodeos, cattle shows and folk dancing in the region and around the Nicoya peninsula.

Best for: Turtles nesting, whale-watching, bird-watching, surfing, adventure sports

The rainfall doesn’t scare away the crowds this month with school holiday visitors braving the wet weather across the country to explore. It’s not the best time to go to Costa Rica if you’re planning to venture off the beaten track though, with hiking trails – and some roads – getting muddier and less passable.

But you can find some fantastic wildlife spotting, despite the weather. It’s another peak month to see green sea turtles and some hawksbill turtles nesting at Tortuguero, while more Olive Ridley turtles are arriving at Ostional National Wildlife Refuge on the Pacific Coast. August is a great month to spot humpback whales off the west coast around Uvita too; head to Costa Ballena to plan boat trips off the coast and make the most of any sunny days by the beach.

It’s also slightly drier than usual on the Caribbean coast this month, with most rain falling in the late afternoon, so you can soak up the rays at Puerto Viejo – the swell is better for experienced surfers though.

Festivals: August 15 is a national holiday with schools and businesses closing to mark both Assumption Day and Mother’s Day.

And on August 24, there’s another public holiday for National Parks Day, celebrating the country’s national parks and protected reserves.

Best for: Turtles nesting, whale-watching, beach time on the Caribbean coast

If you’re planning when to go to Costa Rica, September definitely won’t be your first choice. The height of the wet season, you’ll have some of the rainiest weeks so it’s harder to get around as well as trickier to spot wildlife in the downpours, while trekking and hiking are off the cards in some areas.

If you’re hoping to see some of the more remote corners of the country, you may find it’s simply not possible due to the state of the roads, including the Osa Peninsula, home to Corcovado National Park.

However, the crowds will have left by this point and there is plenty of wildlife to tempt those who aren’t put off by the weather. Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of Olive Ridley turtles arrive to nest on the Pacific Coast, one of the best months to see this impressive sight, while it’s also one of the peak months to see humpback whales around Uvita and Costa Ballena. On the opposite coast, green sea turtle-nesting season continues at Tortuguero, with hawksbill turtles also arriving this month.

It’s not the best month to hit the beach on either coast, and while the rainforests, jungles and cloudforests are bursting with vibrant green life, you can expect 15 inches of rain this month in Monteverde alone, so it’s not the most tempting time to explore.

Festivals: Expect big celebrations for Independence Day on September 15, marking the date Costa Rica won its independence from Spain in 1821. A student relay race carrying a ‘freedom flashlight’ from Guatemala to the original capital of Costa Rica, Cartago, is one big highlight.

Best for: Turtles nesting, whale watching

Like September, October is not the best time to visit Costa Rica following months of rain which make some areas completely inaccessible, plus muddy roads making it hard to get around. With wildlife often sheltering from the worst of the downpours (or simply invisible in the driving rain), bad conditions for trekking and sunbathing, it’s not surprising that this is one of the quietest months for tourism to Costa Rica.

One of the main reasons to plan a holiday to Costa Rica in October is if you’re a fan of turtles. Thousands of Olive Ridley turtles come ashore on the Pacific Coast to nest this month, while Loggerhead turtles also nest on the Nicoya Peninsula from October – bear in mind this area can be cut off at times in bad weather, and the turtles do stick around until February. On the east coast at Tortuguero, it’s one of the last months for green sea turtles to lay their eggs, although there’s the possibility of tropical cyclones or hurricanes on the Caribbean coast this month.

You may still be able to spot humpback whales along the Pacific Coast too, but their migration sees them leaving from late September, and the weather conditions aren’t always the best for boat trips. If you’re not put off by the weather, you’ll have popular spots like Manuel Antonio almost to yourself as well.

Festivals: Head to San Jose on October 12 to celebrate Dia de la Raza, or Columbus Day, celebrating the explorer’s discovery of the Americas. Or in Puerto Limon, the Limon Carnival is also part of the Columbus Day celebration, with music, dancing and parades, all with an Afro-Caribbean flavour.

Best for: Turtles nesting, no crowds

The rains are beginning to come to an end in November, with the worst of the wet weather over for the year. It can still be unpredictable this month, so be prepared for both heavy showers or sunshine as you explore.

But it can also be a fantastic time to visit Costa Rica, with lush plant life after the green season, comparatively few people visiting and sunny mornings to get outdoors or to enjoy the beaches. Places which have been off limits during the rainiest months are easier to visit, including the cloudforest at Monteverde, the rainforest at Manuel Antonio and Corcovado National Park, as well as a chance to explore the jungle here.

If you’re looking for a rather different adventure, the Venado Caves reopen this month, with a chance to venture underground into a labyrinth of caverns, home to bats galore – and it’s easy to combine with a visit to Arenal volcano.

November is an ideal month for surfing too, with enough swells for more experienced surfers after the rainy season, but with drier days bringing easier waves if you’re learning. The sun is shining more on the Pacific Coast, so head to beaches like Montezuma and Samara Beach, or on the Caribbean coast, there’s great surfing around Puerto Viejo.

Festivals: Dia de los Muertos, on November 2, may be a Mexican tradition but you’ll find many Costa Ricans also spend the day remembering family members.

El Desfile de Carretas, or the Parade of Ox Carts, is another traditional festival which takes place on the third Sunday in November, featuring elaborately decorated and colourful ox carts to celebrate the role they’ve played in Costa Rican history. San Jose is a particularly good place to see it.

Best for: Trekking and climbing, exploring rainforest, surfing

The good weather is back in Costa Rica again this month with the dry season starting from December, although you can still expect the occasional shower in the rainforest, Monteverde cloudforest and on the Caribbean coast in particular. Visit towards the beginning of the month, before the main holiday season, and you can escape the worst of the crowds too.

It’s a perfect time to visit Costa Rica if you’re looking to get outdoors and see as much as possible of both coasts. The sun is shining on the beaches of the Pacific Coast, where northern humpback whales are returning to the area around Costa Ballena, as well as some migrating along the Caribbean coast too. The surf beaches are also at their best, with some great conditions for all levels on each coast, including Puerto Viejo and Montezuma

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to scenery and wildlife as well. Team beach and rainforest at popular Manuel Antonio, or head to the less explored Corcovado National Park for snorkelling and a chance to explore the jungle. Look for some of Costa Rica’s fabulous birdlife in San Gerardo de Dota or head to northern Costa Rica and Boca Tapada, where expert guides will show you corners of the country that few visitors see.

Or head out for a more active adventure, whether that’s to Arenal volcano, into the Talamanca mountains, trekking Cerro Chirripo or discovering the volcanoes of Turrialba

Festivals: There are a string of festivals during December in the weeks around Christmas, including Festival de la Luz mid-month in San Jose, with brightly lit floats, light displays and fireworks, before the San Jose Carnival from December 27.

You can also see the Tope Nacional horse parade on December 26, a celebration of Costa Rican culture and tradition, with thousands of horses and riders taking part.

And the year ends with Fiesta de los Negritos in Boruca for four days from December 30, celebrating local culture, with costumed dancing, traditional music and lots of food.

Best for: Exploring the whole country, beaches, whale-watching, wildlife spotting, trekking and hiking