Are you planning a trip to Costa Rica for the first time? Are you new to the country and don’t know which place to visit when? Then this blog is for you!
Costa Rica has many microclimates. The weather may change drastically on traveling a few kilometers. When it is dry and sunny in one place, it can be raining heavily in another. Some places experience more rainfall than others, and some places are more humid and hot than others. Checking weather updates on an application can hardly be of any use.
Hence, many tourists are baffled by the question - When is the best time to travel to Costa Rica? You will soon have the answer to this question after reading the blog.
What is the best time to visit Costa Rica?
Let's help you decide! It really depends on your expectations, your budget, your availability, the places you want to go, and the activities you want to do.
To get better clarity on the best time of the year to visit Costa Rica, let’s break it down by seasons, months, and activities. We will talk in detail about the seasons in Costa Rica, month-by-month weather and expectations, and the best time to enjoy the activities. So, let’s begin!
Two Distinctive Seasons
Costa Rica has two distinctive seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. We will talk about both in detail below.
Dry Season/Summer
The dry season, also known as the summer, is from December to April. This is the most touristy season as Christmas, New Year, and Easter/Semana Santa fall during this time.
Benefits of traveling during the dry season
The days are clear with sunny skies, and there is little to no rainfall. This is a good time to hit the beaches, go hiking as the trails are not muddy or slippery, and visit waterfalls as the water is clear. The chances of spotting wildlife are higher as they come out in bright, sunny weather.
Drawback of traveling during the dry season
You will see crowds everywhere and may have to wait in long queues. The hotels have limited availability and the prices are very high. Bookings for flights and hotels have to be made much in advance. It may get extremely hot in February and March.
Rainy Season/Winter
The rainy season, also known as winter, is from May to November. This season is also called the green season as the landscape and rainforests are painted green due to rains. The rainy season is marked by bright, sunny mornings, and rainy afternoons & evenings.
July is a mini-dry season in between the rainy season. This also coincides with school breaks in the US and Costa Rica. Therefore, July gets a little busy every year. Other than this month, the wet season is mostly a low tourist season.
Benefits of traveling during the wet season
The weather is pleasant and temperatures start dropping a little. The hotel prices are low and some tour operators even give discounts on tours. The crowds start to thin out and you may get beaches and waterfalls all to yourself.
Drawback of traveling during the wet season
Chances of spotting wildlife are lower as they hide in the rain. Many places may be restricted or closed due to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Some activities like ziplining and rafting, may also be restricted.
Costa Rica by Months
Let’s dive deeper into each month and see what it holds for us!
January
January marks the beginning of the dry season in Costa Rica. The skies are clear and the days are bright and sunny. The vegetation is still lush green from the recently concluded rainy season. This is a great time to visit beaches and national parks.
The beginning of January sees heavy crowds, as the holiday season (Christmas and New Year) has just ended. However, from the second week onwards, crowds start to disappear and hotel prices start dropping.
February & March
February and March are the driest and hottest months of the year in Costa Rica. But this is a good time for hiking, birding, going to the beaches, and getting a clear view of the volcanoes.
March may get busy as it is spring break in the US. Also, Costa Rica observes Holy Week (Semana Santa in Spanish) during Easter. If Easter falls in March of that year, all of the popular destinations will be swelling with crowds. The locals want to make the best use of this one-week-long vacation and head to the beaches and hot springs with their families.
Prices of hotels go up and availability is limited. Therefore, plan ahead, and book your tickets in advance if you want to visit during this time of the year.
April
The landscape starts to lose its green color by this month. If Easter is in April of that year, you will find heavy crowds in this month. The hotel room will cost you more, and you will have to wait in long queues at restaurants and national parks. You will also need to make all reservations in advance.
April marks the end of the dry season in Costa Rica, and sometimes, rains may even start by the end of the month.
May & June
May officially marks the beginning of the rainy season in Costa Rica. However, this is still the transition period from dry to wet season. The temperature starts to drop, and the crowds start to decline. As do the hotel prices.
June is when Costa Rica sees consistent rains. The mornings are bright and sunny, and the afternoons are wet. The rainforests start to turn green. Schools have a vacation in this month so it may get a little busy with the locals going on a family vacation.
July & August
July is tourist season in Costa Rica for various reasons. Firstly, it’s a mini summer/mini dry season in between the rainy season. Secondly, it’s the summer break in North America, so a lot of tourists fly down to Costa Rica. Thirdly, the local schools here are still on a break, so you will also find the local crowd. Fourthly, July marks the beginning of the whale watching season in the South Pacific and the green sea turtle nesting season in Tortuguero.
To sum it up, July is a good time to visit Costa Rica. The weather is nice and pleasant. The hotel prices are low, and it’s a good time for most of the activities.
The crowds start to decline by August and rains start coming back as the mini-summer is over. The whale watching and turtle nesting season continues into August.
September & October
These are the rainiest months of the year, and hence the low season. There are days of prolonged rainfall, with chances of landslides and flash floods in some areas. The waterfalls are swelling with water, but this may not be a good time to visit as they may be unsafe for swimming. However, there is an added benefit of fewer tourists, empty beaches, and lower hotel prices.
When the rest of the country is experiencing heavy rainfall, the Caribbean coast gets some relief from the rains. Therefore, September & October is a good time to go to Limon i.e. Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, and Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast. The turtle nesting season is still going on in Tortuguero!
November
This is the shoulder season. The rains are beginning to become less frequent and are unpredictable. The crowds start coming in at the end of November when the world is celebrating Thanksgiving and it’s beginning to get cold in other countries.
December
The beginning to mid-December marks the end of the rainy season in Costa Rica. People start gearing up for the holiday season. The days are bright and sunny, and it’s a good time to hit the beaches.
By mid-December, crowds have built-up. Make hotel and flight reservations much in advance due to limited availability and chances of prices going up. Understandably, this is the most expensive time of the year for tourism. Popular destinations may be overflowing with tourists and you may even have to wait for your turn at restaurants. Guanacaste, on the North Pacific coast, is popular for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Costa Rica by Activities
What activities can you do at what time of the year? Let’s take a look!
Nature & Wildlife
The wet season brings out the green in the flora. Everything looks more beautiful and you can see the contrasting colors in nature. The beaches are lined with lush green rainforests. Whereas, the vegetation starts to lose its color in the dry season.
As for seeing wildlife, the dry season is definitely a better time. The animals come out on sunny days and are the most active in mornings. However, the whale watching season and the turtle nesting season in Costa Rica take place during the wet season. So plan your trip accordingly!
Beaches
Every day is a good day to hit the beach. Bright sunny days make the water look more blue. Rains and clouds add a mystical touch to the shore.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that some beaches may get very hot during the dry season as the temperatures soar high. Beaches in Guanacaste and the Caribbean Coast are known to be more hot and humid during the dry season.
The only other factor to consider is the crowd. If you like empty beaches, go during the wet season. If you are okay with the crowds, go during the dry season as you will not be bothered by the rain.
Waterfalls
In our experience, it’s better to visit waterfalls during the dry season. The waterfalls look more beautiful and clear in the dry season. Waterfalls like Rio Celeste turn brown (as opposed to deep blue) if it has just rained and some waterfalls are dangerous for swimming during the rainy season. And what’s the fun if you can’t take a dip in the water?
Hot Springs
You can visit the hot springs around the year. Even rain cannot spoil the fun! Some hot springs are open till night, so really, there is no bad time to enjoy a peaceful and relaxing time in the hot springs.
Water Activities
It depends on the type of water activity you are planning to do and where you want to do it.
Rafting only takes place in the rainy season i.e. May through November. Snorkeling & scuba diving at Isla Murcielago is also in the rainy season, whereas at Isla del Cano is in the dry season.
The rainy season is the peak surfing season for experienced and intermediate surfers. For beginners, it’s better to stick to the dry season when the waves are mellow.
Ziplining
We have done ziplining multiple times and we can say that the wet season is not a good time for ziplining. Firstly, ziplining can be suspended if there are strong winds or thunderstorms. Secondly, there is a low visibility of the rainforests below if it’s raining. Thirdly, the raindrops will hit you hard on the face when you are at that much speed.
All of the above happened to us in late November. Therefore, we would advise you to go ziplining in Costa Rica during the dry season.
Volcanoes
The craters of the volcanoes have better visibility during the dry season and in the early morning. Some volcano parks, like Arenal Volcano National Park, may even close down during heavy rains and thunderstorms.
Final thoughts
Got your answer yet? Well, if you see, there is really no bad time to visit Costa Rica. Each season has its own charm and there will always be some activities for you to do in that month. A little bit of research and planning is all that you need to do, and you are set for your perfect Costa Rica vacation!
We sincerely hope you enjoy your time in Costa Rica. Good luck!
Comments