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When is the Best Time to Visit Costa Rica?

March 17, 2020 By Sammi 38 Comments

Are you trying to decide when is the best time to visit Costa Rica? We can help!

The best time to visit Costa Rica will depend on what kind of vacation you’re looking for. Are you on a budget? Do you like crowds? Yearning to escape the cold and bask in the sun? All of these factors will help determine when is the best time to visit Costa Rica for your trip.

Weather is one of the biggest factors for when is the best time to visit Costa Rica. The climate changes throughout the country so you need to take that into account when Costa Rica trip planning. Whether you’re not sure if May is a good month, if you should travel during rainy season or if January is good for turtle watching, this post will help.

**If you had to reschedule due to the coronavirus, this post will help greatly.**

When is the Best Time to Visit Costa Rica?

First, we need to go over the weather because like I mentioned above, it is one of the main factors to help visitors decide when to visit Costa Rica. You can read in detail about weather in this post or read on below.

Dry Season to Escape the Rain

If you’re coming to Costa Rica to escape the rain, the best months are end of December – end of APril which is Costa Rica’s dry season. You will see little to no rain during these months! Especially on the Pacific coasts like the Guanacaste province or Nicoya Peninsula.

Best time to visit costa rica - dry season
Dry season in Guanacaste. Very hot and dry

If you just want to soak up the sun and escape the Northern Hemisphere winters, January – April is the best time to visit Costa Rica!

Key things to know about visiting Costa Rica during dry season

  • This is high season. Rates are more expensive as it is Costa Rica’s “summer” and there are lots more tourists during that time. This is also the time when all the snowbirds come since it is winter up there.
  • It’s very crowded and busy in popular tourist destinations such as Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo and La Fortuna. Make sure to book your hotels, car rentals and tours well before your trip starts!
  • It is HOT! We live in Guanacaste and it can get tough. The hottest months are March and April where it is 100 F (37 C) and very dry for weeks on end.

Dry season months are best for those who want to escape the rain and cold. It also works well for schools with winter and spring break during dry season.

Rainy Season to Experience the Tropical Weather and Save Money

Rainy or green season is generally from middle of May – beginning of December and this is considered as Costa Rica’s “winter.” Rates are lower, there are less tourists,and some businesses close during this time, particularly September and October. Some hotels also do their renovations and remodels during October.

If you’re traveling on a budget, rainy season months are the best since rates are lower. You can save money on hotels and car rentals since they are cheaper that time of year.

Best time to visit costa rica - dry season
Playas del Coco in rainy season. So green!

Rainy season gives you a unique perspective of Costa Rica that not many people see. You do need to come prepared for rain though!

Key things to know about visiting Costa Rica in rainy season

  • October is the rainiest month (except for the Caribbean).
  • You must come prepared for rain which means bringing waterproof equipment, a rain jacket, etc.
  • You will need to research destinations to create an appropriate itinerary for your budget and standards.
  • Renting a 4×4/4wd may be necessary depending on your destinations because roads get worse in rainy season.
  • This is the best time for wildlife watching, particularly whales and turtles in August and September.
  • Mosquitoes are worse during this time due to the stagnant water.

Not sure if you should visit in rainy season? Read our tips for visiting Costa Rica in rainy season here.

Rainy season is best for budget travelers, wildlife lovers and those who don’t mind a bit of rain. Although you may run into some rainy days and thunderstorms, you’re rewarded with less crowds, empty beaches and cheaper rates. In our opinion, we love rainy season because everything is much more lush and green.

Holidays to Keep in Mind

There are 3 times of the year where it is extremely busy and you may even want to avoid if you don’t like crowds. These are what they call “peak season” and is considerably more expensive to travel. If you visit during these times of year, make sure to book everything at least 2 months beforehand!

Christmas/New Years

If you are spending your holidays in Costa Rica, book ASAP! Hotels and car rentals go super fast and it is really expensive during these times. Costa Ricans also have vacation and many of them go to the coast to spend their time off, so if you’re going to the beach you need to book everything asap at least 2-3 months in advance. Earlier the better because you can sometimes get cheaper car rental rates if you book super early for Christmas.

Semana Santa

Week of Easter. This is a huge holiday in Costa Rica as majority of the country is Catholic and they get a whole week off. Locals flock to the coasts as well so if you’re traveling the week of Easter, book your hotels and cars fast. It’s almost as big as Christmas/New Years, if not the same.

Mid winter break

Generally the 2nd to 3rd week of July. Many tourists don’t know about this one, but this is a mid winter break for schools so kids have a whole week (two for private schools) off and the locals go on vacation. It’s also peak season for foreigners as this is summer break up north so again, book your things asap and expect crowds.

Shoulder Months for the Best of Both Dry and Rainy Seasons

If you ask Yeison and I what are our favorite months in Costa Rica, we love the shoulder months. This is May, June and November. These are the transition months between dry and rainy season so you can experience the best of both and there are way less people.

November is when the rain starts letting up and tourists start trickling in. By the end of November however is when most snowbirds come so we recommend the beginning to middle of November before American Thanksgiving.

best time to visit costa rica - november shoulder month
November in Costa Rica. Still green, few showers, less people.

May and June is when the rain starts but you’ll still get plenty of hot sunny days. There are less tourists, majority of the snowbirds go home and companies start offering promotions to get ready for the low season.

In July, we normally get a “little summer” where the rain lets up for about a week or so. But do keep in mind that tropical weather is fairly unpredictable so do still come prepared for rain if you visit in July.

The Caribbean

If you’re going to the Caribbean side, it doesn’t follow the strict rainy/dry season months. It is much more humid with temperatures hovering in the high 80 F (31 C) all year round.

best time to visit costa rica - caribbean
Playa Chiquita in September. Rained at night, even had a small hurricane come through

The driest month on the Caribbean coast is typically October and January to March are usually sunny with good waves for surfer and good snorkeling. In November and June, it can rain almost every day. So the best months for those who want to avoid rain on the Caribbean side would be September and October.

High season months for the Caribbean are August and September for Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo. Tortuguero can be very crowded during those months.

After Thanksgiving to Middle of December

This period of time is considered a low season since most people don’t travel after Thanksgiving to the last two weeks of December so if you are able to, that is a great time to visit Costa Rica. It will be pretty rainy for most of the country but it’s very green, you can still have sunny mornings and it is not crowded at all.

We went surfing every day from November to end of December and the last week of November to the 2nd week of December was super empty in Tamarindo. For a few days, there were only 4 people surfing! In high season, it can be up to 60 people at once so this is an excellent time to visit Costa Rica if you don’t like crowds and don’t mind rain.

The Best Time to Visit Costa Rica According to Activities

Beaches

If you’re coming to Costa Rica purely to enjoy the beaches and hot weather, definitely come during January, February, March and April. You will come back looking a lot tanner than when you came!

The hottest months are March and April but January and February are also very hot and dry. After New Years to around end of January, there still aren’t a ton of tourists so it’s not super crowded. Once it hits February, it gets a lot more crowded and March and April are generally the most crowded months.

Keep in mind about the Caribbean weather however as it doesn’t adhere to the dry/rainy season cycle.

Nature and Wildlife

For those looking to enjoy a nature vacation with wildlife or bird watching, the best time to visit Costa Rica is during rainy season. The months of August, September, October and November are optimal months to see turtles and whales.

If you like waterfalls, rainy season is the best since the waterfalls are much bigger with the extra water. More fun to sit under and swim in the pool!

If you like birds, March and April are the best times to see Resplendant Quetzals up in the cloud forests as it is their mating season.

Check what are the best months to see other wildlife like toucans, dolphins and sloths in our Costa Rica wildlife post.

Cloud forests

I know that some people actually don’t like the heat so if you are one of those, come during rainy season. Up in the mountains and cloud forests, it can get all the way down to the 60s F (18 C) and even lower if it rains and is windy at night. In dry season, the hottest it gets is around high 70s F (26 C) so it’s very comfortable. January – March can be super windy up in the mountains.

You’ll still be able to do everything – canopy tour, hiking, etc. but your schedule will depend more on the weather. You’ll just need to be a bit more prepared when it comes to packing. Here are our guides to help you.

Our complete guide to packing for rainy season in Costa Rica.

Our guide to packing for Costa Rica.

Make sure to bring long pants and a sweater!

Hiking

Hiking is better in dry season since paths aren’t muddy or covered in forest debris. You’ll also have a guaranteed chance to see the view at the top. When we hiked Cerro Chato in rainy season, we saw fog, fog and more fog. It’s already a tough hike, but it was even harder with mini rivers and mud up to our ankles!

If you’re going to Rio Celeste, do note that the river may turn a cloudy brown color once rainy season gets under way so the you won’t be able to see the sky blue color. This can happen September – November. Rio Celeste is best during dry season.

Waterfalls

After the first few hard rains, waterfalls turn a kind of murky color due to all the debris. A couple months later and it clears up and the waterfalls get much more full so it is fun to visit.

When we visited La Fortuna waterfall in October, it was a very murky brown. Nauyaca waterfalls in August wasn’t very pleasant as the waterfall was so full, we couldn’t even walk all the way down and the wind was really strong so we could barely see anything.

Water Activities

River rafting and tubing is best done during rainy season as the rivers will be full and the rafting is much better. You can still do snorkeling and scuba diving, go boating, jet ski, kayak, and sail but you will have to keep an eye on the winds. If it’s too choppy out or if it’s raining too hard, going out in the water is not a great idea.

Fishing is best during rainy season and surfing varies throughout the country and time of the year. Rainy season has more swells which is good for pro surfers. Snorkeling is not the best at the beginning of rainy season due to all the debris going into the water but it clears up a few weeks later.

Monthly Breakdown

  1. January & February: Tons of tourists for the New Year, starts to decrease a few days after the 1st. The 2nd to last week of January is a great time to visit since it’s great weather, prices go back to normal after the New Year and still a bit green. Hot, but not quite as hot as the following months. Great time for dry season travel for both beaches and rain forest. February stars picking up in tourists and gets very dry.
  2. March & April: Hottest times of the year for most of the country. Tons of tourists because of Easter and spring break up north. Expensive to travel. Super hot, very dry for Guanacaste, looks like a desert and waterfalls are reduced to a trickle and rivers dry up. Good time for the South Pacific/Osa Peninsula. Great for surfing as big swells on the North Pacific are common. Great time for Monteverde, especially as it’s Resplendant Quetzal nesting season. May start getting some rains end of April up in the mountains or rainforest areas.
  3. May & June: Transition months from dry to rainy. Landscapes start turning green with the first rains and temperatures cool down a little bit. Less tourists than previous months but still a good chunk.
  4. July: More tourists because of summer break up in North America and mid winter break in Costa Rica. Great weather, has a “little summer” with sunny days. Excellent for water activities.
  5. August: Best month for wildlife such as whales, turtles and dolphins. Beginning of the month sees lots of tourists, end of the month starts dying down. Common to have sunny skies in the morning and rainy afternoons/evenings.
  6. September and October: Most popular time for Europeans, especially on the Caribbean as that side starts raining less. Still great time for wildlife, rains a bit more often. Cheapest time to travel because this is the lowest off season months.
  7. November: Rainy. Beginning of November doesn’t have many tourists, towards the end of the month is when the snowbirds come down. Best time to see turtles, especially the Olive Ridley turtles during the arribadas.
  8. December: Rain starts to let up but you still may get some rainy days. On the coasts, it is crazy packed the last two weeks for Christmas as both foreign tourists and city locals flock to the beaches. Very expensive to travel. The first two weeks of December are not as crowded.

Personal Preference

The best time to visit Costa Rica will mostly depend on the person and what vacation they’re looking for.

So if you want:

  • To avoid the rain: Come in dry season, December – April for most of the country. September/October for the Caribbean.
  • To travel on a budget: Travel during low (rainy) season or shoulder months.
  • Get the best of both dry and rainy season: come during the shoulder months of May, June and November.
  • To escape tourists: Come during September/October/end of November to middle of December.

Need some ideas for itineraries? Check out our favorite Costa Rica itinerary ideas!

And don’t forget to get travel insurance for any time of the year you visit Costa Rica.

 

Filed Under: About Costa Rica

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Osvaldo Arango says

    March 23, 2020

    Just wanted to say thank you to Mytanfeet for all of their support in making my March 2020 Costa Rica vacation a great success! From the first time I communicated with Mytanfeet their responses where always quick and very informative. I used their rental car link to make rental car reservation as well as had them coordinate Adobe delivery and pickup of the car at my vacation residence in Playas Del Coco. This worked without any problems. Due to the late arrival Mytanfeet also schedule airport transfers to pick us up at the airport and take us back on day of departure. Will definitely use their services in the future. Also likedall of the information on the website about rental cars, things to do, cell phone usage, and currency exchange it was very helpful and informative.

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      March 25, 2020

      Thank you for your feedback and message Osvaldo, we were very happy to help and glad to hear you had a good experience. Thank you for reading Mytanfeet and we hope to see you back in Costa Rica one day!

      Reply
  2. Sammi says

    March 27, 2019

    Hi Vinny, it will depend on where you are going. May is a very nice month and you an go to mountain areas like the Central Valley (Grecia/San Ramon/Bajos del Toro) for beautiful mountains, fresh weather, forest and waterfalls. And it’s always green there and will be nice in May. Only in Guanacaste/Nicoya Peninsula does it look like a desert (Pacific coast).

    Reply
  3. vinny says

    March 27, 2019

    Hi, for travel in the 2nd week of May, will the place be still dry and hot? you mentioned it is a shoulder month and rain starts by then. We don’t like extreme hot and like to see some greenery while we are there, we like lush green mountains and waterfalls. Will the place be dry and still look like a desert at that time?

    Reply
  4. danielle says

    July 12, 2018

    Hi!
    We were in Guanacaste in mid September of 2017 and it was beautiful – very little rain (an occasional but quick to pass storm here and there), and not too hot.
    We are coming back this year in Mid August with my family. I am skeptical of my Iphone weather report of Guanacaste, which has basically been showing rain every single day for the past month. But, as skeptical as I am, I am also concerned – is the weather really that horrible right now, and is it common for it to rain non-stop in the month of August in Guanacaste?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      July 16, 2018

      Hi Danielle, not really. August is the start of our rainiest period but Guanacaste generally doesn’t rain as much as other areas in Costa Rica. And it doesn’t really rain non stop, it’s off and on rain. The general day in Guanacaste is sunny in the mornings and cloudy and rainy in the afternoon/night.

      Reply
  5. Linda Tolliver says

    April 6, 2018

    Linda
    April 6,2018

    My group of 10 ladies are traveling to Guanacaste July 21-28 can you give me a break down on the weather.

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      April 7, 2018

      Hi Linda, you can read all about weather, forecasts and more in this post: Reply

  6. Anna says

    April 2, 2018

    Hi very useful blog. We will arrive midJune for 10 days and meet our son there doing world tour. We opted for the Pacific 5 days Samara and 5 days Tamarindo. My husband has some mobility problems difficulty walking without a cane so we intend to rent a car. What best to visit in view of this problem. Thanks

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      April 2, 2018

      Hi Anna, Samara and Tamarindo are nice towns and they have hotels right in town and on the beach which will be very convenient. The roads through both towns are paved as well. I have written some posts on renting a car which you can read here: Costa Rica car rental tips and we also have a car rental discount with Adobe Rent a Car, a local car rental company to give discounts and benefits. You can make a reservation or a quote on this page here: Costa Rica car rental discount.

      Parking is a bit tight in Samara and Tamarindo since they are small towns with narrow roads but there is parking right along the beach and in town.

      Reply
  7. Frannie says

    February 13, 2018

    Hi! The information in your blog is great! Thank you. We will be honeymooning the first week of November. Starting in San Jose and than ending in Gunacaste. I was wondering if the road trip between the two will be difficult to navigate?

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      February 13, 2018

      Hi Frannie, San Jose to Guanacaste is not too bad of a drive. It is all on paved roads and depending where in Guanacaste you’re going, through the Interamericana highway if you’re going to the GUlf of Papagayo beaches (Coco/Ocotal/Hermosa/etc.). It is about a 4 hour drive from San Jose to Tamarindo and Coco and a bit longer to Samara. It’s a long drive but it’s not too bad. Just know that there will be some slow trucks on the way and the road is usually only one lane so you’ll have to pass but take your time and enjoy the drive. We do recommend using Waze, the GPS app to help you navigate.

      Reply
  8. Misty says

    January 14, 2018

    We are coming May 4-14 this year and would like to experience the rain forest and black sand beaches but then also have access to night life. We prefer to be eco friendly but do not mind a couple of days of luxury. Do you have any recommendations of areas/destinations for us?

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      January 14, 2018

      Hi Misty, I’d check out Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. There is one black sand beach near the town, it has a very lively nightlife (big party town) and lots of lush rain forest. You can find mostly eco-conscious lodging with some luxury. Here is our guide to Puerto Viejo: https://mytanfeet.com/costa-rica-beach-information/puerto-viejo-de-talamanca-costa-rica/ and this is the black sand beach (Playa Negra): https://mytanfeet.com/costa-rica-beach-information/playa-negra-puerto-viejo-costa-rica/

      Reply
  9. Alejandra says

    June 28, 2017

    Hey ! I’ve been following your blog. I was wondering what is the weather like during the end of august and beginning of september? I was thinking going to CR for the first time. Thank you !

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      June 28, 2017

      Hi Alejandra, it depends on what part of the country you are going since Costa Rica has 26 different micro-climates but August/Sept is rainy season so expect and come prepared for rain. You can read more about weather in Costa Rica in this post: Costa Rica weather

      Reply
  10. Craig says

    April 6, 2017

    Driving from San Jose to the springs first week of May. Any suggested stops along the way?

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      April 6, 2017

      There are some really nice views when you go up through San Ramon. There’s a restaurant that has a nice view (I can’t remember the name). It’s a pretty drive, enjoy!

      Reply
  11. RB says

    April 4, 2017

    Hello, we are visiting the Caribbean side, Tortuguero and PV from April 12-April 22. What should we expect for crowds over the Easter holiday?

    Reply
    • yeison says

      April 5, 2017

      Hello RB,

      Yes, Puerto Viejo on Easter week is very busy, Tortuguero doesn’t get as many locals as Puerto Viejo.

      Reply
  12. gefen maayan says

    March 20, 2017

    Hi,
    Thank you very much for the post!

    I couldn’t understand- if we are coming on 10-17 of April-
    is it still the dry season?
    our plan is poaz- Arnel- montevarda- manuel.
    we want to combine between the volcanoes, rain forest ,reservations, canopy, and a little bit beachs in manuel.

    -Do we still have a chance to see animals?
    -Do we need to be prepare with rain equipment or that it too early?

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      March 21, 2017

      April is generally the hottest month so it is still dry season. You can still see wildlife and you won’t need to bring any rain equipment at all, though I do recommend a jacket for Monteverde as it cools down at night.

      Reply
  13. Sammi says

    March 14, 2017

    Hi Mac, at the RIU there will be very few birds. Guanacaste is very dry and at the beach, there aren’t many birds (no toucans, macaws, very few hummingbirds but some parrots, flycatchers, pelicans, frigates). The best places for birdwatching are Monteverde and Osa Peninsula. You can take a day trip to Monteverde but the best time to see birds is in the morning, though you may still have a chance to see some.

    Reply
  14. Mac says

    March 14, 2017

    We are arriving in Costa Rica on 10 January staying at riu guanacaste from what you say it is the dry season Wil we still see plenty of birds and animals looking forward to the trip thank you for all your information very helpfull . birdwatching is our main hobby

    Reply
  15. Debra says

    March 9, 2017

    I have been doing alot of reading about the wet season and the dry season. Nothing much is ever said about the very first week of December. We will be there the 4th for 8 days. Not sure what temps it is going to be. Doing a guided tour starting in SanJose and making a loop back. Doing the I quess typical. Rain forest, Cloud forest, volcano, river trip, beach etc. Any help? Thanks

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      March 9, 2017

      Hi Debra, first week of December is the end of rainy season. It still may be raining quite a bit but the time between THanksgiving to CHristmas is not very busy so you won’t see a lot of crowds.

      Reply
  16. Sammi says

    February 22, 2017

    Mosquitoes are present in tropical countries all year round due to the climate, April is for most of the country, one of our hottest months. It will be right towards the end of dry season so it won’t be as bad as rainy season and it does depend on where you are going. You can read more about weather in Costa Rica here:Costa Rica weather and mosquitoes in Costa Rica here: Best mosquito repellent

    Reply
  17. Mary Wilson says

    February 21, 2017

    We are looking forward to visiting Costa Rica in April for our 40th wedding anniversary. How are the mosquitoes this time of the year?

    Reply
  18. Jocelyn says

    January 19, 2017

    An informative and useful blog for our first visit to Costa Rica, particularly as we don’t speak Spanish. Very helpful: well written – thank you both so much!

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      January 19, 2017

      Thanks for reading JOcelyn and glad it’s useful 🙂

      Reply
      • Anna says

        January 28, 2018

        We are going to CR mid July. Our first stop is San Jose and then on to La Fortuna. I was wondering if there are sites that we shouldn’t miss since we will only be visiting for about 5-6 days.

        Reply
        • Sammi says

          January 28, 2018

          Hi Anna, you can read our La Fortuna guide here: La Fortuna and here are our favorite things to do in La Fortuna: Things to do in Arenal and La Fortuna

          For San Jose, here is our guide: Things to do in San Jose. I hope they give you some ideas of things to do and see in the area.

          Reply
  19. Eunice says

    December 31, 2016

    I love your blog…very informative. Gracias

    My husband and I (from Alberta, Canada) are very excited and looking forward to our first trip to Costa Rica in April.

    Keep up the great work!

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      December 31, 2016

      Hi Eunice, thanks for reading our blog. Have a great time in CR 🙂

      Reply
  20. Sammi says

    October 20, 2016

    Hi Jesse, normally humpbacks but pilot whales are also seen. You can read more about what whales you can see in CR here: Humpback whales Costa Rica

    Reply
  21. Jesse Stanford says

    October 20, 2016

    What kind of whales do you normally see?

    Reply
  22. James Corkery says

    September 27, 2016

    A very comprehensive and well-detailed post. It is a complete wealth of information related to Costa Rica.

    Reply
    • Sammi says

      September 29, 2016

      Thank you! Glad it’s helpful 🙂

      Reply

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