COSTA RICA BY MONTH
You might have read that “anytime is a good time to visit Costa Rica” but if you have been waiting to visit Costa Rica for a long time, saving up for years and can only visit for one or two weeks, it makes sense you want to make sure you choose the best time of year to visit to have the most memorable trip ever.
On this page, you will find our dedicated articles about Costa Rica month to month. This will be helpful for you to get an idea of what to expect for your visit or to help you decide when to visit Costa Rica.
The most important things to note are weather (dry and rainy seasons), road conditions, prices and volume of tourists. You will find our personal recommendations and short descriptions of various activities and places in Costa Rica by month.
JANUARY
January in Costa Rica is the first full month of the country’s dry season, offering sunny days and high temperatures. Ideal for beach activities, wildlife watching and exploring national parks. Is also the official start of high tourism season.
FEBRUARY
February is a great time to escape the Northern Hemisphere winters with dry and sunny days, great wildlife watching, beautiful sunsets and cultural festivities. One of the busiest tourism months in Costa Rica.
MARCH
March offers plenty of fun outdoor activities and wildlife watching opportunities as it is the peak of dry season with high temperatures and dry skies. This month is very busy due to Northern Hemisphere spring break and Holy Week if it lands in March.
APRIL
April is the last month of the dry season and the first half is still high tourism season with great weather. Some places may start transitioning to rainy season by the end of the month. Depending on the year if Holy Week falls in April, it is very crowded the first couple weeks of the month.
MAY
May is the first official month of rainy season, bringing a bit lower temperatures and more humidity. Expect intermittent rains and beautiful mornings. It is a low tourism season month so an ideal time to visit for budget travelers.
JUNE
June has more consistent rain but the temperatures do not drop that much. It is a low tourism season month so a great time to enjoy cheaper prices and less crowds. The end of the month does start getting a little busier.
JULY
July sees a break from the rain thanks to the “little summer” phenomenon around the first to third week of the month. It is a mini second high season with Northern Hemisphere families arriving for summer vacation so it can get be very busy.
AUGUST
August is a typical rainy season month with consistent rains and high humidity. Crowds go down considerably during the latter half of the month. Fantastic time to see humpback whales and sea turtles.
SEPTEMBER
September is one of the lowest tourism months of the year and is also generally the second rainiest month for most of the country. The Caribbean side starts seeing more sun by the end of September. This month still offers a nice, tropical jungley experience but has more consistent and longer rains.
OCTOBER
October is the raininest month for most of the country, except for the Caribbean side which enjoys plenty of sunshine. It is the lowest tourism month with many businesses closing. Best time to travel on a budget and for less crowds but with the exchange of much more rain and cloudy days.
NOVEMBER
November is the last month of the rainy season and some places start their dry season by the last week of the month. Expect consistent tropical rains with comfortable temperatures. Last month of the low season before the next high tourism season starts.
DECEMBER
December is the official start of the dry season but many places do not end their rainy season until the latter half of the month. Very comfortable temperatures and high winds. The first half of the month is not very crowded or busy, but the last two weeks for the Christmas and New Years holiday is the peak season with the highest prices and biggest crowds.
Costa Rica Quick Facts
- Sunrise and sunset is roughly the same all year round, with a difference of around 15 minutes. Sunrise is generally 6 AM with first light around 530 AM and sunset is 530 PM, dark by 6 PM.
- Costa Rica uses 110 V and drives on the right hand side of the road.
- Local currency is called the colón. Exchange rate ~520 CRC to 1 USD.
- Spanish is the main language.
- Costa Rica is 8-12 degrees from the equator.
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.