February is right in the middle of Costa Rica’s summer, in the middle of the high tourism season and a great time to see wildlife in Costa Rica. Prices are not cheap but not as high as peak season prices. It is quite busy in major tourist destinations, but you’ll be able to experience the classic Costa Rican summer, or verano.
In this post, you’ll learn about what February in Costa Rica is like so you know what to expect for your trip.
If you’re looking to save some $$ on your trip, check out our Mytanfeet deals page! We partnered with a rental car company, hotels and tour operators to give discounts exclusively for our readers. Click here to enter our deals page. There are affiliate links in this post.
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 ~500 CRC to 1 USD.
- Spanish is the main language.
- Costa Rica is 8-12 degrees from the equator.
February in Costa Rica Weather
February is a great time to visit as it is the month with the lowest precipitation in Costa Rica which means sunny blue skies and dry windy days throughout the country. This great weather makes this month extremely busy, full of snowbirds and winter escapees.
Something notable about February weather in Costa Rica are the Papagayo winds, concentrated mostly in the northwest. These are strong winds that come from the cold and dry air up north and as they blow across Costa Rica, displaces the warm and humid air which can cause gusts up to 100 kph.
The exception is the Caribbean coast, which does not strictly follow the tropical seasons and has their own climate. More information below.
Below is a description of the weather in popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica.
Guanacaste and Nicoya Peninsula
The Guanacaste coast and Nicoya Peninsula have dried up completely, leaving forest covered mountains yellow, dry and arid. Temperatures are at a constant mid 90s° F (35° C) throughout the day and 75° F (25° C) at night.
Expect nothing except waking up to sunny blue skies, high temperatures and a blazing sun. The air is dry and there’s a lot of dust, especially in the Nicoya Peninsula.
Central Valley
This area has what many say the best weather in the country. The GAM (San Jose, Heredia, Alajuela and Cartago) enjoys breezy dry days in the mid 70s – 80s° F (25-29° C) and cools down to 60-65° F (15-18° C) at night. If you prefer more temperate climates, the Central Valley may be the ideal place to enjoy Costa Rica’s summer.
La Fortuna
La Fortuna in the Northern Lowlands enjoys many hot and partly cloudy days in February but there still may be the occasional shower due to the tropical rainforest. You might get taken by surprise with a random downpour while hiking at Arenal Volcano National Park so pack a light poncho and you’ll all set. It’ll still be nicely hot! Average daytime temperatures are low 80s° F (27 C) and night time temperatures are low 70s° F (21° C).
Jaco and Manuel Antonio
Hot, sunny and humid, the three best words to describe Jaco and Manuel Antonio in February. These areas, although in the tropical rainforests of the Central Pacific coast will see little to no rain. If it does rain, it will probably be sprinkles in late evenings and nights. Average day time temperatures are upper 80s to low 90s° F (31 – 33° C) and average night time temperatures are around mid 70s° F (25° C).
Costa Ballena and Osa Peninsula
The lush South Pacific and Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica stay lush even in dry February, but it’s that way due to rain in the mountains. Although it’s hot, humid and sunny along the coast and the beaches of Dominical, Uvita, Ojochal and the Osa Peninsula, it may still rain hard for a few days up in the rainforest covered mountains. Average temperatures are very similar to Jaco and Manuel Antonio.
Caribbean Coast (Tortuguero, Limon and Puerto Viejo)
The Caribbean coast tends to follow a different weather pattern and doesn’t strictly adhere to the tropical dry and rainy season. In February, Tortuguero, Limon and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca may dry up a bit compared to January. It may still rain but is usually less. Average day time temperatures are mid 80s° F (29° C) and average night time temperatures are around low 70s° F (21° C).
Monteverde
Known as the land of rainbows, Monteverde experiences a mix of dry and rain throughout February. It can be warm and sunny one minute, and then the next, spring showers for the next hour.
When it rains, it’s not a tropical storm but more like April showers. It’s windy, fresh and crisp up in the mountains. The constant cloud cover is still there in Monteverde, even in the dry month of February.
Average temperatures are high 70s° F (25° C) in the day time and low 60s° F (15° C) in the night time.
Prices in February in Costa Rica
February, being the middle of high tourism season isn’t cheap. Its not as expensive as peak season (Holy Week and Christmas), but it’s not a budget friendly month to travel to Costa Rica. Being such a busy month, many popular attractions and private guides sell out days in advance. Same goes for popular boutique hotels and resorts.
Make sure you book your tours, hotels, rental cars and tickets in advance, especially if you have any “must sees” you want to tick off your list. Book early (4-6 months in advance) to get the best prices. Book late, and you may be stuck with whatever is left over and it may not be the best quality and it will definitely not be the best price, this is especially true for rental cars.
Airfare tends to increase for February is you book late, so you will want to book your tickets in advance as well. I have generally found round trip tickets from Seattle to Costa Rica around $700-800 USD for February when booking last minute (like a month before). Get a travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire and start collecting travel points to use if you can only travel in February.
Crowds in February in Costa Rica
If you plan to visit any popular tourist destinations like Tamarindo, Jaco, La Fortuna, Puerto Viejo, Monteverde, Playas del Coco and Manuel Antonio, expect traffic and lots of people. Make sure to leave with plenty of time to get to the airport for your flight home, add at least 1 hour or more to long cross country drives and be prepared to have a hard time finding parking at the popular beaches on the weekends. As the Costa Rican school year doesn’t start until about the second week of February, many local families are still on vacation and the weekends will be very busy at the beaches for the first half of the month.
The upside to visiting Costa Rica in February is if you’re a solo traveler, it will be easy to meet people and join tours and shared shuttles. Most tours/shared shuttles require a minimum of 2 people to run but as a solo traveler, you will have plenty of choices of which tour to join as February is very busy.
If you plan to visit any popular national parks like Manuel Antonio National Park, Tenorio Volcano National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (particularly the night walk) and Corcovado National Park, expect crowds and make sure to buy your tickets/make reservations early!
Best Things to Do in February in Costa Rica
February is a fantastic month for all activities in Costa Rica, particularly outdoor adventure. Here are some of the best things to do in February in Costa Rica.
Birding
February is a wonderful month for birders as all the migratory birds are here. Since lagoons and river levels have shrunk due to lack of rainfall, it is easy to spot coveted birds such as the Roseate Spoonbill, Jabiru and Green Ibis. Palo Verde National Park, Damas Island Mangroves, Marino Las Baulas National Park (Playa Grande Estuary), Biological Reserve Lomas Barbudal, Sierpe Mangroves and Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge are fantastic places to spot birds while on a safari boat ride.
Another prized bird you can see in February is the Resplendant Quetzal, as these brilliant little birds begin their mating season in Monteverde. Take a bird watching tour to see males dancing around females to win their hearts. Curi Cancha Reserve is one of the best places to see Resplendant Quetzals in Monteverde in February.
Wildlife Watching
Another animal you can see in February is the humpback whale. February is the middle of the Northern Hemisphere humpback whale season in Costa Rica. If you take a dolphin and whale watching tour from Uvita, there are great chances to see them. Can also see them in the Gulf of Papagayo, Catalinas Islands and Drake Bay.
As for turtles, there aren’t as many turtle nestings in February but in some places with some species there are. There is a sea turtle organization in Montezuma that does baby turtle releases during sunset time in February.
Night Walks
Best times for night walks in Costa Rica is February. With little to no chances of rain, you will be able to experience the forest come alive at night. Your guide will point out animals like sleeping birds, sloths, reptiles, insects and amphibians who live in the dark.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
Scuba divers, get ready. February is a great month to see manta rays in Costa Rica. Head to the Catalinas Islands outside Flamingo Bay to see these gentle giants swim around or Monkey Head Rock in the Gulf of Papagayo. The water can be extremely cold however, so bring a shorty to wear under your long wet suit.
Snorkeling is also decent in Costa Rica with good water clarity. You can snorkel off certain beaches with rocky reefs like Playa Ocotal, Playa Conchal and Playa Cuevas. For the best snorkeling, book a snorkeling excursion to Isla Caño Reserve, Playa Biesanz by Manuel Antonio, a private snorkeling tour in Gulf of Papagayo or a snorkeling tour to Catalinas Islands.
Surfing, Kiteboarding
Thanks to the Papagayo winds, it’s an ideal time to take a kiteboarding lesson up at Playa Copal, the premiere kiteboarding spot in Costa Rica. Lake Arenal also has kiteboarding and other water sports. If kiteboarding doesn’t peek your interest, take a surf lesson. Constant offshore winds bring fun waves in February and wherever you go, you can take a surf lesson.
Hiking
Sunny weather make for great hiking conditions with dry trails. Don’t forget an insulated water bottle and microfiber towel to help you battle the heat and humidity. Wear dry fit, sweat wicking clothes and reapply your sunscreen.
Blue Waterfall Hikes
Although water levels have gone down in February, it’s a great time to see waterfalls, in particular, sky blue waterfalls and rivers. Thanks to the sunny weather, sky blue waterfalls and rivers will be at the brightest and most beautiful.
Rio Celeste waterfall and river in Tenorio Volcano National Park will be at its most sky blue, Las Gemelas (Blue Falls) in Bajos del Toro will be at its brightest blue, Catarata La Leona and river will be a brilliant blue and the Catarata La Cangreja in Rincon de la Vieja National Park will be a gem to see.
Other great waterfall (not blue) hikes are El Tigre Waterfalls in Monteverde, Nauyaca Waterfalls outside Dominical and La Fortuna Waterfall in La Fortuna. Trails are dry so it’s easier to hike and you’re guaranteed to have hot and sunny skies.
Volcanoes
February gives you high chances to see volcanoes completely clear. These are volcanoes like Poas, Irazu and Arenal, which are notorious for being shrouded in clouds. But in February, even up in the cloud forest and high elevation, there are better chances to see them crystal clear.
Stargazing
Love looking at stars? The clear night skies in February make for spectacular stargazing and star photography. Despite being a busy month, there are still many places in Cosat Rica without any light pollution for you to get beautiful, starry photos. If you plan to take some night photos, we recommend to go in groups, never alone and be extremely aware of your surroundings.
Cerro Pelado is also a great place for night time photography and star gazing as you hike up to a tall mountain in the Tilaran Mountain Range. You can also see the sunrise from there, which is spectacular.
Bio-luminesence
February is one of the best, if not the best month to see bio-luminescence in Costa Rica. Punta Cuchillos on the Nicoya Peninsula offers the best sightings. I did a night time kayak tour with Bahia Rica Lodge to see bio-luminescence and it was so much fun! There is also bio-luminescence down in Drake Bay and if you’re super lucky, you may run into some at Playa Conchal.
Notable Festivals In February
February is a full of fun festivals. No holidays in Costa Rica for the month of February. Kids go back to school the second week of the month. Valentine’s Day is celebrated here but it is not that big of a deal. It’s more of a love and friendship day, it’s not quite as commercial as it is in the USA/Canada.
Fiestas Civicas Liberia
Liberia, the capital city of the Guanacaste province puts on a show for its Guanacasteco cowboys to show off their best steeds and cowboy flair. Their fiestas civicas have the traditional food, games, drinks, rides and bull riding. They also have one day (normally Saturday) for tope, the horse parade. Normally the last weekend of February.
Puntarenas Carnival
Unfortunately this carnival was not held in 2024, but Puntarenas normally holds the biggest carnival in Costa Rica. This multi day carnival has fireworks, food, dance, games, rides and music. Normally the last weekend of February.
Envision
Envision has become the biggest festival in Costa Rica, attracting hundreds of thousands foreigners who want to celebrate life, love, dance, art, community and spirituality in one space. This 7 day festival takes place in Uvita, surrounded by lush rainforest and jungles. Book a year in advance as this festival is now so popular, they sell out for the next year almost as soon as the current festival is over.
Other Things to Know About February in Costa Rica
- Availability is slim pickings if you decide to wait until last minute to book. As prices are not cheap in February and there is high demand, you may end up with whatever is available, not your first or second choice.
- The coffee harvest winds down in February but it’s still a great time to tour a plantation.
- February is a great time for a destination wedding thanks to the great weather. If you’re planning to get married in Costa Rica in February, plan for at least one year out.
- You may see fires up in the mountains. Some are “controlled” burnings, some not. Unfortunately this is very apparent in Guanacaste, Nicoya Peninsula and the Central Valley.
- It is extremely dry in February, and in rural areas with unpaved roads, very dusty. Be aware if you have asthma or breathing problems or are sensitive to dust and smoke. We recommend to bring a neck gaiter or headware to help protect you from the dust. Find out what else to bring in our Costa Rica packing list.
- Starfruit, watermelon, sugar cane and passion fruit are in season. You’ll see lots of road side stands with watermelon, cantaloupes and orange juice. Stop at one to fill up on yummy fruit.
- If 90s° F (35° C) is too hot for you, head to the mountains for cooler temperatures. San Gerardo de Dota, San Isido de Perez Zeledon, Tilaran, Vara Blanca, the Central Valley, Poasito, Monteverde are all great options for much cooler and fresher weather (70s-80s° F or 21-27°C).
What to Pack for Your February Vacation in Costa Rica
Essentials: Valid passport, valid drivers license if you plan to rent a car, credit card with no foreign transaction fee, travel insurance, medicine.
Must brings: Sunscreen (SPF 30 and higher), after sun gel, mosquito repellent, insulated water bottle, microfiber towel, reusable shopping bags, hair ties, swimsuits, sandals, sunglasses, hat, small first aid kit, lightweight water proof rain jacket if visiting rain forest areas, dry fast, sweat wicking clothes and closed toed shoes for activities.
Itineraries
Ready to start planning your vacation? Check out our itineraries below that we recommend for February.
One week Central and South Pacific: Jaco, Manuel Antonio and Uvita
Two Weeks: Tamarindo, Monteverde, Bijagua and Rincon de la Vieja
11 Days: La Fortuna, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio
10 Days Waterfalls: Bijagua, Bajos del Toro and Manuel Antonio
7/8 Days for Families: La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio + Samara and Bijagua
8 Days: La Fortuna and Playas del Coco
Other Months
Click the links to see what Costa Rica is like in other months.
January
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
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.
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica. Get 10% off your Airalo eSIM package with our promo code “mytanfeet”
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels. Save more money with our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
