The best time to visit Costa Rica

As part of the dry season, February is one of the most popular months for surfing and partying at Playa Tamarindo on the Pacific Coast, which is known for its white sand beach and incredible waves. Pods of humpback whales can be seen migrating southward all the way from Alaska. On the Caribbean coastline, February is the month when leatherback sea turtles are coming on shore to nest. The higher altitudes inland make for cooler temperatures, which are ideal for outdoor activities from zip-lining to horse riding and crossing the hanging bridges at Arenal Volcano. Within the Arenal national park, you will find mineral-rich hot springs and wildlife from vivid green frogs to white-faced capuchin monkeys.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE

Maximum: 23.9°C

Minimum: 15.3°C

AVERAGE RAINFALL: 5.4mm 

March lies in the heart of the dry season when you will find forests covered in orchids. Corcovado National Park is especially worth a trip, with close to three per cent of the Earth’s biodiversity within its boundaries, it is home to toucan and the elusive jaguar. Head to the pristine cloud forests surrounding Monteverde to experience the natural world at its most impressive – take a night walk in search of the country’s rarest species, and head out in the daytime to observe the colourful quetzal bird. While it can be humid at this time of year, head to the highlands and beaches to cool off. Learn more about the country’s national flower at the National Orchid Show in San José.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE

Maximum: 25.9°C

Minimum: 15.8°C

AVERAGE RAINFALL: 12mm

April marks the last month of the dry season in Costa Rica. This is a time when wildlife, from jaguars to ocelots, is easier to spot as they gather around dwindling waterholes. The seas along both the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines couldn’t be clearer. Like the country’s dense jungles, the coastal waters teem with wildlife, including orca, manta rays, whales, and dolphins. Explore the wrecks and artificial reefs of Tortuga Islands; discover underwater caves in the Catalina Islands; or snorkel to see more than 400 species of fish among the coral of the Cahuita National Park.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE

Maximum: 25.7°C

Minimum: 16.4°C

AVERAGE RAINFALL: 43.8mm 

While May is officially the start of the rainy season, the heavy downpours don’t show up until later in the season. This month you can expect sunny mornings and light afternoon showers. No matter where you visit, you won’t find big crowds and will benefit from reduced rates. Head northwest to the Nicoya Peninsula, one of five Blue Zones in the world which recognises the longevity of its people, and also the driest place to be this month. May is the perfect month to explore Costa Rica’s popular attractions such as Manuel Antonio National Park. Here you can wander along trails that weave along sandy beaches and forest canopies home to two-toed sloths.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE

Maximum: 26.1°C

Minimum: 17°C

AVERAGE RAINFALL: 222mm 

As June sits at the beginning of the rainy season, there are still plenty of sunny days left to enjoy ‘pura vida’ (the good life) – along with a cup of Costa Rican coffee. Surfers tend to migrate to the Pacific coast to catch the southwest swells just off the beachside town of Tamarindo. Occasional showers begin to bring the rainforest to life. One of the best places to view this transformation is Tortuguero National Park perched on a sandbar on the calm Caribbean coast. A boat trip through the park’s waterways will reveal scarlet macaws, three-toed sloths, and river otters.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE

Maximum: 25.7°C

Minimum: 16.9°C

AVERAGE RAINFALL: 282.6mm 

Welcome to ‘veranillo’ or, as the locals say, ‘little summer’. This pocket of sunshine falls in the third month of the ‘green season’ which means sunny days can dominate for weeks.  This secret season means reduced crowds, low-season discounts, and increased hotel availability. July also marks the start of the nesting season for hawksbill and green sea turtles in Tortugero National Park along the golden sands of the Caribbean. Olive Ridley sea turtles are also nesting on the Pacific coast. This month also marks the Virgin of the Seas Fiesta which is a huge party that takes place in the Gulf of Nicoya to remember a time when the prayers of storm-shocked sailors were answered.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE

Maximum: 24.9°C

Minimum: 16.3°C

AVERAGE RAINFALL: 208.1mm 

August is the ideal month for a beach holiday along the Caribbean coastline as rainfall can make it harder to reach the volcanoes and cloud forests in the highlands. You can still enjoy swell surfing on either side of the country. On the Pacific Coast, visit the Osa Peninsula a rich biodiverse national park. Guided tours include hiking through the verdant rainforest home to the majestic jaguar. August is also peak turtle nesting season in Tortuguero National Park when thousands of sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach. While there are not that many festivals this month, there is a celebration for the nation’s patron saint the Virgin of Los Angeles.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE

Maximum: 25.2°C

Minimum:16.7°C

AVERAGE RAINFALL: 252.2mm 

September weather is fantastic on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Although this month marks the depths of Costa Rica’s ‘green season’, most of that rain falls in the mountains and along the Pacific coast. The east coast, meanwhile, enjoys beautiful sunny days and deserted beaches. Head west to low-key Teresa and low-key Nosara on the Nicoya Peninsula for world-class swells and wellness retreats to celebrate Independence Day with the locals. Olive Ridley turtles come ashore to nest and migrating Antarctic humpback whales can be spotted in the Pacific waves. High river levels also make for exhilarating white water rafting expeditions down the Pacuare River that flows through the rainforest which is home to jaguars and chestnut-mandibled toucans.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE

Maximum: 25.8°C

Minimum: 16.5°C

AVERAGE RAINFALL: 325mm 

While October is the wettest month of the year on the Pacific coast, the east coast can remain dry and sunny. The warm waters are ideal for swimming and snorkelling among manta rays or white-tipped reef sharks. For those seeking to learn more about the Costa Rican culture, head to the capital San José which lies in the Central Valley. Here you will find cool art galleries and boutiques in the historic Barrio Amón. This month the local people will celebrate the Maiz Fiesta when traditional costumes, authentic food, and boat races are the main attractions. You may also witness the Carnival of Limon as the city sways to the unmistakable rhythms of calypso.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE

Maximum: 25.4°C

Minimum: 16.4°C

AVERAGE RAINFALL: 326mm 

November can be a great month to visit Costa Rica due to the drier weather, fewer people, and lower prices. Although the rainy season still lingers in early November, by the end of the month the dry season has arrived. To make the most of the rich greenery at this time of year, visit Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula with our expert guide. Guided tours include sunset birding tours, boat trips out on the Golfo Dulce to search for dolphins or hiking the Osa Trail home to hummingbirds and tapir. On the Pacific coast, November is the perfect month for a midnight turtle tour to catch a glimpse of nesting hawksbill and Olive Ridley turtles as they scramble ashore.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE

Maximum: 24.4°C

Minimum: 16.3°C

AVERAGE RAINFALL: 139mm 

Visit Costa Rica in December and you will discover a lush and green country freshly watered after the wet season. Head to Arenal National Park to explore volcanoes and cloud forests. La Fortuna, set right beneath the brooding volcano, offers easy access to cascading waterfalls and thermal baths. Migrating humpback whales can be spotted on both the Caribbean and Pacific coastlines at this time of year. It is also an exciting time for turtle watchers as the eggs of the Atlantic green sea turtle and Pacific green sea turtle begin to hatch. You can also discover ancient legends and learn about the birth of Costa Rica as we know it at the Fiesta de la Yegüita which takes place in Nicoya.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE

Maximum: 23.4°C

Minimum: 15.8°C

AVERAGE RAINFALL: 40.3mm