Best Time to Visit Costa Rica

Our Experts Say...

"Costa Rica has a tropical climate, so you should be prepared for rain at any time of year! The 'green season' and wetter months run from May until November, with a little respite in July and August. The Caribbean side including Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo has the opposite climate, and is best visited in February - April or September/October. Travelling during the shoulder months of May/June and November can offer an opportunity to take advantage of cheaper rates and fewer tourists, and you may be lucky with the weather. If you are keen to see turtles in Tortuguero, then make sure you travel between July and October, and depending on where you travel, whales can be seen at different times of year on the Pacific coast (best from August to October). School holidays are especially popular, with Costa Rica being an amazing family destination; Christmas and Easter breaks should be booked well ahead of time."

Eli Hardcastle, Latin America Specialist

Costa Rica’s temperature doesn’t change hugely month on month, with it being, on average, between 20˚ C and 30˚ C throughout the year.

Its peak season is from December to March, with Easter and Christmas holidays the best times of year to travel to Costa Rica but also when you’ll find the country most crowded. If you can avoid the school holidays, opt for the shoulder months of April and November, when it is still hot but there is not too much rainfall.

September and October are the wettest months on the Pacific side of the country; however, the Caribbean coast is dry at that time of year. Its dry season runs from March to November, but you will get some rainfall most of the year, usually in the afternoons and evenings, allowing you to make the most of the stunning, sun-soaked beaches before it arrives.

While most people will travel to Costa Rica during the dry season, the rainier months of June, July and August bring with them lush greenery, transforming Costa Rica into a vibrant, verdant paradise. Temperatures then are around 30˚ C, and you’ll often have sunny mornings to enjoy the adventure activities. A bonus of travelling at this time of year is also fewer crowds.

Understanding Costa Rica's Seasons

Rather than having traditional seasons like the northern hemisphere, Costa Rica’s seasons are split into dry and wet (or green). Below we go through the best months to visit Costa Rica, and which activities or experiences to enjoy while you’re there.

Best Times to Go to Costa Rica for…

There’s so much to see and do in Costa Rica, from surfing in Guanacaste to the famous Manuel Antonio National Park. The best time to go to Costa Rica depends completely on what kind of experiences you’re interested in and what parts of the country you’d like to visit. Our travel experts are on hand to create a bespoke itinerary for your trip based on when you’d like to travel, so you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy your time away.

Wildlife Viewing

From fantastically colourful birds to sloths, sea turtles and whales, Costa Rica is a paradise for animal lovers and with 27 national parks, 13 forest reserves, eight biological reserves and countless sanctuaries to choose from, it’s a country that takes looking after its wildlife seriously. Sightings of most of the animals will happen all year round, these are just a few seasonal experiences to look out for.

The first is the nesting period of the exquisite sea turtles. The best time to go to Costa Rica for this is between July and August. Five species of turtles head to Tortuguero National Park between March and October to lay their eggs, with July and August being the peak months. Overall, the area will see about 22,500 female turtles and approximately 100,000 nests distributed unevenly on 25km of beach. Tortuguero is a highlight for wildlife fans, who can join kayaking adventures, boat tours and twilight excursions to take in the likes of spider monkeys, sloths, and many weird and wonderful amphibians.

The second phenomenon to look out for is when the humpback whales grace the waters around the Osa Peninsula between July and October. They unusually migrate from both the northern and southern hemispheres to breed, making whale-watching here some of the best in the world. You can also see dolphins in this region all year round.

Visiting the Beaches

The best time to visit Costa Rica for beach life is in its dry season between December and March when both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts see hot, sunny days, with temperatures between about 26˚ C and 32˚ C. However, the Caribbean beaches have their dry season in July and October too, when the Pacific Coast is rainy.

If you’re a keen surfer, you should travel to Costa Rica between May and November. While this is the wetter season, it is when swells roll in from the southwest, bringing waves up to 10 feet high in places like Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula. Strong winds this time of year also add to the quality of the surfing. Beginners, instead, should aim for the gentler sea conditions between December and April, when there aren’t so many pro-surfers in the water and the waves are softer.

Snorkelling in Costa Rica is best between January and March on the Pacific side and September and October on the Caribbean side. Costa Rica’s dry season is when the sea is calmest and visibility for seeing all the colourful marine life at its best.

When choosing which beach to visit in Costa Rica, it depends on what you’re looking for. The Caribbean’s Puerto Viejo is a classic tropical paradise, with palm trees, clear water and a laid-back beach town. The best time to visit Puerto Viejo is between February and April, or August to October. For wildlife, the Osa Peninsula is best. The area is also home to the beautiful Golfo Dulce coast and its calm swimming waters, visit between January and March to soak up the beach life on the Pacific Coast.

Outdoor Adventure Activities

Costa Rica is all about outdoor adventures, so if you’re heading there for an adrenaline rush you need to pick the right time of year.

Each season creates a very different experience when it comes to white water rafting. If you’re looking for gentle rapids or travelling with children, then opt for the dry season between December and March. However, the rain brings faster-flowing rivers, so those wanting a bit more excitement should go between May and November. Places like Arenal and around San Jose are adventure hubs and fantastic locations to take to the waters for a fun-filled adventure.

Hiking amongst the waterfalls and volcanoes in Costa Rica is another highlight for those wanting an active holiday. Trails can become flooded and wet in the rainy months, but the weather in Costa Rica in November is ideal for trekking. This is when the country has turned its fluorescent shade of green after the rains but it's dry enough to enjoy hikes, without getting drenched. You will still get some rainfall, particularly in the rainforest.

If you’d like to dabble in all the adventurous activities that the country has to offer, the dry season is the best time to visit Costa Rica. With vast zip lines, canopy walks, hiking, waterfalls to explore and water sports aplenty, you don’t want to be interrupted or have your experience cancelled by downpours.