As seen above, the local communities in different attraction sites are very helpful. The best times to visit Costa Rica are late fall to early spring months when heavy rains ease. Due to varying elevations and environments, there are multiple microclimates around the country. This guide will help you make an informed decision about how to plan your adventure and know what to expect during your trip to Costa Rica, whether youre doing activities in La Fortuna or hanging out at the beach in Tamarindo! Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. Costa Rica Monthly Weather Averages: Rain, Temperatures, Costa Rica Travel Information: Tips, Attractions, Weather, Puntarenas is quiet during the summer. This Central American nation located between the Caribbean and Pacific coasts is endowed with wild rainforests, spectacular national parks, roaring waterfalls, and other natural wonders. Youll need to be prepared for rain most days, and heavy rain at that. Weather in the popular capital of San Jos has more in common with Puntarenas than Limon. There truly is never a bad bad time to visit Costa Rica; however, May is the worst month to visit, as the rain is fairly high, and you dont have the added benefits of good surfing conditions or turtle or whale watching season. The dry season runs from December through April and the rainy season goes from May through November, which coincides with the Pacific hurricane season. View our Costa Rica safaris, or talk to one of our specialists for more details on travelling to Costa Rica. South Pacific | Visit Costa Rica | Costa Rica Tourism Official website The good thing with Costa Rica rains is that they start softly before gradually picking. Avoid Puntarenas and San Jos during the summer and fall, but plan to visit during the winter and early spring. September and October These two months are by far the rainiest in Costa Rica. Things to do | Visit Costa Rica | Costa Rica Tourism Official website Please note we recommend a budget of from 7,000 / $10,000 USD per person for our style of trip to this destination. I have to say, it's true. Instead, it has a dry season and a rainy season. On the Pacific Coast, the average high is 89 F and average low is 80 F. More than half the days are sunny, with 7 days of rain and 2 inches of rain falling. Best Time to Visit Costa Rica 2018 - Yahoo! But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. What to Know About Visiting Costa Rica in the Rainy Season - MytanFeet Truly, you can have a great time in this country any time of year. $10.5 billion. The capital city of San Jos and many interior locations attract visitors from Puntarenas for the citys nightlife and natural attractions of the surrounding area. On the Caribbean coast, the average high is 85 F, and average low is 77 F. This is still squarely in the rainy season, with approximately half the days seeing rain and 6 inches of rain falling throughout the month. One other way of deciding which months are best for destinations in Costa Rica is by looking at the average number of days that it rains each month. Many visitors spend an average of 7 days in Costa Rica. Nicaragua folklore dress code. Monthly Rainfall & Temperature Averagesfor 1960-1990, For a general idea of monthly weather conditions, The World Bank Group has a great tool that shows the average monthly rainfall and temperature in Costa Rica over 20-30 year periods. Mid-March to early May and mid-October to early December are the best months to visit Japan due to its stunning colors and mild weather. The average rainfall jumps to eight inches or more from May through October and reaches a high point of about 12 inches in September. The choices of the animal parks you can visit are limited to places such as the Punta Uva and Cahuita National Parks. If you plan to visit the country during this time, rent your car in Costa Rica ahead of time . Youll see amazing volcanoes, dense tropical jungles, jaw-dropping waterfalls, and rivers full of life winding throughout the country. Costa Rica is still in the rainy season, and it is one of the wettest months of the year. This is us in Tamarindo! Typically, the sky clears up as the rains begin to taper off for dry season, and you can experience beautiful beach days on the Pacific Coast. Be sure to plan your stay before mid-December, because prices (and crowds) pick back up for Christmas break near the end of December. But what sets this resort apart is the stunning location with panoramic views of the Sea of Cortez. Costa Rica September - Weather, Holidays and How to Plan The rainy season does not mean that it rains nonstop . October is the rainiest month. Costa Rica is a dream destination, with epic surfing, misty cloud forests, and wilderness and wildlife that will take your breath away.Costa Rica is known for adventure travel, but it is also making strides in sustainable and accessible travel initiatives.This Central American country's small size means that travelers can enjoy a wide variety of experiences in a short trip. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. | Safety Concerns, Where to Stay in Hawaii in 2023 | Best Islands & Hotels, The 10 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Jamaica in 2023, 15 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Traveling, The 15 Best Hotels in Ocean City, MD in 2023, The 15 Best Hotels in Rome in 2023 | For All Budgets, The Best Hotels in Orlando in 2023 | For All Budgets, The 15 Best Hotels in Seattle in 2023 | For All Budgets, The 15 Best Hotels in Philadelphia in 2023. The tradeoff is that there are higher numbers of tourists, and prices on hotels are higher (and they also fill up faster). You can choose from among leisure activities. The weather is amazing with little rain to ruin your outdoor plans, crowds are moderate, and pricing for airfare, accommodations, and car rentals are lower than in the true high season. At the same time, the central valley of San Jos experiences cool breezes and average temperatures of about 72 Fahrenheit (22 Celsius). 2017 Scott S. Bateman, Despite heavy year-round rain, clear skies are possible like this one in Zacero. Costa Rica is beautifully warm all year, with an average annual temperature of 80-90 Fahrenheit on the coasts and 75-80 in the countryside and on the mountainsides. Fortunately, this travel guide provides vital information on the best as well as the worst time to visit Costa Rica to enable you to plan an ideal travel itinerary. Most of the businesses are available online, so compare prices. Crowds are thin, so the pricing for airfare, accommodations, and rentals is much lower at this time of year. However, the Caribbean side and slope of Costa Rica, including Arenal Volcano, actually enjoys its best . Running from November through May, this is the best time to visit Costa Rica to enjoy the rugged landscapes, especially in the Highlands. Travellers Worldwide is reader-supported. You'll pay more, deal with bigger crowds, and less availability for rooms, flights, and rentals, but hey - it's peak season for a reason. At this time, the weather is dry and bright. If you want to enjoy your vacation in the ideal weather, then December and January are the best time to visit Costa Rica. It is so bad that hotels and businesses are closed on the South Pacific coast. Today, Tamperes old cotton mills have been turned into chic malls,, Read More The 20 Best Things to do in Tampere, FinlandContinue, Tahiti is one of those places where the nautical conditions are pretty much near perfect all year long. Flight from San Jos to Billings. . September can be a great month to travel or a washout, depending on where you are in Costa Rica. They have an amazing way of doing flowers. I'm happy that you landed on my page and hope to inspire your wanderlust and encourage you to get outside your comfort zone. The coasts are generally warmer, and the highlands are generally cooler. Arguably, this is one of the worst months you should avoid if you are visiting Costa Rica. In this post, we'll cover the best (and worst) time to visit Costa Rica based on weather, peak travel times, cost, and more. This is partly the result of higher elevations. It is in the nation's northern region and towers above the lush surroundings, where the best coffee globally is grown on plantations. Its simple with our helpful travel tips! At the Nicoya Peninsula, plants are starting to flower, and you can take one of the best photos you have ever had. The most interesting feature of the Costa Ricans is their happiness. July is during mini-summer, where there is rain, but its less than other months. Weather in February continues to be sunny and dry. Caving, zip lining, aerial tours, and jungle exploration are all great ways to get out and explore the beauty of Costa Rica. The temperature in Costa Rica is basically the same all year round. Ask the locals or your tour guide if you do not understand what to do. This is the mini summer of Costa Rica. Best Time to Visit Costa Rica: What to Expect Month by Month At this time, you also have several festive celebrations, such as the Festival de la Luz in San Jose, which is held in the second week of the month. Temperatures begin to drop as the hotel prices and number of tourists do. The weather during this period is generally hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-80s to low 90s. On the Pacific Coast, the average high is 89 F and average low is 79 F. There are 16 days with rain, receiving about 6.5 inches of rain total. Less favorable weather means fewer crowds hence cheaper costs. Brrr! Temperatures remain fairly constant throughout the entire year. Some of them include. Its climate status can be roughly divided into two seasons: the dry season, also known as the high season, and the rainy season, also known as the green season. You know the best time to visit Costa Rica, but making the most of your trip to Costa Rica means you need a little more info to plan your getaway. Temperatures are much warmer than Limon with average daily highs reaching into the 90s Fahrenheit from January through August and dipping into the high 80s for the rest of the year. Passports, electronics, money, and even sunglasses and shoes are easy targets and highly sought after by thieves. As Costa Rica has over 20 micro-climates, day and night time temperatures and the . If you are not a fan of the heavy rains, do not travel to the South Pacific because the rains here are heavy by the second week of May. However, theres no getting around it rainy season is, well, rainy. Discover Costa Rica's cloud forests, coral reefs and volcanos in new and exciting ways on these four amazing tours; The 50 most attractive nationalities revealed: India is No.1, USA comes second . The north Pacific is the driest part of the country and the south Pacific is one of the wettest places in Costa Rica. However, the weather changes all year round due to the countrys two distinct seasons. Best time to beat the crowds with an average 39% drop in price. Puntarenas and San Jos get rain more than 20 days a month from May through October and peak at 25-26 days in September and October. What's The Worst Time To Visit Costa Rica? - TripTivy April is a transitional month. Hotels and businesses are dragging to reopen or reinvest after the business had slowed down during the rainy peaks of September and October. The best person to decide when you should visit Costa Rica is you. If Easter falls in April, you can expect a spike in tourist traffic over the holiday. May, June and July are the rainiest. The country is, without a doubt, among the best Central American countries to visit. On the Caribbean coast, the average high is 85 F, and average low is 77 F. July is very similar to June, with about 16 rainy days and 7 inches of rainfall throughout the month. These months have little to no rain in most of the country. These numbers dont guarantee the best months to visit Costa Rica because the weather does vary some from year to year. Read on to find out the best time to visit Costa Rica by season and region. The Southern Pacific Region of Costa Rica is an incredible area that delights and surprises tourists with memories of Costa Rica that they'll have for life. Stunningly blue water and sandy shores of all different colors even a famous black sand beach draw tons of tourists here each year. On average, the warmest months are February, March, April and May. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The Most Dangerous Thing in Costa Rica Although Costa Rica is frequently considered a warm country, there are a few locations where it could become a bit cold or freezing by Costa Rican standards. If you buy a product we link to, we may earn a commission. Julien is an exploration-minded, curiosity-driven traveler and blogger. The worst time to visit Costa Rica is in September and October when lashing rains and floods wash out bridges and roads. It emerged into the Caribbean Sea to the East and the West, Pacific waters. 15 Unpleasant Facts You Should Know About Costa Rica - theclever Nature is all around you, like this small frog spotted on our journey. For anyone who appreciates exploring new countries off the beaten path, this is arguably the best time of year to go for authentic experiences. In May, the rains had started to pick up in most parts of the country, roads were still passable, and hotels were still within the price ranges of April. Credit: Wikimedia (Creative Commons license). All said and done; we hope that you shall enjoy your stay in Costa Rica. Get forecasts each morning for every major island. The Costa Rica market is flooded with hard drugs such as cocaine, and there are instances where even medicinal drugs are stuffed with them to recruit new drug customers. Join 19k+ subscribers in receiving FREE travel advice, news & promotions! For the daring and the experienced, the biggest waves can be found during the rainier months of September and October. October through early December is the least busy time of year to visit Costa Rica. At the end of the month, the big crowds which had turned up to celebrate the Easter holiday start to go low, and the hotels charge the cheapest. Since these months fall between peak seasons, there are fewer visitors and lower accommodation prices. They include: According to the Culture Trip, theft is a common type of crime in Costa Rica, so the chances of you losing your values to this are so high. Animals are still hiding in the thick bushes, and you must travel for so long before seeing them. However, the rainy season isnt quite as severe as one might imagine, which is why the term green season has gained popularity instead of wet season because the countrys jungles, forests, and flowers use the rainfall to blossom and turn green.. But if we had to single out the worst time to visit Costa Rica, it would be late December through January. . May is sometimes referred to as the magical month. Here the Gringos are enjoying summer and escaping Winter at the same time. However, if you prefer enjoying your vacation/trip when there are fewer crowds, then the ideal time of year to visit Costa Rica is either May or November. Dry and Rainy Seasons Costa Rica has two distinct seasons. Due to its proximity to the equator, Costa Rica is categorized as a tropical country without a definite winter season. 2. The humidity increases as you travel south along the Pacific coast. The beginning of December is less-crowded, with difficult to predict weather. Source . If you want to spend time on the beach, the dry season is likely the best time for you. Wildlife watching: hawksbill, leatherback, green, & olive ridley sea turtles on the Pacific coast. At elevations above sea level, often referred to as the lowlands, the temperature is typically approximately 79 Fahrenheit (26 Celsius), whereas, in the so-called highlands, it is typically 55 Fahrenheit (13 Celsius). In June, youll see a small surge in tourists as the kids get let out of school and family vacations start. Study up and see how you can optimize your Costa Rican getaway without breaking the bank: If you want an unforgettable tropical vacation, Costa Rica is one of the best destinations. Expect it to be warm and humid. The best time to visit Costa Rica is between December and April, when the weather is at its driest and brightest. It is unusual for Limon weather to get a break in September and October. Here comes the part of our guide that many would flash by the headlines. Undoubtedly, the best weather is in January and February, when Costa Rica is still early in the dry season, and the skies are clear and rain is very low. There are a lot of candidates for the most treacherous, risky, menacing peril awaiting visitors to Costa Rica - crocodiles in the estuaries, dengue mosquitoes in the swamps, deadly vipers in the rainforest, and psychos behind the wheel of cars, trucks and buses. DID YOU KNOW: Its not uncommon for Costa Rica to run out of rental cars during the high season which is January. Due to its relatively cheap currency against the U.S dollar, services are cheaper here. Parque Nacional Volcn Arenal. Ed #2798 Oficina #8 On the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, the average high is 85 F, and average low is 77 F. This is the driest month of the year, with an average of 1.3 inches of rainfall, and an average of 4 rainy days per month. It's easiest to reach the park by car or on a tour. May is a bit of a transitionmonth, in which the rain picks up, but not quiteat the rate oflater greenseason months. You should also plan ahead when booking accommodation facilities and activities to get a fair deal before the prices hike. The highlands tend to be cooler, whereas the beaches tend to be warmer. Beautiful water bodies surround it. If you want to surf, then it depends on the region. Hello guys, My name is Daria, and I'm a true Discovery Nut! It is located in a village with rainforests which have covered the beach. Best time to visit Sweden 2021| Rough Guides | Rough Guides The most stable weather is between December and April. Since heavy rain incidents can cause problems by making the ground slippery, be extremely cautious when driving during the green season, try to stick to daylight hours, and ensure you have adequate time to reach your destination. Top-notch wildlife and bird watching, hiking, swimming, fishing, and boating are all great reasons to visit. Youll learn the best time to visit Costa Rica and the worst time to plan your visit in this quick travel guide. . Best time to visit Costa Rica Happily, the best weather coincides with Christmas, new Year, spring half term and the worst of the northern winters. It is the home of 400 varieties of birds and 2500 plant species and has more than 100 mammals. This is when you catch the seasons in transition, and the national parks are quieter. They are more likely to experience an increase in total rainfall. Heavy rain, mostly in the afternoons, and sporadic showers are likely from May to November, with September and October having the heaviest rainfall. The Best Time to Visit Costa Rica - The Ultimate Guide In light of this, the ideal season to visit Costa Rica truly depends on which of these three considerations is most important to you. Since Costa Rica is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, different regions climates and typical temperatures are impacted by the difference in elevation. Then worry no more because Costa Rica has everything it takes to make a good tourist destination. Talk with a Costa Rica Expert about the best destinations to visit during this time of year. Costa Rica, the land of Pura Vida ("pure life"), was declared the most environmentally advanced and happiest place on earth in 2016. This Central American country is home to wild jungles, incredible national parks, cascading waterfalls, and more. If you must travel during this time be sure to check local weather conditions and plan your route accordingly. The Weather and Climate in Costa Rica - TripSavvy Yes, the answer depends on the individual. Best Rainy Season Activities. When is the Best Time to Visit Costa Rica for Vacation? Keep in mind that the landscapes and climates of Costa Rica vary greatly by region. Thankfully, generally rain is isolated to afternoon and you can still find good, clear times during the morning to enjoy your activities.