Dry season – The dry season (called verano locally), from December to April, is the best time to visit Costa Rica to bask in the sunshine and participate in outdoor activities and adventures. This is the busiest time in the national parks and beaches. Average daytime temperatures in the Central Valley hover around 24°C. Along the coastlines, temperatures can hit 35°C. Though the weather is primarily dry there can be a few showers, especially along the Caribbean Coast
Green season – May to November is the green season (called invierno by locals) with frequent rain showers in the afternoon. These tend to come in quick bursts and stop as suddenly as they start. Mornings are typically sunny, and green season travellers can finish activity in the mornings and relax during the afternoon rainy hours. In the green season, there are fewer crowds on both beaches and rainforests. Rain makes everything lush, and it is mesmerising to witness a strong rain shower in the middle of the jungle. This is also the time when whales migrate along the coast, and sea turtles arrive at the beaches to nest.
Beaches – December to April is the driest and best time to visit Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. The Caribbean Coast, on the other hand, is driest between March and October. In September and October, when the rest of the county gets its heaviest rainfall, the Caribbean Coast is dry and sunny.
National Parks – Costa Rica’s national parks, like Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve, Manuel Antonio National Park, and Corcovado National Park, hold an incredible variety of bird and animal life. Different species of sloths, monkeys, toucans, and macaws can be spotted year-round. However, it’s easier to spot larger animals in the dry season as they come to water sources, and the area’s trees shed a lot of their leaves, making the canopy thinner.
Whale Watching – Costa Rica boasts the world’s longest humpback whale viewing season. Both Antarctica and Alaska humpback whales frequent its coastline during migration season. You can see whales in the South Pacific area from July to October and on the North Pacific coastline from December to April. The best places to spot whales include Drake Bay, Golfo Dulce and Ballena Marine National Park.
Turtle Nesting and Hatching – August and September is the best time to visit Costa Rica for a chance to see the nesting and hatching sites of green sea turtles. Nightly turtle tours (Jul-Sep) are operated in Tortuguero National Park. For leatherback turtles, the peak season is April and May. For turtle nesting tours on the Caribbean Coast, the season stretches from March to October. On the Pacific Coast, the season is between May and November.
Hiking – Blessed with picturesque landscapes, Costa Rica offers some of the best hiking trails in Central America. You may ramble deep into the rainforest, pass bubbling mud pools, or walk on surf-lashed beaches between December and April (dry season).
Kayaking – Costa Rica abounds with habitats that can only be explored by boat, depending on the place and season. Paddle along mangrove estuaries, waterways, canals and flooded wetlands of Tortuguero National Park and Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge.
White-Water Rafting – May to October (the green season) is the best time to visit Costa Rica to raft its rivers. Raft down the Pacuare and Savegre rivers that rage with Class III and IV rapids.
Cocoa, Coffee and Sugarcane Plantations – Explore Costa Rica’s coffee culture, cocoa cultivation, and chocolate-making traditions of the northern highlands. Tours are available all year round, but if you want to harvest coffee, visit during October and May. Those interested in rum can also visit a sugarcane farm with a rum-tasting tour.
With temperatures not varying too much, it’s easy to pack for a holiday in Costa Rica. Men and women can dress casually in comfortable T-shirts/tops, shorts, sandals, or flip-flops.
Let our travel experts create a bespoke itinerary that includes national parks and varied landscapes and takes into consideration the best times to visit Costa Rica. Call or write to us today.
“Make sure you take a night safari, as you will get to see creatures rarely seen during daylight hours, such as tarantulas, bats, green vipers, scorpions and the famous sloth! Our expert guides know exactly where to find them with their super-strong torches.”
“Explore Poás Volcanic National Park and discover the largest active crater in the world with its boiling acidic lake nestled in its centre. Stand awestruck at the sight of the summit’s rain-fed sulfuric lake as it bubbles and puffs smoke. On a clear day you are often able to see both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts from the summit!”
“Although, not for the fainthearted, the zip-lines of Costa Rica (of which there are many) are well worth trying. Great fun if you’re an adventure seeker, the zipline propels you through the air, high above the forest canopy at super-fast speeds.”
The country is a treasure trove for birding enthusiasts, adventure seekers, and nature lovers.
Multi-centre holidays to Costa Rica encompass incredible variety with the opportunity to explore dense rainforests, fiery volcanoes and alluring beaches.
The places to visit in Costa Rica range from the jungle-cloaked Osa Peninsula to the turtle-nesting beaches of Tortuguero National Park.
We have answers to all your questions.
Start planning your dream trip by talking to our Destination Specialists
Receive the latest travel inspiration and destination news.
Since 1952, our travel experts have been traversing the world to connect you with the very best our 60+ destinations have to offer. Tell us what your dream trip entails and we will craft it for you with precision and passion.