Costa Rica When To Go

Dry or rainy? That’s the most important thing to ask when planning a trip to Costa Rica. The rainy season is winter, which generally falls between May and November. The rest of the year, from December to April, makes up the dry season, or verano (summer). Asking this question is also a bit of a proxy for asking when the crowds will be most thick. Dry season is the “high season” for tourists, which in most locales translates to more tourists and higher prices. As such, the budget traveler may wish to consider a rainy season visit. Coming during this time can be particularly rewarding—only during the rainy season might you find yourself kayaking between massive mangrove roots during a thunderstorm or experiencing firsthand the dull roar of a downpour against a tin roof. Even during the rainy season, the sun generally shines for much of the day, and most afternoon rainstorms are furious but fleeting. Dry-season travel is only crucial for those in search of dark tans or for those visiting particularly isolated areas, where dirt roads and trails can be washed out for weeks during the rainy season. In addition, if holidays are an important consideration, many of the year’s most exciting (and crowded) parties happen during Semana Santa (Holy Week during Easter) and from Christmas to the end of the year.

In terms of actual weather, the amount of rain that actually falls during each of these seasons depends largely on geographic location. For example, on the Pacific coast and in the highlands, the dry season can see entire weeks without rainfall. In contrast, on the Caribbean coast, nearly daily rainfall can be expected regardless of season.

Temperature is determined by altitude more than season; the highlands experience moderate highs and pleasant nights while the coastal and jungle lowlands swelter day and night. (For a temperature chart, see Appendix.)