Two seasons, not four
Costa Rica sits in the tropics, so forget spring and autumn. The year splits into the dry season (December to April) and the green season (May to November). Your ideal month depends on whether you want guaranteed sunshine or lower prices and lush landscapes.
Dry season (December to April): peak
This is the classic high season. Skies are clear, especially on the Pacific coast (Guanacaste, Manuel Antonio, Nicoya), and roads to remote spots stay passable.
- Best for: beaches, surfing, turtle nesting on the Pacific, family trips
- Trade-offs: highest prices, fully booked lodges, busy national parks like Manuel Antonio and Arenal
- Book early for Christmas, New Year and Easter (Semana Santa), when Ticos travel too
Green season (May to November): shoulder and low
Rains usually arrive as afternoon downpours, leaving mornings bright. The countryside turns emerald and waterfalls roar.
- May, June and November are the sweet spot: fewer crowds, 20 to 40 percent lower lodge rates, and great wildlife
- September and October are the wettest on the Pacific, but the Caribbean (Puerto Viejo, Tortuguero) is often sunny then
- Whale watching off the Osa Peninsula and Marino Ballena peaks July to October
Festivals and events by month
- January: Fiestas de Palmares, a two-week party of bullfights, concerts and food
- February: Envision Festival in Uvita, music and arts on the beach
- March/April: Semana Santa, with solemn processions nationwide
- July: Fiesta de la Virgen del Mar in Puntarenas, boat parades
- August: Dia de la Virgen de los Angeles (Aug 2), a huge pilgrimage to Cartago
- September 15: Independence Day, lantern parades and the freedom torch
- October: Limon Carnival, Afro-Caribbean music, dancing and color
- November: Dia de los Muertos and the Oxcart Parade in San Jose
Quick picks
- Best weather overall: February and March
- Best value: May and June
- Best wildlife: July to October for whales, turtles year-round on one coast or the other
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