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Best Time to Visit Costa Rica

Overview

You can head to Costa Rica at any time of year, but when is best depends on what you most want to see and do. Costa Rica has just two main seasons, dry season from December to April, and green season from May to November. Whilst dry season tends to be traditionally a more popular time for travel, temperatures remain consistent year-round and green season typically experiences sunny mornings before bursts of rainfall in the afternoon.

The year-round average temperature is 20-26°C in coastal regions, but it is noticeably cooler in the high-altitude cloud forests.

Be the lesser spotted human! Take a relaxed wander through the Osa Peninsula National Park and spot tapirs taking a stroll just a stones throw away and a humpback whale breaching in the distance.
Plan Your Trip

  • December – April

    • Dry season – warmest and driest months
    • Early booking is recommended
    • Best time to visit the Pacific Coast
    • Whale watching from Uvita
    • Sea turtles nesting on the Pacific Coast
    • Breeding season for the resplendent quetzal and scarlet macaw

  • May – June

    • Green season starts
    • Fewer crowds and lower prices
    • Sunny mornings with afternoon downpours
    • Lush, verdant rainforests
    • Turtles nesting on the Caribbean and Pacific Coasts

  • July – August

    • Green season continues – but July often has a short dry spell
    • Sea turtle nesting in Tortuguero
    • Whale watching from Uvita and the Osa Peninsula

  • September – November

    • Driest months on the Caribbean Coast
    • Heaviest rains on the Pacific Coast, tailing off in November
    • Most Osa Peninsula hotels are closed during October
    • Sea turtles hatching in Tortuguero; turtle nesting in Ostional
    • Whale watching from Uvita and the Osa Peninsula

When is best to see wildlife in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica’s diverse and capacious wildlife ensures that encounters will both thrill and delight whenever you choose to visit. But if you specifically want to see humpback whales, then opt for dry season between December and April or alternatively July to August. Having the chance to witness green sea turtle hatchlings traversing the beach to reach the shallows in Tortuguero National Park is a special sort of privilege that requires visiting Costa Rica in September or October.

Ultimately, the best time to visit Costa Rica is when suits you.

When is rainy season in Costa Rica?

Rainy season is known as green season in Costa Rica and is from May to November. In a country where green is the dominant colour, green season seems an appropriate euphemism for rainy season. Bounded by the Caribbean and Pacific coast, this tropical country thrives on its rainfall. Oceans, wetlands, rivers, canals and waterfalls feature heavily in its geography where vibrant flora and fauna thrive.

Costa Rica’s green season is low season, so prices are lower than in dry season, which is peak season.

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