Costa Rica's Weather
Weather Satellite courtesy of WeatherUnderground.Com
Where does Paradise exist Year Round? Costa Rica!
Even though it is regularly joked that Costa Rica has two seasons: The wet season (June - November) and the not so wet season (December - May), the real deal is that Costa Rica is gorgeous year round. Yeah, it gets its share of rain, but it's the tropics. If it didn't get sufficient rainfall, the trees and plants wouldn't be as green and lush. Besides, what's a tropical experience without a tropical storm?
So when it comes to Costa Rica, there's no off season to travel!
Learn More about the Weather Regions
- North Pacific (Ocotal, Tamarindo, Samara and Santa Teresa)
- Central Pacific (Jaco, Manuel Antonio, Quepos and Puntarenas)
- South Pacific (Dominical, Sierpe, Drake Bay, Corcovado, Golfito and Puerto Jimenez)
- Central Valley (the cities of San Jose, Heredia, Escazu, Grecia and Cartago and the Irazu & Poas Volcanoes)
- Northern Zone (La Fortuna, Arenal, San Carlos and Monteverde)
- Caribbean Region (Tortuguero, Guapiles, Limon, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Sixaola)
Insider Facts
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The best time to travel to Costa Rica is during the dry season (December to May); however, this is also the busiest time and you need reservations.
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The best time to travel with the best deals is the wet season (June to November) this is when the hotels are least crowded and offer better rates.
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October, on the Pacific side is usually the rainiest and the slowest as far as tourism goes. A lot of businesses take this month off entirely before they get hit with the busy season that begins in mid-November. However, if you're traveling to Costa Rica during this month, the Caribbean side is the driest place to be.
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From December through February Costa Rica is affected by trade winds (alisios). If you're traveling to the mountainous regions, bring a sweater and a jacket. This includes the San Jose area and its volcanoes.
