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The Best Time to Visit Costa Rica
When Is the Best Season to Travel to Costa Rica?
If you’re looking to experience Costa Rica’s biodiversity hotspots, there’s no bad time to visit. The best time to go to Costa Rica is year-round. The dry season, from December to April, offers plenty of sunshine and clear conditions for wildlife viewing, while the green season promises milder hiking conditions and heightened wildlife activity. Don’t let the “green season” label fool you: Costa Rica often experiences short afternoon or evening showers rather than day-long downpours.
WT’s Costa Rica Wildlife tour, a small-group adventure, hosts non-stop departures during dry season and a July departure during green season, while our year-round Costa Rica private tours and private family tours offer a way to experience the wonders of our classic itinerary, customized to your own liking. Whether you want to watch the morning mist of Monteverde’s cloud forests open up to clear skies or enjoy slightly cooler temperatures on the Caribbean coast, our trip specialists have a departure to suit your desires—and schedule.
Costa Rica Weather
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
   | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| San José | | 78° 64° 1.1″ | 79° 64° 0.8″ | 80° 64° 0.7″ | 81° 65° 1.9″ | 79° 65° 4.8″ | 78° 64° 5.6″ | 78° 65° 4.7″ | 78° 64° 5.2″ | 77° 63° 6.2″ | 77° 63° 6.5″ | 77° 64° 4.4″ | 77° 64° 2.2″ |
| Monteverde | | 76° 63° 0.7″ | 79° 62° 0.5″ | 81° 63° 0.5″ | 81° 65° 1.9″ | 78° 66° 10.6″ | 76° 66° 11.7″ | 76° 65° 8.0″ | 76° 65° 9.6″ | 75° 65° 13.5″ | 74° 65° 14.5″ | 74° 64° 6.3″ | 75° 64° 2.0″ |
| Tortuguero | | 80° 71° 7.4″ | 81° 71° 4.6″ | 82° 72° 4.4″ | 83° 74° 5.0″ | 83° 74° 13.1″ | 83° 74° 15.3″ | 82° 74° 17.2″ | 83° 74° 14.4″ | 84° 74° 12.3″ | 83° 74° 14.0″ | 81° 73° 17.6″ | 80° 72° 12.5″ |
Dry Season (December–April):
Costa Rica’s dry season, usually from December through April, is widely considered the best time to visit Costa Rica due to abundant sunshine, warm temperatures, and great wildlife spotting conditions at its many national parks. This is peak season for Wilderness Travel’s Costa Rica Wildlife trip and a prime time for both Private Journeys and Family Private Journeys, with strong wildlife viewing across Monteverde, Arenal, Tortuguero, and Manuel Antonio.
Green Season (May–November):
This is a lush and vibrant time of year when the rainforest is at its most alive. Wildlife activity is high, rivers and waterfalls are full, and there are fewer travelers in many areas. This season includes summer travel months that work well for families, as well as late-season highlights on the Caribbean Coast, including sea turtle nesting in Tortuguero. Best suited to Costa Rica Wildlife departures (July only) and Private Journeys.
Why visit Costa RIca in the winter?
Winter in Costa Rica: December, January & February
The most popular time to travel to Costa Rica, the country’s winter season from December to February coincides with the first half of the dry season and holiday/winter vacations that bring an increase in travelers to the country. But it’s a popular visiting time for good reason—rainfall is minimal across much of the country during this period, creating excellent sunny conditions for hiking and going to the beach. Costa Rica’s wildlife sightings are abundant as many whales and birds are busy migrating. And temperatures tend to be coolest (though still quite warm) during this time of year, with daily highs ranging from 75 to 90 degrees. Since this season can get busy, it’s a good idea to plan out things to do in Costa Rica, like activities and restaurant bookings, ahead of time.
What to Expect on Our Winter Tours
This is peak season for WT’s small-group Costa Rica Wildlife journey, with strong wildlife viewing across Monteverde, Arenal, Tortuguero, and Manuel Antonio. This is also an excellent time to embark on both our Private Journeys and Family Private Journeys, as WT prioritizes bookings and guide availability during prime travel periods, such as school breaks and holidays.
Why visit Costa Rica in the spring?
Spring in Costa Rica: March & April
Towards the end of the dry season, Costa Rica’s spring season in March and April sees a rise in daytime temperatures—while weather conditions remain relatively sunny and rain-free. You’ll still find plenty of fellow travelers (lots of folks are on spring break) if you visit during this season, though it’s not usually quite as busy as the winter. Temperatures rise notably during this time of year—most regions see their hottest temperatures during these months, with daily highs between 80 and 95 degrees.
What to Expect on Our Spring Tours
Look for wildlife in Tortuguero National Park and walk across hanging bridges in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve on spring departures of our small-group Costa Rica Wildlife journey. This is also a great time of year to take one of our Private Journeys, as you’ll find warm, sunny temperatures and great sightings of Costa Rica’s wildlife.
Why visit Costa Rica in the summer?
Summer in Costa Rica: May, June, July & August
As seasonal rains return to the country, parched landscapes become exceptionally lush, rivers and waterfalls flow at their fullest, and forests burst with vibrant shades of green. While these months have higher rainfall, you can usually expect short, intense bursts in the afternoons and evenings rather than all-day downpours—and around July, rainfall levels actually decrease a bit. Expect warm temperatures ranging from the high 70s to low 90s, depending on the region. Areas that can get quite hot during the late dry season, such as the Caribbean coast, experience much milder temperatures during the summer season. Wildlife viewing is a particular highlight during this period, with migrating birds and nesting sea turtles.
What to Expect on Our Summer Tours
We run fewer departures of our Costa Rica Wildlife trip in the summer months because of the higher rainfall. But we run a departure or two in July, during the “canicular period,” or brief drought period, when rainfall levels dip countrywide. While some operators may overlook the green season, WT is especially busy with our Family Private Journeys, which skips the cloud forests of Monteverde for the Pacific Coast, which sees milder temperatures during the green season. July is a particularly great time to book a private trip, as it’s a relatively little-known dry-ish period.
Why visit Costa Rica in the fall?
Fall in Costa Rica: September, October & November
September and October are typically the rainiest months in Costa Rica. Because this is the green season’s peak, fall travelers to Costa Rica will be met with fewer fellow tourists, reduced rates, and a more peaceful trip. This is a great time to visit Costa Rica’s Caribbean coastline, which gets quite hot in other seasons, and while you won’t find the best hiking conditions, you’ll still find great conditions for water sports. If you’re planning a fall trip, just make sure to pack your rain gear.
What to Expect on Our Fall Tours
We pause our small group journeys for the fall months because of the rains that make for muddy roads and less-than-ideal hiking conditions. But our Costa Rica private journeys can be booked all year, and the fall period is a great time to visit if you’re looking for fewer crowds and don’t mind a few rain showers. Because both our Private Journeys are customizable and are some of the best Costa Rica tours, our trip specialists are experts at adjusting itineraries to take advantage of the generally sunny and clear mornings.
Costa Rican Holidays & Festivals
- Semana Santa, or Holy Week (Late March-Mid April): The week leading up to Easter Sunday, Holy Week, is known as Semana Santa in Costa Rica and is a major cultural and religious holiday that draws crowds for parades and festivities. Many people travel to see family, and some shops and businesses shut down on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
- Día de Guanacaste (July 25): On July 25, the country celebrates the Annexation of Guanacaste—the day in 1824 that the province of Guanacaste decided to join the newly independent country of Costa Rica—with festivals, music, folk dancing, and fireworks, especially if you’re traveling in that region of the country.
- Día Virgen de Los Angeles (August 2): A Catholic holiday and Costa Rica’s largest religious holiday after Easter and Christmas, Our Lady of Los Angeles Day is a public holiday celebrating the country’s patron saint.
- Independence Day (September 15): Celebrated yearly on September 15, this holiday recognizes the day Costa Rica declared independence from Spain in 1821. Today, it’s celebrated with parades and traditional foods, making it a fun and lively time to visit Costa Rica.
- Christmas Season (December): A predominantly Catholic country, Costa Rica celebrates the Christmas season with parades, festivals, light displays, markets, and parties, especially during the week between Christmas and the New Year. You can expect more crowds during this popular travel time, and though some shops close, most restaurants stay open.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best time to visit Costa Rica for hiking is the dry season, specifically the months of December, January, and February. These months immediately follow the green season so you’ll see lush vegetation, and temperatures tend to be the coolest and most comfortable for hiking.
Costa Rica’s rainy season is typically from May through November, with the most rain falling in September and October. Rain typically comes in the form of afternoon showers rather than all-day downpours.
The low travel season in Costa Rica is the green season months of September and October. While much of the green season, which lasts from May to November, is still a pleasant time to travel with warm weather and thinner crowds, September and October’s rain sometimes makes travel more difficult.
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Talk to an Expert
Our Latin America Specialists know every detail about our Costa Rica trips. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!