Best Time to Visit Costa Rica
Costa Rica has two major seasons, dry and wet season. The dry season is the height season with scorching climate, a hefty price ticket, and overflowing with vacationers. The wet season is the off-season with low-cost costs, much less favorable climate situations, and with fewer guests. Nonetheless, there are two particular timeframes known as “veranillo” and “canícula” that simply could be the perfect time to go to Costa Rica.
In case you are contemplating a visit to Costa Rica, it’s helpful to grasp what awaits you in numerous seasons and months. Now we have compiled complete info that will help you decide the optimum time on your go to. This information presents an in depth evaluation of the benefits and downsides of every season. Moreover, it offers a spread of actions and experiences accessible to do in Costa Rica.
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Costa Rica Climate and Local weather
Costa Rica is located between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean in Central America. You would possibly know its local weather to be tropical because of being so near the Equator. Nonetheless, there are delicate variations relying on the area you’re visiting.
In line with the Köppen-Geiger classification, you’ll be able to count on the next local weather per area:
- Tropical rainforest is alongside the Caribbean Coast in addition to Southern Costa Rica across the Osa Penisula and Golfo Dulce. It’s the typical tropical local weather, with wet and dry seasons taking turns.
- Tropical monsoon is alongside the Pacific Coast and the Northern border with Nicaragua. You may count on a bit longer wet season or heavier rainfall in comparison with the tropical rainforest local weather.
- Tropical savanna is alongside the Northwestern areas, particularly in Guanacaste. It normally receives much less rainfall and has an extended dry season in comparison with the earlier two.
- Temperate or (subtropical highlands) is alongside the mountains like Cerro Chirripo in the midst of Costa Rica. It’s normally nearer to a 4 season local weather however with high-altitude temperatures that may drop simply.
Common Temperature
Because the local weather is tropical all through most of Costa Rica, you’ll be able to see there may be not a lot deviation throughout the 12 months. The common temperatures range between 75-79 Fahrenheit (24-26 Celsius), with most temperatures between 83-90 Fahrenheit (28-32 Celsius) and minimal temperatures between 65-69 Fahrenheit (18-20 Celsius).
The distinction between the dry and wet seasons will not be temperature however humidity and precipitation. The under graph was drawn up utilizing the historic information collected between 1991-2020 by the WorldBank database.
Common Precipitation
Most individuals want to know throughout which month essentially the most rain will fall. It’s pure, as you’d suppose that when there may be rainfall, you don’t get to do something, so that you need to keep away from it.
In line with the historic information collected between 1991-2020 by the WorldBank database in Costa Rica, the wet season normally begins in Could and lasts till November.
April is known as the shoulder season, which is sort of a transitional interval between the dry and the wet season. There’s regularly an increasing number of rain, however not a lot but. Whereas the earlier barren landscapes begin to be reborn.
There’s additionally a particular time known as “veranillo” or mini-summer finish of June, round 24 June, the place there’s a non permanent decline in precipitation. So guests can take pleasure in a inexperienced season with much less rainfall.
“Canícula” is normally between mid-July and mid-August, when Costa Rica experiences one thing much like an “Indian summer season”.
Dry season – costly, crowded
For vacationers, preferring scorching summer season days with much less rainfall, the perfect time to go to Costa Rica is between November and April. Moreover, a number of main holidays fall throughout this era like Christmas, New Yr’s Eve, and even Easter, which suggests folks have free time to journey.
What to anticipate throughout this season?
- Peak season, excessive costs – These are the most popular months in Costa Rica, particularly between January and March. A lot of the vacationers e book their keep for the dry season. Which implies lodging are provided on the highest costs.
- Scorching and dry – Simply as its identify suggests, this season is the most popular and driest. You need to count on excessive temperatures, barren landscapes, smaller waterfalls and rivers, dried-up grime roads, BUT there will likely be blue sky, and the solar is shining all day lengthy (largely). Guanacaste could be particularly dry since its local weather is tropical savanna.
Victoria, a full-time writer and photographer touring round Central America stated, “Costa Rica has a definite moist and dry season, and I might extremely advocate selecting the dry season to go to for those who can. Your probabilities of having good climate will likely be way more doubtless throughout November to April, though costs could be larger. Nonetheless, for my part, the funding is price it, and also you’ll be capable to do much more than in wet season. You simply must e book a bit additional upfront to be sure to can get the perfect costs. You’ll additionally meet much more different vacationers alongside the way in which, particularly for those who’re a backpacker.
Actions you are able to do
- Chook watching – Dry season is right for fowl watching as you’ll be able to cover throughout the shades of the rainforest. You could get to see a number of of the well-known Costa Rican birds.
- Browsing and swimming within the sea – No storms, no El Nino, or different meteorological phenomena to spoil your time on the seashore. Swim, surf, dive, or simply sunbathe.
- Volcano excursions and mountaineering – If you wish to escape the recent climate, be part of a volcano tour or hike a mountain path. As you go larger, temperatures are sure to drop a few levels.
- Nature walks – Uncover a number of of Costa Rica’s Nationwide Parks and Reserves. You too can go to one in all the best zip-lining parks, the place yow will discover not solely zip strains, however hanging bridges, cable automobiles, and treetop walkways.
- Humpback whale migration (Uvita) – They attain the shores of Costa Rica first round September, however their migration season can final for a number of months. So that you could possibly catch the tip.
- Fishing – Particularly for freshwater fishing, the dry season is the perfect time as lakes and rivers shrink, making the fish congregate in additional accessible areas. Learn extra in our guide to fishing in Costa Rica.
READ ON – 36 Eco-Friendly Things to Do in Costa Rica.
Wet season – low costs, fewer vacationers
The wet season in Costa Rica begins in Could and lasts till November. In line with this Biological Weather Station, throughout this season, the rainfall regularly will increase as much as about 400 mm on common per thirty days, being October statistically the wettest.
What to anticipate throughout this season?
- Excessive humidity – Whereas the typical temperature will not be altering that a lot throughout the 12 months, the humidity will increase considerably.
- Mosquitoes love this season – They’re most lively throughout nightfall and daybreak in addition to close to lakes and swampy areas like wetlands. In line with Christa from Pura Vida Mothers, the worst place to go if you wish to keep away from mosquitoes in Costa Rica is the Caribbean Coast (round Tortuguero Nationwide Park), Osa Peninsula (round Corcovado Nationwide Park), and the Southern Pacific space (round Pavones). So get your bug repellent and choose a lodge with a mosquito net.
- Problematic highway situations – As a result of heavy rainfall and the truth that paved roads could not have good drainage, water can stay on the highway rendering the potholes and even the road of the highway not seen. If the highway is unpaved, the mud can flip so thick that even 4x4s can get caught.
- Decrease costs, smaller crowds – Vacationers usually desire dry season, subsequently yow will discover extra reasonably priced costs and fewer folks for those who select this season.
Lori, a slow travelers behind Travlinmad recommends that in case you are planning road-tripping in Costa Rica, the dry season presents a lot higher accessibility to drive in additional distant components of the nation. Nonetheless, the again roads of Costa Rica can simply turn into impassible when the summer season rains create mud so thick it may possibly even bathroom down a 4×4. Nonetheless, the inexperienced season in Costa Rica could be a significantly better possibility in case you are staying for an extended vacation and need to save your hard-earned {dollars}. Touring in the summertime presents a lot decrease costs and smaller crowds, two of the most important perks for gradual vacationers.
Actions you are able to do
- Waterfall rappelling – Extra rains imply the waterfalls are the most important throughout this season. You may get near lots of them and even swim in some. You’re going to get moist it doesn’t matter what when visiting one of many Costa Rican waterfalls.
- Whitewater rafting – Similar goes right here. You could get your self moist, even for those who don’t need to.
- Zip-lining and cover excursions – You may uncover the luxurious inexperienced rainforest simply by driving ziplines or taking part in cover excursions.
- Turtle watching – The perfect time to catch them is between August and November.
- Humpback whale migration (Uvita) – They attain the shores of Costa Rica first round September, however their migration season can final for a number of months.
- Fishing – Marlin and sailfish motion is finest in Could by means of October within the Northern areas of the Pacific Coast. Learn extra in our guide to fishing in Costa Rica.
- Scuba diving (Bat Islands aka Islas Murciélagos) – Giant inhabitants of bull sharks and manta rays can solely be sighted throughout the wet season for experienced divers*.
- Espresso excursions – The espresso harvest season begins in September.
READ ON – 36 Eco-Friendly Things to Do in Costa Rica.
Veranillo – mini summer season on the finish of June
There’s a particular time of the 12 months in Costa Rica when they need to be in the midst of the wet season, however nonetheless, they expertise I decline in rainfall. Veranillo de San Juan (round 24 June) is a meteorological phenomenon the place you get to expertise the luxurious and inexperienced surroundings with out the heavy rainfalls and whirlwinds.
It sounds wonderful, proper? Can it’s that veranillo is the perfect month to go to Costa Rica? Maintain your horses earlier than reserving. Veranillo could be fairly restricted to sure areas in addition to in time. For instance, in 2013 it was only in Guanacaste, and in 2018 it only lasted for 5 days within the Central Valley and alongside the Pacific Coast. You should definitely get info on the yearly forecast earlier than deciding, as it may possibly occur that you simply journey to a area the place veranillo won’t even seem.
What to anticipate throughout this season?
Veranillo may very well be the perfect time to go to Costa Rica, however it isn’t simple to catch. This phenomenon normally lasts for under 1-7 days. It’s a dry interval proper in the midst of the wet season. Throughout veranillo you’ll be able to take pleasure in sunny and heat climate with lush inexperienced environment. Costs are decrease than throughout the excessive season, and the nation isn’t normally too overrun with vacationers.
Sara from Costa Rica Vibes recommends the Pacific Coast for veranillo. Particularly, the Guanacaste Province within the northwest nook of the nation may have glorious climate. Right here you’ll be able to expertise browsing in Tamarindo for all talent ranges, scuba diving alongside marine-filled reefs in Playas del Coco, mountaineering at an lively volcano in Rincon de La Vieja Nationwide Park, and absolute leisure at a resort on the Papagayo Peninsula.
READ ON – 36 Eco-Friendly Things to Do in Costa Rica.
Canícula – heatwave throughout the wet season
The “canícula” refers to a interval of scorching and dry climate amidst the wet season, which usually happens between July 15 and August 15. The time-frame is barely completely different relying on the area. The IMN, Costa Rica’s Nationwide Meteorological Institute, publishes predictions every year.
What to anticipate throughout this season?
Throughout this time, rainfall decreases in amount and depth, or could even stop utterly, for a period starting from 5 to fifteen days. Temperatures rise, and winds turn into stronger. The heatwave is most prominently skilled within the North Pacific, Central Valley, Los Santos space, and the Basic Valley. Canícula usually a collection of consecutive dry days blended with some wet days.
Stephanie from The Unknown Enthusiast says a visit to Costa Rica in July is a good time to expertise what the nation has to supply. By the tip of June, the vegetation has recovered from the dearth of rain throughout the dry season and is totally lush and inexperienced, however hasn’t gotten too deep into the wet season but. You may rely on dawn being clear and brilliant, with late afternoon rain showers being pretty common, although not occurring daily. This early within the wet season, it hasn’t gotten too muddy but, and the bugs should not almost as thick as they get later within the season.
READ ON – 36 Eco-Friendly Things to Do in Costa Rica.
Shoulder season – the perfect time to go to Costa Rica?
Can it’s that the shoulder season is basically the perfect time to journey to Costa Rica? It might, as properly. Rainfall is predicted to start out round April and Could, however it can solely improve regularly in time. It means there could solely be 1-2 hours of rain, after which the sky is all clear to do any actions you need. Contemplating that October is the wettest month, the tip of spring is kind of removed from it.
What to anticipate throughout this season?
- Exterior peak season – It might fall outdoors peak season within the calendar of a number of eco-lodges. You should definitely examine that. There are additionally fewer vacationers, so even the favored areas won’t really feel too crowded. You get to benefit from the actions as a real eco-tourist.
- Gentle showers – The local weather is simply going into the wet season. You may count on gentle rainfall.
- Inexperienced nature – Particularly in Could and particularly in areas that may get actually dry (like Guanacaste), you get to expertise how wildlife get up because of the wetter climate.
Haley from Gathering Waves displays on her private journey expertise when she recommends the shoulder season as the perfect time to go to Costa Rica. She spent the primary half of a 12 months dwelling in Nosara, Costa Rica and skilled the peak of each the dry and the wet seasons. She says that April and Could have been by far the perfect! Throughout the shoulder season, there have been a fraction of the vacationers. The rains within the shoulder season are additionally not too dangerous. Sometimes, it will likely be heat and sunny within the mornings and early afternoons, and storm within the evenings and at night time. The rain within the evenings was properly well worth the lack of vacationers. And, with a little bit extra rain, Costa Rica turns into a lot much less dry and way more inexperienced and plush, making it all of the extra lovely.
READ ON – 36 Eco-Friendly Things to Do in Costa Rica.
