When To Go - Best Time to Visit Costa Rica?

Adventure activities
Whilst Costa Rica is famed for its natural beauty, there are also plenty of ways to explore the country for those seeking a bit more of an adrenalin rush. Canopy zip-line tours, white water rafting, quad biking along deserted Pacific beaches, horseriding, hiking to pristine lakes and forests, mountain biking and kayaking are just a few of the options available.
Adventure activities
Ecotourism
Costa Rica has long been heralded as a pioneer in ecotourism, with over a quarter of the country being protected as a national park or reserve. Whilst many hotels elsewhere in the world will wave the ecotourism flag with little or no real credentials, things are different in Costa Rica, where hotels can gain accreditation from a national board for implementing green practices.
Ecotourism
Turtles
July to October is the nesting season for the endangered Green Turtle, when the turtles come up on to Tortuguero beach at night to lay their eggs. It is possible to arrange trips at night to witness this fantastic natural phenomenon, and it really is a wonderful sight to see these peaceful giants so close up.
Turtles
Volcanoes
There are over 200 volcanoes in Costa Rica, many remaining active and fascinating to explore. Their landscapes range from dramatic jagged moonscapes to verdant tropical rainforest, conical in shape to rugged and barren with ancient magma flows and crater lakes. At Arenal, in particular, you may even be able to glimpse live lava flows and hear gas eruptions.
Volcanoes
White water rafting
Rafting in Costa Rica is simply spectacular and there are numerous places to try it, suitable for all levels. The Pacuare River, in particular, is the most challenging. It is a thrilling experience in a stunning setting as the surrounding tropical rainforest provides your backdrop for this adventure, complete with narrow gulleys and beautiful waterfalls along the way.
White water rafting
Wildlife
The wildlife is simply spectacular in Costa Rica and you have real chances of seeing tapirs, sloth, ocelots, coatis, caiman, numerous species of monkey, margay, turtles, iguanas, frogs, butterflies, not to mention more than 850 species of birds.
Wildlife

Central America

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When To Go To Costa Rica

This is a rough guide to when to travel to this region. Choose a month of travel to see typical temperature and rainfall around the country. The ticks indicate our recommended months to travel.

9.596

-84.869

11.2168207168579

8.03297328948975

-82.5559768676758

-85.9506378173828

Arenal Volcano & the Cloudforest Reserves

10.4622
-84.7031

January
- 27
- 262
- 7
February
- 27
- 167
- 7
March
- 29
- 109
- 7
April
- 30
- 103
- 7
May
- 28
- 258
- 6
June
- 27
- 407
- 6
July
- 27
- 464
- 6
August
- 27
- 455
- 6
September
- 27
- 397
- 5
October
- 27
- 462
- 5
November
- 27
- 389
- 6
December
- 26
- 344
- 6

Manuel Antonio

9.38175
-84.1452

January
- 29
- 57
- 7
February
- 30
- 28
- 7
March
- 31
- 54
- 8
April
- 32
- 158
- 7
May
- 31
- 398
- 6
June
- 30
- 418
- 6
July
- 30
- 411
- 6
August
- 30
- 481
- 6
September
- 29
- 519
- 5
October
- 29
- 601
- 5
November
- 29
- 353
- 6
December
- 29
- 128
- 6

Corcovado & Osa Peninsula

8.674196877
-83.7163353

January
- 29
- 48
- 7
February
- 30
- 48
- 7
March
- 31
- 81
- 8
April
- 31
- 182
- 7
May
- 31
- 378
- 6
June
- 30
- 364
- 6
July
- 30
- 342
- 6
August
- 29
- 414
- 6
September
- 29
- 454
- 5
October
- 29
- 673
- 5
November
- 29
- 364
- 5
December
- 29
- 102
- 6

Tortuguero & the Caribbean Coast

10.42028712
-83.487854

January
- 29
- 375
- 6
February
- 30
- 247
- 6
March
- 31
- 179
- 6
April
- 32
- 248
- 6
May
- 31
- 310
- 6
June
- 30
- 383
- 6
July
- 30
- 530
- 6
August
- 30
- 394
- 6
September
- 29
- 250
- 6
October
- 29
- 331
- 6
November
- 28
- 521
- 5
December
- 28
- 552
- 6

Select a month
of travel:

JanuaryJan
FebruaryFeb
MarchMar
AprilApr
MayMay
JuneJun
JulyJul
AugustAug
SeptemberSep
OctoberOct
NovemberNov
DecemberDec

Climate data provided by Weather2Travel.com

Much of Costa Rica is covered by rainforest so expect rain at any time of the year, but there is a dry season on the Pacific coast that runs from December to April and a wet from May to November with the heaviest rainfall being in September and October.

It is harder to define the seasons on the Caribbean coast though it tends to rain less between March and September. Generally the best time to visit is between December and April.

The only time we would actually recommend not travelling would be September and October.

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