The best time to visit Costa Rica is during the dry season, from December through April, when rainfall is lowest across most of the country and outdoor activities like hiking, zip-lining, and beach time are least likely to be interrupted by rain.
Dry Season (December-April): Peak Travel Time
Known locally as “verano” (summer) despite falling in the Northern Hemisphere’s winter, this stretch brings the most reliably sunny days, especially in the Guanacaste region on the Pacific coast, which sees the least rainfall of anywhere in the country. It is also peak tourist season, with the highest prices and busiest national parks, particularly around the December-to-January holidays.
Guanacaste (Pacific Coast) Weather by Month
The chart below shows average high and low temperatures, monthly rainfall, and sea temperature for the popular Guanacaste beach region. The Caribbean coast and Central Valley follow noticeably different patterns, covered below.
Jan
(91°/72°F)
1 rainy days
Sea Temp. 28°C
Feb
(93°/72°F)
0 rainy days
Sea Temp. 28°C
Mar
(93°/73°F)
1 rainy days
Sea Temp. 28°C
Apr
(93°/75°F)
3 rainy days
Sea Temp. 29°C
May
(90°/75°F)
14 rainy days
Sea Temp. 29°C
Jun
(88°/73°F)
17 rainy days
Sea Temp. 29°C
Jul
(88°/73°F)
15 rainy days
Sea Temp. 28°C
Aug
(88°/73°F)
17 rainy days
Sea Temp. 28°C
Sep
(86°/73°F)
20 rainy days
Sea Temp. 28°C
Oct
(86°/73°F)
21 rainy days
Sea Temp. 28°C
Nov
(88°/73°F)
12 rainy days
Sea Temp. 28°C
Dec
(90°/72°F)
4 rainy days
Sea Temp. 28°C
| Month | Avg. High | Avg. Low | Rainfall | Rainy Days | Sea Temp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°C / 91°F | 22°C / 72°F | 5 mm | 1 | 28°C |
| Feb | 34°C / 93°F | 22°C / 72°F | 3 mm | 0 | 28°C |
| Mar | 34°C / 93°F | 23°C / 73°F | 5 mm | 1 | 28°C |
| Apr | 34°C / 93°F | 24°C / 75°F | 30 mm | 3 | 29°C |
| May | 32°C / 90°F | 24°C / 75°F | 190 mm | 14 | 29°C |
| Jun | 31°C / 88°F | 23°C / 73°F | 210 mm | 17 | 29°C |
| Jul | 31°C / 88°F | 23°C / 73°F | 150 mm | 15 | 28°C |
| Aug | 31°C / 88°F | 23°C / 73°F | 200 mm | 17 | 28°C |
| Sep | 30°C / 86°F | 23°C / 73°F | 300 mm | 20 | 28°C |
| Oct | 30°C / 86°F | 23°C / 73°F | 320 mm | 21 | 28°C |
| Nov | 31°C / 88°F | 23°C / 73°F | 130 mm | 12 | 28°C |
| Dec | 32°C / 90°F | 22°C / 72°F | 30 mm | 4 | 28°C |
Green Season (May-November): Lush, Quiet, and Still Very Visitable
Costa Ricans call the wet season “invierno” (winter), but it is far from a washout: rain typically arrives as intense but short afternoon downpours, leaving mornings clear for hiking and wildlife viewing. The landscape turns dramatically lush and green, wildlife is often more active, and both crowds and prices drop significantly compared to the dry season.
Regional Differences Matter
Costa Rica’s Pacific and Caribbean coasts follow different rainfall patterns, and the Caribbean side, including popular spots like Puerto Viejo, tends to stay wetter year-round with less pronounced seasonal swings than the Pacific coast. The Central Valley, home to San Jose, sits at higher elevation and enjoys a milder, spring-like climate for most of the year regardless of season.
September and October: The Wettest Stretch
If you are set on visiting during the green season, September and October bring the heaviest rainfall on the Pacific side and are worth avoiding if a dry trip matters to you, while the Caribbean coast actually tends to see a brief drier spell around this same period, an example of how much the two coasts diverge.
Planning Around Afternoon Rain
Because Costa Rica’s wet-season rain is so reliably an afternoon event, scheduling outdoor activities like hikes and canopy tours for the morning and checking a live rain map before heading out in the afternoon is one of the simplest ways to make the most of a green-season trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to visit Costa Rica?
January through April, the heart of the dry season, offers the most reliably sunny weather nationwide, especially in the Guanacaste region, which sees almost no rain during this stretch.
What is the rainiest month in Costa Rica?
October is the wettest month on the Pacific coast, averaging around 320mm of rain across 21 rainy days, while the Caribbean coast follows a different, less pronounced seasonal pattern.
Is Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast different from the Pacific coast?
Yes, significantly. The Caribbean side, including Puerto Viejo, stays wetter year-round with less dramatic seasonal swings than the Pacific coast’s sharp dry-season/green-season divide.
Can you visit Costa Rica in the green season?
Yes. Rain typically falls as intense but short afternoon downpours, leaving mornings clear for hiking and wildlife viewing, and the green season brings lower prices and thinner crowds.
What is the cheapest time to visit Costa Rica?
September and October, the wettest months of the green season, typically have the lowest hotel and tour prices, along with the fewest tourists.
Is San Jose’s weather different from the coast?
Yes. San Jose and the Central Valley sit at higher elevation and enjoy a milder, spring-like climate with cooler temperatures than the hot, humid coastal regions, regardless of season.
In Conclusion
December through April offers the most reliably dry weather, but the green season’s lush scenery, thinner crowds, and lower prices make it a legitimate choice too, especially if you plan around the predictable afternoon rain pattern.
