Best Time to Visit Costa Rica: Full Seasonal Guide
Key takeaways
- The best time to travel to Costa Rica if you’re looking for adventure is during the dry season, while the best time to visit Costa Rica for cost savings is during the rainy season, especially the two rainiest months (September and October).
- Costa Rica has different weather depending on whether you’re visiting the Caribbean coast or the Pacific coast, so plan your trip accordingly. For the best weather in Costa Rica, you’ll generally want to visit during the dry season, though wet season can be the best time to visit the side that borders the Caribbean.
- Flexibility with dates can significantly increase your chance of finding the best flight deals to Costa Rica.
- Travelers who are willing to put up with afternoon showers and muddy trails can save a lot of money on a Costa Rica vacation.
- With a Going Premium or Elite membership, you can get real-time alerts as soon as flight prices to Costa Rica drop.
Best time to visit Costa Rica: An overview
There is no single best time of year to visit Costa Rica, but there are best times for certain activities. Costa Rica’s biodiversity, lush rainforests, wildlife viewing opportunities, Caribbean and Pacific beaches, active volcanoes, and adventure experiences like ziplining and kayaking make it a popular year-round travel destination.
The best time to travel to Costa Rica depends on the type of activities you hope to enjoy, your budget, and how you feel about rain.
What makes Costa Rica a year-round destination?
While Costa Rica certainly has wet and dry seasons, it is still a year-round destination for wildlife viewing. And because it has both Pacific and Caribbean coasts, each with its own “good” season to visit, you can always find a beach.
December to April is the best season to visit Costa Rica for clear skies and dry hiking, while May to November is best for greenery and other plant life, as well as low prices. September to October, the wettest months throughout most of the country, are actually the driest months on the Caribbean coast.
Factors to consider: weather, activities, and budgets
In most of the country, the dry season runs from December to April and is generally the best time for hiking Arenal Volcano and visiting the Monteverde Cloud Forest. You’ll have better views with clear skies, and it will be easier to spot wildlife.
It is still possible to take part in those activities during the rainy season, from May–November, as long as you’re okay with getting a bit wet and muddy. Some animals are actually more active during the rainy season, and the greenery is more lush.
If you’re visiting Costa Rica for the beaches, visit the Pacific coast during the dry season and the Caribbean coast during the wet season (which is actually dry season there). May to October is the best time to surf on the Pacific coast due to large swells. Meanwhile, snorkeling is best in the Caribbean from September to October.
Costa Rica is an affordable destination year-round, but it’s definitely cheaper during the rainy season. Hotels are about 40% cheaper, and tours are about 20% off. You can also typically find better flight deals from June to October.
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Costa Rica’s seasons explained: Weather guide
Temperatures in Costa Rica are fairly consistent, but rainfall is not. The country has distinct rainy and dry seasons, each with its own benefits. While the dry season is busiest and easiest for getting around, the rainy season is cheaper and a great time to see waterfalls. So when is the best time to visit Costa Rica? Let’s dive in.
Dry season (December–April): Sunny beaches and clear skies
Costa Rica’s dry season, which runs from about mid-December through mid-April, is a great time to visit for adventure activities. Think zip-lining, hiking the Arenal and La Fortuna volcanoes, and wildlife viewing. Clear skies make it easier to see wildlife, such as monkeys and tropical birds, during this time.
Dry season temperatures hover around 80–85ºF, though there are some hot days getting up to 90ºF. Nighttime temperatures are around 70–75ºF. Because of the great weather and lack of rain, this is the busiest time to visit, and flights will likely be more expensive than at other times of the year. Mid-range hotel costs will be about $150 per night.
Rainy season (May–November): Lush landscapes and lower prices
The rainy season in Costa Rica runs from May–November, but September and October typically see the most rainfall, with about 12 inches per month. Temperatures during the rainy season can range from 70–90ºF, depending on the region.
While you can pretty much count on a few afternoon showers during a rainy season vacation, it’s also the cheapest time to visit and it rarely rains all day. Hotels can range from $20 per night for a bed in a hostel to $150 per night for a standard hotel.
The rainy season is also known as the “green season” for its lush vegetation, especially in the south of the country. It’s a great time to visit waterfalls and go white-water rafting. It is harder to get around during these months, as roads can be extremely muddy, especially in rural areas.
Note: The Caribbean coast of Costa Rica has different weather patterns than the rest of the country and is actually drier during September and October than the rest of the year. Ultimately, when to visit Costa Rica depends on your comfort with rain and which activities you hope to do.
Transition months: best of both worlds
Shoulder seasons, the months just before and after high seasons, are often the best times to visit Costa Rica. You get the benefit of good weather without the high prices and crowds. In Costa Rica, the shoulder seasons fall on the edges of the dry season and when there’s a lull in summer travelers from the US. Visit in April–June and November for shoulder season flight prices.
Because these months are on the edge of and during the rainy season, you could have wet afternoons. Build in an extra day or two if possible, in case your planned activities for one day get rained out.
Best months to visit Costa Rica for specific activities
There’s not really a bad time to visit Costa Rica, but there are best times to visit for certain activities. Whether you hope to see monkeys in the rainforest or surf on the Pacific coast, hike a volcano or take part in local celebrations, these are the best times to visit.
Wildlife spotting
The best time of year to see wildlife depends on what types of animals you hope to see. Monkeys can be seen year-round but are more active during the dry season. They’re commonly found in Manuel Antonio National Park or Corcovado National Park. Meanwhile, reptiles and many birds are easier to spot in places such as Monteverde during the rainy season.
Some birds, like macaws, migrate and are more common in Costa Rica during the dry season. The quetzal, another bird on many visitors’ “must-see list,” is best spotted from February to April in the Monteverde Cloud Forest.
If you’re there for the sea turtles, visit during turtle-nesting season, from July to October. Hiking and jeep tours start around $35 per person.
Surfing and water sports
Costa Rica is a popular watersport destination. The Pacific coast is best for surfing, with May to October being the most popular time due to large swells. Beginner surfers might want to start with the smaller waves during the dry season.
The dry season is the best time for most other watersports, such as kitesurfing and snorkeling, because the water is calm and you won’t be interrupted by a rainstorm. Coco Island, Guanacaste, and the entire Caribbean coast are excellent places to snorkel.
Meanwhile, Lake Arenal is renowned for calm waters, great for kitesurfing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding.
Scuba and snorkel tours cost $30–$100, while kitesurfing lessons are around $100 per session. Surfboard and kayak rentals are about $15–$30 for four hours.
Hiking and nature tours
For most hiking, December to April is the best time to visit Costa Rica. The trails will be dry and easier to hike, and clear skies mean easier wildlife viewing. That said, the rainy season, particularly in the summer, is a good time to visit for lush foliage. Tours are also significantly cheaper during this period. However, trails can be muddy and tours are sometimes cancelled due to bad weather.
Arenal Volcano is one of the most popular hiking areas in Costa Rica—and for good reason. Trails offer views of the volcano and lava fields, and you can reach nearby La Fortuna waterfall easily. The dry season is the best time to visit for views.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest is also extremely popular. Here you can see misty forests with monkeys and other wildlife. Again, the dry season is the easiest time to visit. Less busy but still popular is Corcovado National Park. This is one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth. If you’re lucky you’ll see sloths, monkeys, lizards, and even jaguars (though those sightings are very, very rare). The trails are easiest to hike in the dry season, though animals are active year-round. In Tortuguero National Park, you can see turtles nesting from July to October; you’ll also see a wide range of birds.
All of these experiences are available through guided tours. Hiking tours are the most popular, though there are tours that drive you most of the way to your destination and have minimal walking. Canopy and zipline tours are a fun way to see the Monteverde Cloud Forest or Arenal Volcano. In some areas, you can also walk across canopies suspended in the forest.
Small group tour prices range from $50–$100 per person for a half-day or $100–$200 per person for a full day. The price depends on the season and whether or not the tour includes amenities, such as lunch. Private tours are also available from $200–$300 per person.
Experiencing local festivals and events
Festival de la Luz is one of the largest festivals in Costa Rica. It takes place in San José, the capital, in December and marks the start of the Christmas season. Expect parades, floats, concerts, and lots of lights. While the festival isn’t large enough to draw major international crowds or significantly impact flight prices, hotels in San José can fill up with visitors from around Costa Rica.
Another large festival, Fiestas de Palmares, takes place in mid-January and lasts 10 days. It features bullfighting, concerts, an amusement park, and more. Palmares can get very crowded during this festival, but there’s little impact on the rest of the country.
The southern Pacific region of Costa Rica gets busy during the Envision Festival, a large eco-conscious music festival that takes place in February or March in Uvita. This festival draws some Americans and others interested in music and wellness, so flights can be slightly more expensive.
During the week leading up to Easter, many Costa Ricans take vacation, so some popular tourist locations can be more crowded and hotels more expensive. Many businesses close on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The benefit of visiting during this time is you might see religious processions and festivals.
On September 15, Costa Rica celebrates Independence Day. Communities across the country celebrate with festivals, parades, and dances. There’s also a “Torch of Freedom” that is passed around the country during a procession to celebrate independence from Spain. Prices aren’t typically higher due to Independence Day, but some businesses might be closed on the 15th.
Cheapest time to travel to Costa Rica
The cheapest time to visit Costa Rica is during the rainy season, also known as the green season, from May to October. Hotels and tours are discounted during this time, and airfare can be cheaper. If you’re planning to travel during the rainy season, it’s advised to book your flights about 2–8 months in advance, during the Goldilocks Window when cheap flights are most likely to pop up.
Visitors during the rainy season will experience fewer tourists, lush forests, active turtles and other wildlife, and low prices. However, rain can cancel plans, and hiking trails can be very muddy.
During the rainy season, budget hotels can be as cheap at $15 per night, while midrange hotels are about $50 per night and luxury hotels about $150 per night. Guided hiking tours are often around $30 per night, compared to $50 per night during high season.
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For more tips on saving money for your trip, explore our guides on finding cheap flights and budget-friendly hotels.
Worst time to visit Costa Rica: what to know
There’s no truly bad time to visit Costa Rica, but there are times when travel may be less pleasant, depending on your priorities.
Challenges during peak rainy months
The rainy season in Costa Rica runs from May–November, with the rainiest months being September and October. Even during the rainy season, there are activities to do throughout the country, but there are certain things you should be wary of.
If hiking is a priority, be aware that, while the rainy months bring lush greenery and more-active animals, some trails can be wet and muddy during this time, which may be a hindrance for some travelers.
If you’re planning to visit the beaches, the rainy season particularly affects the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. (During the wet season, the Caribbean coast is actually quite dry and enjoyable.) As such, the waves tend to be larger on the Pacific coast during the rainy months, which may be optimal for surfers but not for travelers who want to play in the water or enjoy a dry, sunny day on the beach.
Crowds during the high season
Costa Rica’s busiest season aligns with the dry season, which runs from mid-December to mid-April. While there is a ton to do throughout the country, it also brings crowds of tourists looking to soak up the sunshine, wildlife, and outdoor activities. Needless to say, flights, hotels, and tour groups tend to be more expensive and crowded during this time of year.
Make the most of your Costa Rica adventure
Planning your trip to Costa Rica doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. You can save big on flights and accommodations by timing your bookings right, staying flexible with your travel dates, and exploring the Goldilocks Window. Whether you’re looking to surf, hike, go zip-lining, or relax on the beach, Costa Rica has something for everyone.
Let Going take the guesswork out of planning—download the app and get a membership today to unlock unbeatable deals and make your Costa Rica getaway unforgettable.
Frequently asked questions
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Published January 9, 2025
Last updated January 9, 2025