UnderstandingCostaRica'sseasons
Dry season, green season and the regional differences that matter more than either. A practical guide to when to go.
Costa Rica is often described as having two seasons: a dry season from around December to April and a green, or rainy, season from around May to November. That's a useful start, but the reality varies considerably by region, and the green season has more to offer than its name suggests.
The dry season
On the Pacific side and in the Central Valley, the dry months bring the most predictable sunshine. Guanacaste, in particular, can go weeks without rain. These months, along with Christmas, New Year and Easter, are the busiest of the year, and the best-loved places to stay are often booked well in advance.
The green season
In much of the country, a typical green-season day starts bright, with clouds building towards rain in the afternoon. Forests are at their most lush, rivers run high and many areas are quieter. July often brings a drier spell on the Pacific side.
The heaviest rain on the Pacific generally falls from around September to November. In the south especially, this can affect access, and some lodges close for part of that period.
The regions that break the rules
- The Caribbean coast has its own pattern, and September and October are often relatively dry there.
- Arenal and the northern lowlands can see rain at any time of year.
- Monteverde is frequently misty and windy whatever the season. That's part of what a cloud forest is.
Seasons for wildlife
Some of the country's great natural events are seasonal. Green turtles nest at Tortuguero mostly from around July to October. Humpback whales visit the south Pacific in two seasons, from both hemispheres. Resplendent quetzals are often easiest to see in the cloud forest during their nesting season early in the year.
