Planning a Costa Rica vacation? Get a detailed snapshot of what's hot when in every region of the country.


Jump to: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

January

Central Pacific
•    Pacific sailfish fishing season in Tamarindo and Quepos.
•    Good visibility for diving off Jaco, Manuel Antonio and Isla Tortuga off the Nicoya Peninsula.
Central Valley
•    Exceptional views of Irazu Volcano and Poas Volcano.
Monteverde Region
•    Coffee harvest in Monteverde.
North Pacific
•    Birdwatching for the endangered brown pelican on Isla Bolanos.
•    Leatherback turtles nesting in Las Baulas Marine Park.
•    Peak birdwatching season in Palo Verde National Park.
•    High winds make for great windsurfing in Bahia Salinas.
•    Excellent scuba diving -manta rays common - at Isla Santa Catalina & Isla Murcielagos.
Northern Caribbean
•    Great green macaw season in Tortuguero.
Northern Region
•    Migratory birds arrive in droves to Cano Negro.
•    Great windsurfing on Lake Arenal.
South Pacific
•    Quetzal sightings in San Gerardo de Dota
•    Humpback whale season in Ballena National Marine Park.
Southern Caribbean
•    Big surfing waves in Puerto Viejo.

February

Central Pacific
•    Pacific sailfish fishing season in Tamarindo and Quepos.
•    Good visibility for diving off Jaco, near Manuel Antonio and Isla Tortuga off the Nicoya Peninsula.
Central Valley
•    Clear skies and great views of  Irazu Volcano and Poas Volcano.
•    More than 800 orchid species bloom at Lankester Gardens in Cartago.
•    Quetzal spotting near Poas Volcano.
•    Coffee picking in the Orosi Valley.
Monteverde Region
•    Monteverde wraps up its coffee harvest.
North Pacific
•    The endangered brown pelican can be spotted on Isla Bolanos.
•    Leatherback turtles nesting in Las Baulas Marine Park.
•    Peak birdwatching in Palo Verde National Park.
•    High winds make for great windsurfing in Bahia Salinas.
•    Great  scuba diving - manta rays common - at Isla Santa Catalina & Isla Murcielagos.
Northern Caribbean
•    Great green macaw season in Tortuguero.
Northern Region
•    Migratory birds rest in Cano Negro on their journey north.
•    Great windsurfing on Lake Arenal.
South Pacific
•    Quetzal sightings in Los Quetzales National Park and San Gerardo de Dota.
•    Humpback whale season in Ballena National Marine Park.
Southern Caribbean
•    Snorkeling and scuba diving season begins in Cahuita and Manzanillo.
•    Best surfing waves in Puerto Viejo.

March

Central Pacific
•    Pacific sailfish fishing season in Tamarindo and Quepos.
•    Good visibility for diving off Jaco, near Manuel Antonio and Isla Tortuga off the Nicoya Peninsula.
Central Valley
•    Clear skies promise great views of Irazu Volcano .
•    Quetzal spotting near Poas Volcano.
•    More than 800 orchid species in bloom at Cartago’s Lankester Gardens.
•    Pacuare River water levels are low, ideal for beginner whitewater rafters.
•    Coffee picking in the Orosi Valley.
Monteverde Region
•    Quetzal season begins in Monteverde.
•    Monteverde wraps up its coffee harvest.
North Pacific
•    The endangered brown pelican can be spotted on Isla Bolanos.
•    Peak birdwatching season in Palo Verde National Park.
•    High winds make for great windsurfing in Bahia Salinas.
•    Great scuba diving -- manta rays common -- at Isla Santa Catalina & Isla Murcielagos.
Northern Caribbean
•    Peak leatherback turtle nesting in Parismina and Tortuguero.
•    Hawksbill turtles nesting in Tortuguero.
•    Volunteers welcome to assist with turtle tagging and migratory bird research.
•    Great green macaw season in Tortuguero.
Northern Region
•    Migratory birds rest in Cano Negro on their journey north.
•    Good guapote fishing on Lake Arenal
•    Excellent windsurfing on Lake Arenal.
South Pacific
•    Quetzal sightings in  Los Quetzales National Park and San Gerardo de Dota.
•    Humpback whale season in Ballena National Marine Park.
Southern Caribbean
•    Peak scuba diving and snorkeling in Cahuita and Manzanillo.
•    Best surfing waves in Puerto Viejo.
•    Leatherback turtles nesting in Manzanillo.

April

Central Pacific
•    Pacific sailfish fishing season in Tamarindo and Quepos.
•    Good visibility for diving off  Jaco, near Manuel Antonio and Isla Tortuga off the Nicoya Peninsula.
Central Valley
•    Clear skies promise great views of Irazu Volcano.
•    More than 800 orchid species in bloom at Cartago’s Lankester Gardens.
•    Pacuare River water levels are low, ideal for beginner whitewater rafters.
•    Quetzal spotting near Poas Volcano.
Monteverde Region
•    Quetzal season begins in Monteverde.
•    Coffee fields in bloom in Monteverde.
•    Butterfly migrations throughout Monteverde.
North Pacific
•    The endangered brown pelican can be spotted on Isla Bolanos.
•    High winds make for great windsurfing in Bahia Salinas.
•    Great scuba diving - manta rays common - at Isla Santa Catalina & Isla Murcielagos.
Northern Caribbean
•    Peak leatherback turtle nesting in Parismina and Tortuguero.
•    Hawksbill turtles nesting in Tortuguero.
•    Volunteers welcome to assist with turtle tagging and migratory bird research.
•    Great green macaw season in Tortuguero.
Northern Region
•    Migratory birds rest in Cano Negro on their journey north.
•    Great guapote fishing on Lake Arenal
•    High winds and good windsurfing on Lake Arenal
•    Cano Negro closed to fishing.
South Pacific
•    Surfing season begins in Pavones.
•    Quetzal breeding season in San Gerardo de Dota.
•    Humpback whales seen in Ballena National Marine Park.
Southern Caribbean
•    Good snorkeling and diving in Cahuita and Manzanillo.
•    Leatherback turtles nesting in Manzanillo.

May

Monteverde Region
•    Quetzal season begins in Monteverde.
North Pacific
•    Birdwatching for the endangered brown pelican on Isla Bolanos.
•    Warmer and calmer waters promise great scuba diving.
Northern Caribbean
•    Leatherback turtles nesting in Parismina and Tortuguero.
•    Hawksbill turtles nesting in Tortuguero.
•    Volunteers welcome to assist with turtle tagging
Northern Region
•    Best month for fishing on Lake Arenal
•    Cano Negro closed to fishing
South Pacific
•    Quetzal breeding season in San Gerardo de Dota.
•    Best surfing in Cabo Matapalo and Pavones.
•    Hawksbill turtles nesting at Ballena National Marine Park.
•    Chirripo National Park is closed.
Southern Caribbean
•    Peak scuba diving and snorkeling in Cahuita and Manzanillo.
•    Leatherback turtles nesting in Manzanillo.

June

Central Pacific
•    Scarlet macaw season in Carara National Park.
•    Big waves create ideal surfing conditions along the Pacific coast.
Central Valley
•    Water is high on the Pacuare River, ideal for whitewater rafting.
Monteverde Region
•    Quetzal season in Monteverde.
North Pacific
•    Warmer and calmer waters promise great scuba diving in Northern Guanacaste .
Northern Caribbean
•    Hawksbill sea turtles nesting in Tortuguero.
•    Volunteers welcome to assist with turtle tagging.
Northern Region
•    Great fishing on Lake Arenal
•    Cano Negro closed to fishing.
South Pacific
•    Big surfing waves in Pavones and Cabo Matapalo.
•    Hawksbill turtle season at Ballena National Marine Park..
Southern Caribbean
•    Mini surf season in the Southern Caribbean.
•    Leatherback turtles nesting in Manzanillo.

July

Central Pacific
•    Scarlet macaw mating season in Carara National Park.
Central Valley
•    Water is high on the Pacuare River, ideal for challenging whitewater rafting.
North Pacific
•    Big waves create ideal surfing conditions along the Pacific coast.
•    Warmer and calmer waters promise great scuba diving in Northern Guanacaste
•    Olive Ridley turtles nesting in Santa Rosa National Park, Ostional Wildlife Refuge and Playa Junquilal.
Northern Caribbean
•    Hawksbill, loggerhead and green sea turtles nesting in Tortuguero.
•    Volunteers welcome to assist with turtle tagging.
Northern Region
•   Decent fishing on Lake Arenal
•   Cano Negro closed to fishing.
•   Peak whitewater rafting season on the Sarapiqui River.
South Pacific
•    Surf is up in Pavones and Cabo Matapalo.
•    Hawksbill turtle season at Ballena National Marine Park.
•    Peak whale watching season in Drake Bay.
Southern Caribbean
•    Mini surf season in the Southern Caribbean.
•    Leatherback turtles nesting in Manzanillo.

August

Central Valley
•    Water is high on the Pacuare River, ideal for whitewater rafting.
North Pacific
•    Big waves create ideal surfing conditions along the Pacific coast.
•    Visits to Isla Bolanos are restricted to protect nesting seabirds.
•    Warmer and calmer waters promise great scuba diving.
•    Olive Ridley turtles nesting in Santa Rosa National Park, Ostional Wildlife Refuge and Playa Junquilal.
Northern Caribbean
•    Green sea turtles, hawksbills and loggerheads nesting in Tortuguero.
•    Volunteers welcome to assist with turtle tagging.
South Pacific
•    Big waves in Pavones and Cabo Matapalo.
•    Hawksbill turtles nesting at Ballena National Marine Park.
•    Peak whale watching in Drake Bay.
•    Humpback whale season in Ballena National Marine Park.

September

Central Valley
•    Water is high on the Pacuare River, ideal for whitewater rafting.
North Pacific
•    Thousands of Olive Ridley turtles nesting from Sept 10-16 at Ostional Wildlife Refuge
•    Warmer and calmer waters promise great scuba diving.
•    Olive Ridley sea turtles nesting at Playa Nancite in Santa Rosa National Park.
Northern Region
•    Peak whitewater rafting season on the Sarapiqui River.
Northern Caribbean
•    Hawksbill, green and loggerhead sea turtles nesting in Tortuguero.
•    Volunteers welcome to assist with turtle tagging.
•    Calm waters and excellent tarpon fishing in Barra del Colorado.
South Pacific
•    Big surfing waves in Pavones and Cabo Matapalo.
•    Hawksbill and Olive Ridley sea turtles nesting at Ballena National Marine Park.
•    Peak whale watching season in Drake Bay and Ballena National Marine Park.
Southern Caribbean
•    Great scuba diving in the Southern Caribbean.

October

Central Valley
•    Water is high on the Pacuare River, ideal for whitewater rafting.
North Pacific
•    Leatherback turtles nesting in Las Baulas Marine Park.
•    Visits to Isla Bolanos are restricted to protect nesting seabirds.
•    Thousands of Olive Ridley turtles nesting from Oct. 10-17 at Ostional Wildlife Refuge
•    Peak Olive Ridley nesting season at Playa Nancite in Santa Rosa National Park.
Northern Caribbean
•    Green sea turtles, hawksbills and loggerheads nesting in Tortuguero.
•    Volunteers welcome to assist with turtle tagging.
•    Calm waters and excellent tarpon fishing in Barra del Colorado.
Northern Region
•    Ideal month to see Arenal Volcano and its lava flow.
•    Peak whitewater rafting season on the Sarapiqui River.
South Pacific
•    Best surfing in Pavones and Cabo Matapalo.
•    Hawksbill and Olive Ridley sea turtles nesting at Ballena National Marine Park.
•    Peak whale watching season in Drake Bay and Ballena National Marine Park.
Southern Caribbean
•    Great scuba diving off Cahuita and Manzanillo.
•    Raptor migration in the Southern Caribbean.

November

Central Valley
•    Coffee picking in the Orosi Valley.
North Pacific
•    International Film Festival in Montezuma November 12-15
•    Leatherback turtles nesting at Las Baulas Marine Park.
•    Thousands of Olive Ridley sea turtles nesting from Nov. 9-16 at Ostional Wildlife Refuge
•    Peak Olive Ridley turtle season at Playa Nancite in Santa Rosa National Park.
Northern Region
•    Peak whitewater rafting season on the Sarapiqui River.
South Pacific
•    Hawksbill turtles nesting at Ballena National Marine Park.
•    Peak whale watching season in Drake Bay.

December

Central Pacific
•    Pacific sailfish fishing season in Tamarindo and Quepos.
•    Good visibility for diving off Jaco, Manuel Antonio and Isla Tortuga off the Nicoya Peninsula.
Monteverde Region
•    Coffee harvest in Monteverde.
North Pacific
•    Leatherback turtles nesting in Las Baulas Marine Park.
•    Peak birdwatching season in Palo Verde National Park.
•    Great scuba diving - manta rays common - at Isla Santa Catalina & Isla Murcielagos.
•    Thousands of Olive Ridley turtles nesting in Ostional Wildlife Refuge from Dec. 8-15
Northern Region
•    Windsurfing season begins on Lake Arenal.
South Pacific
•    Quetzal sightings in Los Quetzales National Park and San Gerardo de Dota.
•    Humpback whale season in Ballena National Marine Park.
Northern Caribbean
•    Great green macaw season begins in Tortuguero.
Southern Caribbean
•    Best surfing waves in the Southern Caribbean.

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