Costa Rica Travel Guide: Top Destinations, Tips, and Must-See Spots

April

• Leatherback turtles nesting in Manzanillo

• Hawksbill turtles nesting in Cahuita

• Quetzal season in Monteverde

• Great scuba diving off Playa del Coco

• Scarlet macaw mating season in Carara National Park

• 800 + orchid species in bloom at Cartago’s Lankester Garden

• Peak leatherback turtle nesting in Parismina and Tortuguero

• Excellent rainbow bass fishing and windsurfing on Lake Arenal

• Surfing season begins in Pavones

• Quetzal breeding season in San Gerardo de Dota

• Humpback whale migration in Ballena National Marine Park

May

• Leatherback turtles nesting in Manzanillo

• Hawksbill turtles nesting in Cahuita

• Quetzal season in Monteverde

• Great snorkeling & diving along the northern Pacific coast

• Leatherback turtles nesting at Camaronal Wildlife Refuge

• Best month for fishing rainbow bass on Lake Arenal

• Leatherback turtles nesting in Parismina and Tortuguero

• Quetzal breeding season in San Gerardo de Dota

• Olive Ridley and hawksbill turtle season at Ballena National Marine Park

• Big surf in Pavones
  
  

June

• Mini surf season in the southern Caribbean

• Leatherback turtles nesting in Manzanillo

• Hawksbill turtles nesting in Cahuita

• Great snorkeling & diving along the northern Pacific coast

• Leatherback turtle nesting season at Camaronal Wildlife Refuge

• Ideal surfing conditions along the Pacific coast

• Pacuare River levels high for whitewater rafting

• Hawksbill sea turtles nesting in Tortuguero

• Turtles nesting in Ballena National Marine Park

• Excellent surf in Pavones and Cabo Matapalo

July

• Mini surf season in the southern Caribbean

• Leatherback turtles nesting in Manzanillo

• Hawksbill turtles nesting in Cahuita

• Leatherback turtles nesting at Camaronal Wildlife Refuge

• Pacuare River levels high for whitewater rafting

• Hawksbill, loggerhead & green sea turtles nesting in Tortuguero

• Peak whitewater rafting on the Sarapiqui River

• Hawksbill turtles nesting at Ballena National Marine Park

• Whale watching season in Drake Bay

• Surf is up in Pavones and Cabo Matapalo
  
  

August

• Ideal surfing along the Pacific coast

• Great snorkeling & diving along the northern Pacific coast

• Leatherback turtles nesting at Camaronal Wildlife Refuge

• Olive Ridley turtles nesting in Santa Rosa National Park & Ostional Wildlife Refuge

• Pacuare River levels high for whitewater rafting

• Green sea turtles, hawksbills & loggerheads nesting in Tortuguero

• Peak whitewater rafting on the Sarapiqui River

• Whale watching season in Drake Bay & Ballena National Marine Park

• Big waves in Pavones and Cabo Matapalo

September

• Great scuba diving in Cahuita & Manzanillo

• Hawksbill turtles nesting in Cahuita

• Peak month for nesting Olive Ridley turtles in Santa Rosa National Park & Ostional Wildlife Refuge 

• Pacuare River levels high for whitewater rafting

• Hawksbill, green & loggerhead sea turtles nesting in Tortuguero

• Excellent tarpon fishing in Barra del Colorado

• Peak whitewater rafting on the Sarapiqui River

• Hawksbill & Olive Ridley turtles nesting at Ballena National Marine Park

• Whale watching season in Drake Bay 

October

• Great scuba diving off Cahuita and Manzanillo

• Leatherback turtles nesting in Las Baulas Marine Park

• Peak month for Olive Ridley turtles in Santa Rosa National Park & Ostional Wildlife Refuge

• Pacuare River levels high for whitewater rafting

• Green sea turtles, hawksbills & loggerheads nesting in Tortuguero

• Excellent tarpon fishing in Barra del Colorado

• Ideal month to view lava flows at Arenal Volcano 

• Peak whitewater rafting on the Sarapiqui River

• Hawksbill & Olive Ridley sea turtles nesting at Ballena National Marine Park

• Whale watching season in Drake Bay 

November

• Leatherback turtles nesting at Las Baulas Marine Park

• High winds make for great windsurfing in Bahia Salinas

• Leatherback turtle nesting at Camaronal Wildlife Refuge

• Peak month for nesting Olive Ridley turtles in Santa Rosa National Park & Ostional Wildlife Refuge

• Great whitewater rafting on the Sarapiqui River

• Hawksbill turtles nesting at Ballena National Marine Park

December

• Epic surf in Puerto Viejo

• Leatherback turtles nesting in Las Baulas Marine Park

• Birdwatching season in Palo Verde National Park

• Great scuba diving off Playa del Coco

• Pacific sailfish season for Quepos and Tamarindo

• Scarlet macaws mating in Carara National Park

• Windsurfing season begins on Lake Arenal

• Quetzal sightings in San Gerardo de Dota

• Humpback whales migrating in Ballena National Marine Park

January

• Good surf in Puerto Viejo

• Leatherback turtles nesting at Las Baulas Marine Park

• Peak birdwatching in Palo Verde National Park

• Great scuba diving off Playa del Coco

• Pacific sailfish season for Quepos and Tamarindo

• Scarlet macaws mating in Carara National Park

• Great windsurfing on Lake Arenal

• Quetzal sightings in San Gerardo de Dota

• Humpback whale season in Ballena National Marine Park

February

• Good visibility for snorkeling & diving off Cahuita and Manzanillo

• Big waves in Puerto Viejo

• Leatherback turtles nesting in Las Baulas Marine Park

• Peak birdwatching in Palo Verde National Park

• Pacific sailfish season for Quepos and Tamarindo

• Scarlet macaws mating in Carara National Park

• Great windsurfing on Lake Arenal

• Quetzal sightings in San Gerardo de Dota

• Humpback whale season in Ballena National Marine Park

March

• Peak diving & snorkeling in Cahuita and Manzanillo

• Best surfing waves in Puerto Viejo

• Quetzal season begins in Monteverde

• Peak birdwatching in Palo Verde National Park

• Leatherback turtles nesting at Las Baulas Marine Park

• Scarlet macaws mating in Carara National Park

• 800 + orchid species in bloom at Cartago’s Lankester Garden

• Leatherback turtles nesting in Parismina and Tortuguero

• Great rainbow bass fishing on Lake Arenal

• Quetzal sightings in San Gerardo de Dota

• Humpback whale season in Ballena National Marine Park