Costa RicaCosta Rica

Dry season vs. wet season

Like waiting for the perfect moment to eat a ripe piece of fruit, every destination in Costa Rica has its own perfect season. Most often characterized as the dry season, it's the time of year when the rain disappears and the crisp rays of the sun fold through the foliage of the rainforest; prime weather for sun bathing, sunset watching, surfing, fishing, zip lining, hiking and just about every other thing you can think to do outside.

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But the proverbial "dry season" is not the same throughout the entire country. This is almost entirely thanks to the five mountain ranges running from north to south splitting the country into different climates. So while Guanacaste, in the Pacific, retains the title as the driest part of the country, the Caribbean gets doused with daily tropical rains for most of the year. 

Dry season in the Pacific (Dec.-April)

While the dry season begins early and ends later some years, in general, visitors can expect the best weather from the beginning of December to the middle of April with temperatures ranging between 80 and 100 degrees and an average of 82 degrees. Visitors can expect the driest weather in the northern Pacific region known as Guanacaste. As you move south down the Pacific coast into the central Pacific around Jaco and Manuel Antonio, you can expect more temperate weather: a little milder with a little bit more rain. Down in the Osa Peninsula, near Costa Rica's border with Panama, it rains more frequently and the weather is more similar to the Caribbean region, though the dry season remains the same as the rest of the Pacific.

Dry season in the Central Valley (Dec.-April)

The Central Valley encompasses the area around San Jose and its outlying cities including Alajuela (where you'll find the Juan Santamaria International Airport), Heredia, Grecia, Escazu, Cartago, Naranjo and others. The weather in the central valley is the mildest of the whole country, with average temperatures between 72 and 75 degrees, a high of 84 degrees and a low of 64 degrees.

Dry season in the northern highlands and lowlands (Dec.-April)

Spanning Arenal, Monteverde and Ciudad Quesada, the Northern highlands and lowlands weather is determined by elevation. Average temperatures hover around 86 degrees in the lowlands and 70 degrees in the highlands. Winds increase with elevation making Monteverde particularly windy. The best times to visit depend upon what you want to see. Visit Arenal in the dry season for you best chance of seeing the Arenal Volcano free from cloud cover.

Dry season in the Caribbean (March/April; Sept./Oct.)

The Caribbean receives 141 inches of rain annually with a similar climate stretching from Tortuguero in the north all the way down to Manzanillo at Costa Rica's southern tip. Though the Caribbean has no definable dry season, but that doesn't mean there isn't any sun. The best times to visit are between March and April and September and October when the Caribbean sees the least amount of rain. Temperatures range between 77 and 90 degrees and remain fairly consistent year-round with an average of 81 degrees. Because of the volume of rain, there's also a lot of humidity with daily average hovering around 86 percent.

Wet season in the Pacific (May- Nov.)

Just because there's a little bit of rain, doesn't mean it's not worth visiting the Pacific during the wet season. Not only are the hotel prices more affordable, the countryside flourishes with an entire color wheel of green and that's not to mention the flowers. Wet season in the Pacific has the additional benefit of being fairly consistent. In general, the rain falls mostly during the early afternoon and evening, with a couple-hour window to grab dinner before it starts falling again overnight. The predictable pattern makes it easy to plan activities and meals so that you get the most out of the sunshine and the rain.

Wet season in the Central Valley (May-Nov.)

Similar to the Pacific, the rain falls rather consistently at the same times every day. Get out and enjoy the sunshine in the morning and brace for the rain to start falling in the early afternoon. From mid-day on, expect scattered showers for the rest of the day and into the night.

Wet season in the northern highlands and lowlands (May-Nov.)

Monteverde, located in the highlands, sees significantly more rainfall, winds and cooler weather than towns in the northern lowlands. The average rainfall in highlands areas like Monteverde during the wet season can be as much as 16 inches per month. However, if you're interested in seeing Monteverde in its full glory, visit during the wet season when the clouds rolls through the rainforest. Expect daily showers, though typically the rain falls during the afternoon and evenings.

Wet season in the Caribbean (Nov.-Jan; May-Aug.)

Really, it almost never stops raining in the Caribbean, but you can expect to see the sun for a spell here and there (especially if you visit during those drier months). Unlike the Pacific, the Caribbean rain doesn't fall in a predictable pattern and you can expect it to drop in at any time of the day… so do yourself a favor and bring an umbrella.

A note on hotel prices in the Caribbean: Most hotels plan their high season (read: high prices) in accordance with what's considered the dry season (Dec.-April). This includes hotels in the Caribbean, even though it's actually still the wet season there. So our advice is, visit the Caribbean in either September or October when the weather is drier and the prices are lower.

Regional Weather Summaries

Annual Temperatures & Rainfall per Town

Alajuela

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

81

27

62

17

0.28

7

69

Feb.

83

28

62

17

0.47

12

69

Mar.

85

29

63

17

0.55

14

67

Apr.

85

29

63

17

3.23

82

70

May

82

28

64

18

10.67

271

82

Jun.

81

27

64

18

10.63

270

82

Jul.

81

27

64

18

7.09

180

84

Aug.

81

27

63

17

10.16

258

79

Sep.

80

27

63

17

13.7

348

82

Oct.

80

27

63

17

13.39

340

87

Nov.

80

27

63

17

19.57

497

86

Dec.

81

27

63

17

20.87

530

80

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Arenal

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

83

28

68

20

7.48

192

n/a

Feb.

84

29

67

20

5.14

132

n/a

Mar.

86

30

69

20

3.58

92

n/a

Apr.

87

31

69

21

3.7

95

n/a

May

88

31

70

21

10.23

262

n/a

Jun.

86

30

71

22

16.15

414

n/a

Jul.

85

30

71

22

19.87

509

n/a

Aug.

85

30

72

22

17.05

437

n/a

Sep.

86

30

70

21

16.07

412

n/a

Oct.

85

30

70

21

16.98

435

n/a

Nov.

83

29

71

22

12

308

n/a

Dec.

82

28

70

21

10.1

259

n/a

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Arenal Volcano

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

83

28

68

20

7.48

192

n/a

Feb.

84

29

67

20

5.14

132

n/a

Mar.

86

30

69

20

3.58

92

n/a

Apr.

87

31

69

21

3.7

95

n/a

May

88

31

70

21

10.23

262

n/a

Jun.

86

30

71

22

16.15

414

n/a

Jul.

85

30

71

22

19.87

509

n/a

Aug.

85

30

72

22

17.05

437

n/a

Sep.

86

30

70

21

16.07

412

n/a

Oct.

85

30

70

21

16.98

435

n/a

Nov.

83

29

71

22

12

308

n/a

Dec.

82

28

70

21

10.1

259

n/a

  Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Cartago

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

73

23

55

13

1.2

31

78

Feb.

74

23

54

12

0.73

19

79

Mar.

77

25

55

13

0.6

16

77

Apr.

78

26

56

13

1.85

48

79

May

79

26

58

14

7.27

187

83

Jun.

77

25

57

14

7.87

202

83

Jul.

77

25

58

14

5.06

130

83

Aug.

77

25

57

14

6.06

156

84

Sep.

77

25

56

14

9.71

249

84

Oct.

78

25

57

14

9.78

251

85

Nov.

75

24

57

14

4.31

110

84

Dec.

73

23

56

14

2.28

58

82

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Ciudad Quesada

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

77

25

63

17

7

179

85

Feb.

76

25

62

17

6.36

163

83

Mar.

79

26

63

17

4.77

122

83

Apr.

80

27

63

17

3.33

85

84

May

80

27

66

19

13.3

341

90

Jun.

78

26

65

19

16.45

422

90

Jul.

77

25

66

19

18.71

480

92

Aug.

78

25

66

19

21.3

546

93

Sep.

78

25

66

19

19.68

505

93

Oct.

77

25

65

19

21.93

562

92

Nov.

75

24

65

18

14.93

383

91

Dec.

76

24

64

18

16.7

428

90

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Corcovado

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

91

33

72

22

6.26

159

n/a

Feb.

92

33

71

22

5.75

146

n/a

Mar.

92

33

73

23

8.07

205

n/a

Apr.

91

33

73

23

11.02

280

n/a

May

90

32

73

23

18.9

480

n/a

Jun.

89

32

72

22

17.48

444

n/a

Jul.

89

32

71

22

18.9

480

n/a

Aug.

89

32

71

22

20.91

531

n/a

Sep.

90

32

71

22

21.97

558

n/a

Oct.

89

32

71

22

27.68

703

n/a

Nov.

89

32

71

22

22.28

566

n/a

Dec.

90

32

71

22

11.57

294

n/a

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Golfito

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

91

33

72

22

6.26

159

83

Feb.

92

33

71

22

5.75

146

73

Mar.

92

33

73

23

8.07

205

80

Apr.

91

33

73

23

11.02

280

83

May

90

32

73

23

18.9

480

86

Jun.

89

32

72

22

17.48

444

88

Jul.

89

32

71

22

18.9

480

88

Aug.

89

32

71

22

20.91

531

87

Sep.

90

32

71

22

21.97

558

88

Oct.

89

32

71

22

27.68

703

88

Nov.

89

32

71

22

22.28

566

88

Dec.

90

32

71

22

11.57

294

85

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Grecia

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

84

29

63

17

0.29

7

70

Feb.

86

30

64

18

0.48

12

69

Mar.

87

31

65

18

0.58

15

68

Apr.

87

31

65

18

2.7

69

71

May

84

29

65

19

10.07

258

83

Jun.

82

28

65

18

10.83

278

87

Jul.

82

28

65

18

7.56

194

83

Aug.

82

28

64

18

10.49

269

85

Sep.

81

27

64

18

13.12

336

89

Oct.

81

27

64

18

12.79

328

89

Nov.

82

28

64

18

5.69

146

84

Dec.

83

28

64

18

1.23

32

74

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Guapiles

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

82

28

65

19

10.77

276

85

Feb.

82

28

66

19

9.3

238

85

Mar.

83

29

67

19

8.4

215

85

Apr.

84

29

68

20

9.42

242

86

May

85

30

70

21

16.79

430

88

Jun.

85

29

70

21

17.3

444

89

Jul.

83

29

70

21

19.88

510

90

Aug.

84

29

69

21

18.51

475

89

Sep.

85

29

69

21

14.66

376

88

Oct.

84

29

69

21

17.47

448

89

Nov.

83

28

69

20

18.37

471

89

Dec.

82

28

67

20

17.62

452

87

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Heredia

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

76

24

59

15

0.78

20

73

Feb.

75

24

57

14

0.96

25

72

Mar.

79

26

58

15

1.91

49

71

Apr.

79

26

59

15

4.86

125

74

May

78

26

61

16

12.49

320

83

Jun.

76

25

59

15

12.88

330

85

Jul.

76

25

60

16

8.03

205

82

Aug.

76

25

60

16

9.73

249

84

Sep.

76

24

59

15

15.55

399

87

Oct.

76

25

59

15

16.42

421

87

Nov.

75

24

60

15

7.02

180

82

Dec.

75

24

60

16

2.14

55

76

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Irazu Volcano

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

52

11

39

4

1.34

34

80

Feb.

52

11

39

4

2.36

60

76

Mar.

64

18

40

4

1.1

28

74

Apr.

54

12

40

4

3.86

98

81

May

53

12

41

5

8.27

210

87

Jun.

51

11

42

6

8.9

226

91

Jul.

50

10

41

5

6.77

172

90

Aug.

51

11

39

4

8.27

210

90

Sep.

51

11

41

5

8.94

227

90

Oct.

51

11

41

5

10.63

270

90

Nov.

61

16

41

5

11.42

290

89

Dec.

51

11

39

4

6.38

162

83

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Jaco Beach

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

88

31

72

22

0.59

16

n/a

Feb.

89

31

71

22

1.42

37

n/a

Mar.

90

32

73

23

0.39

10

n/a

Apr.

90

32

74

23

2.01

52

n/a

May

88

31

74

23

8.06

207

n/a

Jun.

87

31

73

23

17.47

448

n/a

Jul.

87

31

73

23

13.56

348

n/a

Aug.

87

31

73

23

10.12

260

n/a

Sep.

86

30

73

23

22.64

580

n/a

Oct.

86

30

73

23

21.84

560

n/a

Nov.

85

30

73

23

11.53

296

n/a

Dec.

87

31

72

22

7.18

184

n/a

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Liberia

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

91

33

69

21

0.04

1

66

Feb.

95

35

69

21

0.04

1

64

Mar.

95

35

71

22

0.35

9

61

Apr.

96

36

73

23

0.87

22

63

May

93

34

79

26

9.25

235

74

Jun.

89

32

73

23

12.28

312

84

Jul.

89

32

73

23

5.28

134

80

Aug.

89

32

73

23

8.11

206

82

Sep.

87

31

71

22

12.8

325

86

Oct.

87

31

71

22

11.22

285

87

Nov.

87

31

89

32

4.09

104

81

Dec.

88

31

89

32

0.51

13

72

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Limon

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

88

31

68

20

12.48

317

87

Feb.

88

31

68

20

8.31

211

87

Mar.

87

31

69

21

9.21

234

85

Apr.

87

31

71

22

10.87

276

85

May

87

31

71

22

11.1

282

87

Jun.

87

31

71

22

11.65

296

88

Jul.

88

31

71

22

16.81

427

89

Aug.

68

20

71

22

12.28

312

88

Sep.

87

31

71

22

5.71

145

87

Oct.

87

31

71

22

8.11

206

87

Nov.

85

29

69

21

15.39

391

89

Dec.

88

31

69

21

17.52

445

88

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

87

31

69

21

2.83

72

83

Feb.

87

31

69

21

1.42

36

81

Mar.

89

32

71

22

2.36

60

80

Apr.

89

32

71

22

6.57

167

84

May

89

32

71

22

15.43

392

87

Jun.

87

31

71

22

17.05

433

88

Jul.

87

31

69

21

18.15

461

88

Aug.

86

30

69

21

18.82

478

89

Sep.

86

30

71

22

20.79

528

90

Oct.

86

30

71

22

25.35

644

89

Nov.

86

30

71

22

15.28

388

89

Dec.

86

30

69

21

6.65

169

86



Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Monteverde

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

68

20

53

12

6.3

160

n/a

Feb.

89

32

53

12

3.82

97

n/a

Mar.

71

22

53

12

1.65

42

n/a

Apr.

71

22

55

13

4.8

122

n/a

May

71

22

57

14

13.7

348

n/a

Jun.

71

22

57

14

16.54

420

n/a

Jul.

69

21

57

14

14.13

359

n/a

Aug.

69

21

57

14

18.03

458

n/a

Sep.

71

22

55

13

19.41

493

n/a

Oct.

69

21

57

14

16.77

426

n/a

Nov.

68

20

57

14

16.89

429

n/a

Dec.

69

21

57

14

12.99

330

n/a

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Montezuma

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

79

26

70

21

2.69

69

n/a

Feb.

81

27

69

20

1.39

36

n/a

Mar.

83

28

69

21

1.16

30

n/a

Apr.

84

29

71

21

1.88

48

n/a

May

84

29

71

22

6.33

162

n/a

Jun.

82

28

71

21

9.28

238

n/a

Jul.

80

27

71

22

12.83

329

n/a

Aug.

82

28

70

21

11.97

307

n/a

Sep.

82

28

70

21

15.13

388

n/a

Oct.

81

27

70

21

15.02

385

n/a

Nov.

80

26

71

22

10.62

272

n/a

Dec.

78

26

69

21

7.49

192

n/a

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Nicoya

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

91

33

69

21

0.2

5

68

Feb.

93

34

71

22

0.43

11

63

Mar.

96

36

71

22

0.94

24

62

Apr.

96

36

73

23

2.72

69

64

May

91

33

73

23

10.79

274

78

Jun.

89

32

71

22

12.8

325

85

Jul.

89

32

71

22

9.61

244

81

Aug.

89

32

71

22

12.01

305

82

Sep.

87

31

71

22

15.71

399

87

Oct.

87

31

71

22

16.02

407

87

Nov.

87

31

69

21

12.44

316

81

Dec.

89

32

69

21

0.98

25

74

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Palmar Sur

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

91

33

69

21

1.97

50

84

Feb.

91

33

59

15

2.09

53

83

Mar.

93

34

71

22

3.82

97

83

Apr.

91

33

71

22

8.86

225

86

May

89

32

71

22

16.61

422

89

Jun.

89

32

71

22

16.06

408

89

Jul.

89

32

71

22

14.57

370

89

Aug.

87

31

89

32

16.3

414

89

Sep.

87

31

71

22

19.49

495

90

Oct.

87

31

71

22

23.5

597

91

Nov.

87

31

71

22

13.78

350

90

Dec.

89

32

71

22

4.17

106

87

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Poas Volcano

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

69

21

53

12

5.91

150

82

Feb.

89

32

53

12

3.82

97

81

Mar.

71

22

53

12

1.65

42

82

Apr.

71

22

55

13

4.8

122

83

May

71

22

57

14

13.7

348

90

Jun.

71

22

57

14

16.54

420

91

Jul.

69

21

57

14

14.13

359

89

Aug.

69

21

57

14

18.03

458

89

Sep.

71

22

55

13

19.41

493

91

Oct.

59

15

57

14

16.77

426

91

Nov.

58

14

57

14

16.89

429

89

Dec.

59

15

57

14

12.99

330

85


Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Puntarenas

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

96

36

71

22

0.28

7

74

Feb.

96

36

71

22

0.24

6

72

Mar.

95

35

73

23

0.2

5

72

Apr.

95

35

73

23

1.22

31

75

May

91

33

76

24

7.56

192

83

Jun.

89

32

73

23

8.98

228

86

Jul.

91

33

73

23

6.26

159

86

Aug.

91

33

73

23

9.02

229

86

Sep.

89

32

73

23

11.73

298

87

Oct.

89

32

73

23

10.75

273

87

Nov.

89

32

73

23

4.72

120

86

Dec.

91

33

71

22

1.18

30

80

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

San Jose

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

73

23

59

15

0.39

10

82

Feb.

75

24

59

15

0.24

6

80

Mar.

77

25

60

16

0.47

12

78

Apr.

78

26

60

16

1.73

44

79

May

78

26

62

17

8.86

225

84

Jun.

78

26

62

17

11.3

287

85

Jul.

77

25

62

17

8.46

215

84

Aug.

77

25

62

17

9.8

249

85

Sep.

76

24

60

16

13.07

332

86

Oct.

77

25

60

16

13.07

332

86

Nov.

75

24

60

16

5.59

142

84

Dec.

73

23

59

15

1.61

41

83

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Santa Cruz

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

92

33

72

22

0.23

6

65

Feb.

93

34

73

23

0.13

3.3

62

Mar.

95

35

74

23

0.28

7.3

62

Apr.

97

36

75

24

1.2

30.7

66

May

94

34

74

23

9.36

240

74

Jun.

90

32

73

23

11.44

293.4

81

Jul.

90

32

73

23

7.31

187.5

81

Aug.

90

32

73

23

9.54

244.5

83

Sep.

90

32

72

22

13.37

342.8

83

Oct.

89

32

72

22

13.65

350.1

83

Nov.

90

32

71

22

3.83

98.2

78

Dec.

90

32

71

22

0.64

16.4

68

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Sixaola

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

Humidity

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

%

Jan.

87

31

69

21

7.06

180.9

n/a

Feb.

84

29

68

20

5.97

153.1

n/a

Mar.

86

30

70

21

7

179.4

n/a

Apr.

87

30

70

21

9.66

247.6

n/a

May

88

31

73

23

10.04

257.4

n/a

Jun.

86

30

71

22

7.6

194.9

n/a

Jul.

87

31

72

22

10.65

273.1

n/a

Aug.

88

31

73

23

10.1

258.9

n/a

Sep.

89

31

72

22

5.78

148.1

n/a

Oct.

88

31

71

22

6.5

166.7

n/a

Nov.

87

30

71

22

8.24

211.2

n/a

Dec.

85

30

70

21

12.88

330.2

n/a

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

Tortuguero

Month

Average Highs

Average Lows

Average Rainfall

 

F

C

F

C

in.

mm

January

88

31

68

20

12.48

317

February

88

31

68

20

8.31

211

March

87

31

69

21

8.03

204

April

87

31

71

22

10.87

276

May

87

31

71

22

11.10

282

June

87

31

71

22

11.65

296

July

88

31

71

22

16.81

427

August

86

30

71

22

12.28

312

September

87

31

71

22

5.71

145

October

87

31

71

22

8.19

208

Novemner

85

29

69

21

15.39

391

December

88

31

69

21

17.56

446

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica