When to Come to Costa Rica

When to Visit

Costa Rica's location near the equator means that it has a temperate climate that is pleasant year round. Most people think that visiting the tropics means dealing with sweltering heat but that is not the case in Costa Rica. The average temperature reaches it's highest  point in March and April but as you can see in the chart below, the average monthly high only varies a few degrees throughout the year. The same rings true for the average low temperatures. Of course if you venture into the Cloud Forest Region, the temperature will be lower or relax on the sunny beaches of the North Pacific, South Pacific or Caribbean, where it will be slightly higher. 

If you enjoy warm days with hardly a cloud in the sky, the best time for you to visit is during Costa Rica's summer (January - April). This is a very busy time for Costa Rica tourism and had been dubbed the "high season" by tour operators and hotels. People outside of the tourist industry call it "dry season" because it is hot and sunny most days with very little rain fall. Winter, or "wet season" spans the months of May through December and is the time of year the rain forest quenches its thirst after months of dryer weather. This is a great time to see Costa Rica at its most lush, colorful and quiet. Although you are sure to get gorgeous days during the wet season, it is hit or miss and it is possible to go days with little sunshine. 

Average Temperature and Rainfall by Month
  JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Avg. High Temp  F / C 88 / 31 89 / 32 91 / 33 91 / 33 90 / 32 88 / 31 88 / 31 87 / 31 87 / 31 87 / 31 86 / 31 87 / 31
Avg. Low Temp 70 / 21 70 / 21 71 / 22 72 / 22 72 / 22 71 / 22 70 / 21 71 / 22 71 / 22 71 / 22 71 / 22 70 / 21
Avg. Rainfall (in.) 4.16 3.04 3.78 4.98 8.93 15.8 16.6 17.2 18.6 21.5 15.5 7.33