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Costa Rica boasts a pleasant mild climate suitable for travel at any time of year. Most regions have a dry season (December through April) and a wet season (May through November), which also establish peak and off-peak travel periods. Temperatures are determined more by elevation and location than by season, ranging from tropical on the lowland coastal plains to cool and temperate in the interior highlands. Some rainfall should be expected throughout the year, usually falling for short intervals during the afternoon and evening. While the country lies wholly within the tropics it boasts at least one dozen climactic zones and is markedly diverse in local microclimates, which make generalizations misleading. While the dry season tends to be nearly rainless on the Pacific Coast, this is when it rains the most on the Caribbean Coast. September and October are the driest months on the Caribbean while it is wet elsewhere. The sudden onset of a dry spell called veranillo (little summer) occurs between late July and early August and is popular with families who prefer to travel during school vacations. We can help plan your trip at any time of year based on regional variations.

In general most travelers visit Costa Rica to escape winter in North America when average rainfall is lower and migrant bird populations are highest. Increasingly visitors are enjoying the benefits of travel during the off peak 'green season'. During this season, May through November, rain usually falls for a few hours in the afternoon or at night and rarely disrupts travel. Some benefits of travel during this time are being in natural areas without large crowds of other tourists, lush and vibrant vegetation, a better choice of naturalist guides and availability at popular accommodations, lower seasonal rates, and seasonal animal migrations such as the arrival of nesting sea turtles.

Green Season Benefits:

The green season is usually the best time to see wildlife in Costa Rica. During the green season the impact of tourism on wildlife is much lower. Fewer tourists walk the national parks of Costa Rica, so that animals are not scared away as easily. In addition, many plants and trees provide fruits that serve as food for the animals during this time of year. With more feeding in the forests comes more wildlife sightings.

Between the end of July and mid-October the green sea turtles come to Tortuguero en masse for nesting.  Since these giants of the oceans are an endangered species, it is a very special and unforgettable experience to watch them. This is one of the main reasons why Tortuguero is so famous. You cannot witness this spectacle outside the green season.

Many rivers used for whitewater rafting in Costa Rica are more enjoyable in the green season. Because water levels are higher in the green season they are more exciting and often better manageable due to more consistent water levels, i.e. fewer boulders and rocks to navigate.

The opportunities to see the volcanoes are usually higher from June to October. Arenal Volcano and the central mountains misty weather are mainly affected by weather from the Caribbean side. During these months on the Caribbean side there are fewer trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean and they have less power to blow clouds toward the country’s interior. In addition, clouds and fog usually vanish after a heavy rain and leave the mountains with excellent visibility, often at night when the lava shows are most spectacular.