Costa Rica: When to go

People typically come to Costa Rica for one of two reasons – they are either looking for some peace and quiet, a place of tranquillity, or they are looking for real excitement. This means you have your choice of taking an afternoon nap in a hammock overlooking the green mountains and blue, ocean or zooming through the jungle on zip lines, visiting boiling volcanoes, or swimming with dolphins and whales. Although there is really no bad time to visit Costa Rica, the best time as far as climate is concerned would be in late December to mid-April. However, remember that because this is prime season, you will pay more for your hotel and meals.

Weather in Costa Rica

Because Costa Rica is located only about eight degrees north of the equator, the climate is tropical year round. However, this varies depending on elevation and rainfall. Therefore, it is greatly affected by the geography of Costa Rica. Costa Rica's seasons are defined by how much it rains during a particular period. The year can be easily split into two periods, known to the residents as Verano, summer and Invierno, winter. The verano season is from December to May, and is the time of year when it is not as wet. Invierno is the period from May to November, and during this time, in many locations, it rains constantly. The location that receives the most rain is the Caribbean (northeast) slopes of the Central Cordillera Mountains; with an annual rainfall of over 5,000 mm. Humidity is also higher on the Caribbean side than on the Pacific side. The mean annual temperature on the coastal lowlands is around 80°F (27°C), 69°F (21°C) in the main populated areas of the Central Cordillera, and below 50°F (10°C) on the summits of the highest mountains.