I get asked a lot what the best time to travel to Costa Rica is. In my opinion, there’s no bad time to travel to Costa Rica. There are equally fun things to do at any time of the year. Of course, it all boils down to what you plan on doing while you’re in Costa Rica.
Most people coming to Costa Rica are planning to either spend their entire time at the beach or at least will spend a couple of days there. The good news is that while it does rain at the beach, it certainly doesn’t rain as much as other areas.
So, should you come to Costa Rica during the rainy season or the dry season? Most first-timers think the dry season is the time to come. Here’s why that’s a mistake. Let’s break it down.
Costa Rica’s Dry and Rainy Season
As you probably know, Costa Rica’s dry season is their summer. The rainy season would be considered their winter. The dry season can run anywhere from late November to early April. The rains start sometime in April and go all the way through early November. October is usually the rainiest month in Costa Rica.
The rainy season is also known as the “green” season. And that’s what makes it so beautiful.
If you’re thinking of coming to Costa Rica at a time exclusively to avoid the rainy season, know that Costa Rica is going to be fine any time, especially if you’re going to the beach where you’ll mostly just get short bursts of rain. As it is, airfare during the dry season is expensive especially at Christmas and New Year’s and many hotels are already booked. Coming in later, say around March, will certainly save you some money, but you’ll also find some crispy conditions at the beach. For example, check out these photos below. They were taken at Playa Mantas. The first one was taken in August, 2018 during the “green season”.
See how lush that looks? Now, take a look at that same beach during the end of the dry season, during Easter week of 2019. Yikes! Shocking, isn’t it?
So, if your vacation is already booked for the dry season, by all means do it! Anytime is a good time, but don’t let the rainy season scare you away either. Here are a few activities happening during different parts of the year.
November/December in Costa Rica
If you’ve booked your trip during Christmas, yay! Christmas in Costa Rica is a beautiful season and decorating gets well under way during November. Hopefully, you’ll get a chance to try one of Costa Rica’s most delicious dishes, the tamale!
Summer is just beginning, but in Cartago and the central region, people talk about the change in the air feeling like Christmas. While the days can be sunny, sometimes the nights have a chill.
January/February/March/April
This is still summer in Costa Rica. Fares will still be higher, but will get cheaper towards March and April. On April 11, Costa Rica celebrates Juan Santamaria Day. Banks and many offices are closed.
Visiting Costa Rica at Easter
Visiting Costa Rica at Easter time is a great choice. The summer is just ending and it’s usually sunny and hot, even in chilly Cartago!
Be aware that a lot of people have the entire week of Easter (Holy Week) off. Many of the places on the beach will also already be booked.
Make sure you take some time to go see a procession. Processions take place all Easter week and culminate on Good Friday, the most observed day of Holy Week. In Cartago there’s a re-enactment of the crucifixion and processions during both the day and evening.
Good Friday used to be such a holy day that everything was closed and not even bus service ran. Nowadays, most things are open and I think I remember even catching a movie last year.
Easter is a good time to try a lot of different food. Many people avoid meat during this time, so you get a chance to sample different types of salads and fish dishes, as well as fruit desserts.
May/June
Both good times to come to Costa Rica. Airfare is decent.
July Vacations
July is also a good time to come to Costa Rica, but be advised that school vacations take place during two weeks in July. It’s a very popular time for families to get away, especially to the beaches. Be aware that there may be more people than usual.
August 2nd, Dia de La Virgen de Los Angeles
If you’re traveling in August, one of Costa Rica’s most important days is August 2nd. Dia de La Virgen de Los Angeles takes place in Cartago and it’s a very big deal.
The week preceding the 2nd, people from all over the country gear up for their annual pilgrimage to Cartago. There are also concerts and music in the days leading up to the 2nd, when hundreds upon hundreds of people from all over the country descend upon Cartago.
It’s an impressive day and visiting Cartago to see the Basilica is a worthwhile trip.
Independence Day
Visiting in September? Costa Rica’s Independence Day is September 15th, so get ready to see some parades. You will also see lots of flags and symbols of Costa Rica’s patriotism.
October—Costa Rica’s Wettest Month
By the time October rolls around, you can imagine how saturated the ground is. It’s the end of the rainy season and in many parts, the earth is crying out, “no more!” It can only hold so much water before you start seeing runoff and floods.
October is a tricky month. This past October in Cartago, the weather was relatively pleasant, but in low-lying areas such as Paloma, near Cachi, there was some pretty devastating flooding. Areas of San Jose were also hit hard.
In October of 2017, tropical depression Nate was over Costa Rica causing landslides and all kinds of mayhem, even closing the airport for a brief period. That’s something to keep in mind if your plans include hiking or white water rafting.
October is also the month that Costa Rica celebrates “Dia de Las Culturas”, or “Cultural Day”. This is celebrated on North America’s Columbus Day and is more like Indigenous People’s Day, celebrating the glorious mix of cultures in Costa Rica. It’s a national holiday and kids from school sometimes dress up to celebrate.
This is also the time that Limon celebrates her famous “Carnival”. This colorful celebration in honor of Limon’s Afro-Caribbean culture is similar to Mardi Gras and is huge! They have parades, dancing, outrageous outfits and of course, Caribbean cuisine. This celebration lasts an entire week!
The Best Time is Your Time
If you’re planning your trip to Costa Rica and playing around with dates, do the dates that work the best for you. The best time is your time. There’s no guarantee summer will always be sunny, and there’s no guarantee that the rainy season will give you rain when you arrive. You’ll have plenty to do regardless. So you see, there’s really no wrong time to come to Costa Rica. The only wrong decision would be to not come at all!
Great details on the best time to visit. Maybe someday I will get there.