Get familiar with Costa Rica’s seven diverse regions, where you’ll find ethereal cloud forests, remote tropical rainforests, and towering volcanoes with geothermal pools. Scroll to the bottom for a monthly climate guide, to find the best time to visit.
The dry season from December to April brings sunshine, golden beaches, and easy wildlife spotting; the green season from May to November offers lush landscapes, whitewater rafting, turtle nesting, and far fewer crowds. Find the right time for your trip.
Dry season kicks off in January, drawing sunseekers to Costa Rica's Pacific beaches for jungle-backed coastline and winter warmth. On nature hikes through Manuel Antonio National Park you’ll be in with a chance to spot sloths, capuchin, spider and howler monkeys, coatis, and over 350 bird species. Offshore, humpback whales are mid-migration from Alaska, making January prime whale-watching territory too.
February brings peak dry season, perfect for wildlife watching across the 28 National Parks, volcano hikes, jungle walks, ziplining, and soaks in geothermal pools. Surfers should head to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side for bigger waves, or Tamarindo and Santa Teresa on the Pacific for friendlier conditions; Manuel Antonio is a solid bet for beginners.
Dry weather in March delivers ideal conditions for beach days, rainforest walks, and surf on both coasts. Head up into the Tilarán Mountains for Monteverde's cloud forest, home to the resplendent quetzal; day hikes are perfect for spotting birdlife, while night walks turn up green vipers, red-eyed frogs, and two-toed sloths.
April marks the dry season's last stand and one of the hottest months, so Pacific beaches earn their keep with cooling breezes, while Monteverde's misty cloud forest offers a natural escape from the heat. Spring break and Easter crowds pack out Nicoya, Monteverde, and Arenal, so book ahead - or you skip the queues entirely and head for the wilder Osa Peninsula.
In May the wet season arrives and the country turns green. Rising river levels make this a strong month for white-water rafting on the Sarapiquí and Pacuare, while lighter crowds mean sites like Tenorio National Park and Rio Celeste can be explored without the usual queues. Rain tends to hold off until afternoon, so mornings are a great time to get out and explore.
June sees Costa Rica at its greenest and quietest, rainfall is lighter than the surrounding months, but this is still rainy season proper, so expect a wilder edge to trips into the cloud forest, the northern Caribbean coast, Guanacaste, and Nicoya. Fewer visitors means some of the country's best sites feel almost empty.
Although deep in the green season, July usually pulls off a few weeks of clear skies and eased rainfall: lush scenery and thin crowds. It's also a key month for Tortuguero National Park, reachable only by boat or plane, where green sea turtles, leatherbacks, and critically endangered hawksbills nest and hatch.
Rainfall picks up in August and the Caribbean coast hits its warmest, while inland whitewater rafting ranges from gentle to powerful. Humpback whales return, migrating north from Antarctica and gathering off the whale-tail sandbar at Marino Ballena National Park. Meanwhile, the Nicoya Peninsula's beaches see thousands of Olive Ridley turtles arrive for one of the world's few mass nesting events.
In September, there is wild Pacific surf and continuing humpback whale migration - for those who don't mind getting a little wet. The Caribbean coast stays drier and sunnier, ideal for catching sea turtles nesting and hatching at Tortuguero. Mid-month, you can catch Costa Rica’s Independence Day fiestas.
Landscapes in October are at their most vivid green and temperatures cool off. The Caribbean side stays driest and sunniest: surf the southern coast at Puerto Viejo or catch the tail end of turtle nesting season at Tortuguero. Puerto Limón's carnival brings Afro-Caribbean culture to the streets with calypso, reggae, and food like rondón, patí and salsa caribeña.
November marks the final month of the wet season. The Caribbean side dries out first as the shift toward dry season begins. As a shoulder month, there are fewer crowds, making it a good window for popular spots like Monteverde and Arenal without the usual queues. Rivers are still running high from the rains, so it's still a good time for rafting before the water levels drop.
Dry season returns in December, and more travelers follow: expect clear skies and warm weather. Hit the Pacific beaches, explore wildlife-packed National Parks, or retreat to Monteverde's cooler cloud forest. Round it out with Afro-Caribbean culture on the Atlantic coast, geothermal pools in Arenal, or a high-end getaway to the Papagayo Peninsula.
