The dry season is over in costa rica and the wet season is on. May is a terrific month to look for hotels in costa rica because its the first month of the low season aka green season. This is the best time to take advantage of the low season rates and also the best chance during the season to have days of full sunny skies. This is the period to find the best deals for your costa rican vacation, as discounted rates are up to 30% lower than in the high season. The tourism industry in recent years has adopted the phrase green season in place of rainylow season simply because it rings infinitely more pleasant a more true than the words rainy and low. Wet and dry seasons costa rica costa rica 100% pura vida. Locals refer to this season as verano summer, and although it can rain at any point of the year, these months offer the driest weather. Its driest months include februarymarch and septemberoctober.
Mar 17, 2020 in high season, it can be up to 60 people at once so this is an excellent time to visit costa rica if you dont like crowds and dont mind rain. The best time to visit costa rica is dependent on multiple factors and this answer is specific to the individual or group of travelers planning a visit. Months are also categorized into either high, low, or green season months, which reflect levels tourist activity. The beginning of january is a peak travel season in costa rica. The low season, or winter in costa rica has been dubbed the green season by the tourism industry because that makes a better first impression than rainy. Why you should visit costa rica in the rainy season two. In costa rica we have peak season and low season, but this is going to end up being a zero season. Relatively more rains but really only a few hours per day in low season results in lower hotel rates, and less travelers. Acrobatic and strong, this is the largest and most soughtafter fish on the pacific ocean. Because its the low season aka green season, youll often find reduced prices and increased availability at hotels throughout the country. Best times to visit costa rica offseason vacation in. Best time to visit costa rica two weeks in costa rica.
Some of costa ricas rainforests can receive between 80 and 260 inches of rain every year, and while temperatures can exceed 100 degrees fahrenheit 37 degrees celsius in the daytime during the height of the dry season, the mercury can fall to the low 60s around 15 degrees celsius at night. During costa ricas peak tourist season, prices for food, accommodation and services are at their most expensive. The rainy seasonlow seasoninviernogreen season the rainy season, or invierno, historically extends from sometime in may into november. Early in the month it may be more like dry hot april with highs well.
Costa ricas high season lasts from december through april. This means that prices are high and everything books out fast. Pacific coasts and western slopes of the mountains are drier with four months of dry winter season. Jul 06, 2016 four seasons resort costa rica at peninsula papagayo. Room rates are often 20% to 30% cheaper in june than during the high season. Dec 14, 2016 this period of time is also referred to as summer or high season in costa rica. Costa rica fishing seasons a costa rica fishing calendar. This is costa rica s most beautiful time of the year, when every landscape explodes in vibrant colors, with blooming flowers and blossoming fruit. It still rains in certain areas and in others hardly at all such as in guanacaste. The lowland and pacific beach temperatures in may depend a great deal on when the rains start. Visitors are often confused with the terms low season and high season or winter and summer, which are the same difference. Costa rica weather by month full break down costa rica.
My husband and i are looking to plan a trip to costa rica. While you used to be able to identify the time of year based solely on weather. The temperatures are higher during dry season with an average high of 90 degrees fahrenheit and an average low of 74 degrees. While the term rainy season scares off many tourists, its actually one of the most beautiful times of year in costa rica, and there is usually some sunshine every day with rains coming mostly in the. With species available all year round, costa rica has a great fishing scene for anglers traveling at any point of the year. If you plan to visit costa rica in january, definitely try to book all your hotels, activities, and rental car ahead of time. Costa rica weather is one of the main concerns for travelers and one of the things they must know about costa rica before they visit so in this post you will learn about costa ricas weather, the tropical seasons, reliable. To avoid these price hikes travel during the off season, which coincides with. Because its the low season aka green season, youll find reduced prices and increased availability at hotels throughout the country. During costa rica s peak tourist season, prices for food, accommodation and services are at their most expensive. Jaco beach costa rica weather rainy and dry season. This means reduced prices and increased availability at hotels throughout the country.
September is one of the two rainiest months in costa rica. Costa rica is located between pacific ocean and the caribbean sea. The temperatures in san jose are cooler and people pull out their sweaters. Costa ricas two seasons are the dry summer verano january through april and rainy winter invierno may through december. Generally speaking, the caribbean coast is much wetter than the rest of the country, even during this period as it has an entirely different weather pattern. Costa ricas weather is the typical tropical climate with a rainy and dry season.
Times for each high and low tide along the outer pacific coast gulfs and bays vary. Dont let the rainy season deter your visions of outdoor adventures. Costa ricas high season for tourism runs from late november to late april, which coincides almost perfectly with the chill of winter in the united states, canada, and europe. High season goes from beginning of december to april 30th and the months of july and august low season is from may 1st to june 30th and from september 1st. Costa rica weather what is it like and when to visit. To avoid these price hikes travel during the offseason, which coincides with. This period of time is also referred to as summer or high season in costa rica. Low season occupancy and rates tamarindo forum tripadvisor.
If you are planning a trip for our peak seasons christmas, new year and easter week, it is ideal to have your reservations made at least 10 months in advance. Room rates can 20% to 30% cheaper in july than during the high season. Costa rica has two basic seasons, the summer and winter, also known as the dry season and rainy season, or for the tourism industry its called the high season and the low season. Typically, the season low, wet or winter is between may and december, while the flip high, dry and summer is between december and may. If that sounds like gobbledygook, well, the offseason is in and the high season is out. San jose alajuela heredia costa rica vacation rentals.
The low season is kicking in, there are no crowds, prices are down and although the rains start in may its usually nothing like the downpours in september and october. When is the lower season to travel there in terms of price. If youre coming to costa rica purely to enjoy the beaches and hot weather, definitely come during january, february, march and april. Temperature variations are low because the country is located near the equator, so the main difference between the seasons is found in the rains. When planning your costa rica vacation, consider visiting during the countrys low tourism period, from midmay through november. Lower coastal areas are warmer, while mountainous regions are colder. In july and august, tourists flood costa rica to catch sight of the countrys natural wildlife without getting drenched. There is consistently about twelve hours of sunlight per day for the entire year. High season goes from november up to april, low season from may to october and peak season from december to april. While costa rica is a relatively affordable destination, travelers can save on accommodations and flights by traveling during low season, when theres less demand thats summer in the states and. Because costa ricas rainy season starts soft, early may is often indistinguishable from the dry season. Costa rica deals get the best costa rica travel offers. Most tourists from outside of the country come to costa rica during this period because to escape their winters.
There are three primary travel seasons in costa rica based on weather. Each season will affect the availability and price of lodging, types of activities available, festivals, and other events. Low season in costa rica most offers run during the low season, which starts in earnest from late summer august and goes all the way through fall, and even early winter december. The best time to visit costa rica according to activities beaches. The latter part of may is the beginning of the rainy season in costa rica. All of these destination guides include detailed weather descriptions. A week or two of temperatures in the mid nineties is possible at low elevations and especially on the nicoya coast during july. By late may and june light afternoon showers are common, but mornings are generally sunny. The highdry season from january through march means higher prices and more crowds. If youre coming to costa rica purely to enjoy the beaches and hot weather, definitely come during january, february, march and. Facts about weather in costa rica planning your vacation. If you are looking for great weather, you are almost guaranteed sunny skies and rainfree days. See the 6 best places to visit in costa rica in offseason.
No matter where you travel in costa rica, however, youll enjoy reduced crowds, low season discounts and increased hotel availability. Dont forget that costa rica is very close to the equator. The high season is the equivalent of summer in costa rica. It is more or less divided into two seasons, a dry season, often referred to as high season, and a rainy season, often referred to as green season. We have created destination guides to every location in costa rica. If you want some unadulterated time on a tropical beach and a little less rain. There isnt necessarily one, difinitive best time to visit costa rica. Graph showing the best months of the year to visit costa rica based on relative rainfall, costs and crowds. Why costa ricas green season is the best time to visit. For most of costa rica, the dry season lasts from midnovember through may. Jungle tour, guided hike through primary forest with animal explorations, climbing.
We have a full guide to sun protection in costa rica here. While the high season is the most popular travel time, the green season is. The northwest is hotter in the dry season february through may when there are no rains too cool things off. Low season in terms of cost costa rica forum tripadvisor. In high season, it can be up to 60 people at once so this is an excellent time to visit costa rica if you dont like crowds and dont mind rain. Compared to high season prices, room rates are often 20% to 30% cheaper in may. This is costa ricas most beautiful time of the year, when every landscape explodes in vibrant colors, with blooming flowers and blossoming fruit. In nicoya, the wet season is oppressive and overcast. Costa ricas dry or high season runs from middecember until the end of april, and our green or rainy season lasts the rest of the year. With increasing popularity low season discounts for july are pretty much a thing of the. However, this is also the high tourism season, so plan on paying more for your hotel room. Costa rica weather by month full break down costa rica vibes. July is a good month to look for hotels in costa rica.
The climate in costa rica is hot all year round in the plains and along the coasts, while its milder in the plateau, that is, in the socalled tierras templadas. Mar 28, 2020 there are three primary travel seasons in costa rica based on weather. Best time to travel may in costa rica low season costa rica guide. Best times to visit costa rica offseason vacation in costa. Offseason in costa rica runs from may to middecember a period officially known as the green season when costa rica gets lots of precipitation and fewer tourists. Costa ricas high season for tourism runs from late november to late april, which coincides almost perfectly with the chill of winter in the united states, canada. Hi dan, late marchearly april is still high season so you will get high season rates for hotels, but it is starting to slow down in general. Many people worry that their trip will be a washout because of rain, but thats not the case. The beaches and lowlands have high temperatures in the low nineties and low temperatures in the upper seventies or low eighties. This peak tourist season boasts plenty of sunshine making it. During these months costa rica gets little to no rain and the skies are a vibrant blue.
Temperature variations are low because the country is located near the equator, so the main. Is anyone aware of the daily rental prices and occupancy rates of low season compared to high season. The high season in costa rica runs from early december through april. The high, low and average temperature charts are very easy to read. Best times to visit costa rica offseason vacation in costa rica. Four seasons resort costa rica at peninsula papagayo. This is a good time to visit northwest costa rica tamarindo, nosara, santa teresa, the central pacific manuel antonio, uvita, and the.
However, there are many microclimates in the country. If youre looking for sunny beach time or rainfree hikes, this is the best time of the year to visit. A lot of people wonder if this is the best time to visit costa rica. Costa rica weather in september a great time to visit. Although it is the middle of the rainy season costa rica typically experiences a short midyear minidry season in july and the beginning of august. Costa rica vacation rental villas near san jose international airport, alajuela and heredia rent a luxury villa, house or home for business, a vacation or holiday. The term peak season is often used to describe the two weeks from just.