Best Time To Visit Costa Rica

December to April

Drier weather and peak season

December to April is generally the driest time to visit Costa Rica, particularly along the Pacific coast and through much of the centre of the country. It’s a great time for exploring Arenal, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio, with good conditions for rainforest walks, wildlife watching, zip-lining, rafting and time on the beach.

January to March are particularly dry around Guanacaste and Tamarindo, while rainforest and cloud forest areas can still experience showers at any time. Costa Rica has many different microclimates, so the weather can change considerably as you travel around the country.

This is also peak season, so expect higher rates and lower availability, particularly over Christmas, New Year and Easter. If you’re travelling during these periods, we’d recommend planning well ahead. Take a look at our Costa Rica Holiday Ideas to see how you can combine the country’s different regions.

September to October

Head towards the Caribbean

September and October are generally the wettest months on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, particularly around Manuel Antonio, the Osa Peninsula and further south. Heavy rain can affect roads and outdoor activities, so we’d think more carefully about a Pacific-focused route at this time.

Instead, we’d look towards the Caribbean coast. Around Puerto Viejo and Cahuita, September and October can bring some of the better weather of the year, with beaches, rainforest and wildlife all easily combined.

It’s also an interesting time for wildlife. Humpback whales are still present along the Pacific coast, while green turtles are nesting around Tortuguero, so your priorities can help determine which areas are worth including.

When Is the Best Time to See Wildlife in Costa Rica?

Whales, turtles and wildlife throughout the year

Costa Rica is excellent for wildlife throughout the year. Sloths, howler and capuchin monkeys, toucans, scarlet macaws and many other resident species can be seen year-round, although where you go will determine what you’re most likely to encounter. Our Wildlife Holidays to Costa Rica focus on putting you in the right areas for the wildlife you most want to see.

For humpback whales, Costa Rica has two migration periods. Whales from the Southern Hemisphere arrive along the Pacific coast from around July to October, with August and September particularly good months. A smaller Northern Hemisphere migration generally takes place from around December to March. Uvita and Marino Ballena National Park on the southern Pacific coast are among the main areas for whale watching.

Turtle seasons vary by species and coast. Green turtles nest around Tortuguero from July to October, while leatherbacks generally arrive on the Caribbean coast earlier in the year. On the Pacific side, olive ridley turtles nest at beaches including Ostional, where arribadas can bring large numbers of turtles ashore together.

Wildlife is never guaranteed, but if whales or turtles are particularly important to you, timing your route around their seasons can give you a much better opportunity to see them.