Wildlife-spotting in the tropical rainforest, hiking at the edge of a volcano, scuba diving along the reefs of two oceans, enjoying a massage in a treehouse spa – Costa Rica is filled with all kinds of indulgences and unique ecoadventures. Communing with nature is at the top of everyone’s list, including those of the Costa Ricans, who embrace their nation’s biodiversity and never tire of showing it off. And with temperatures pretty much the same year-round – between 73º and 80º F – when you visit hinges mostly on your tolerance for rain.
Costa Rica Dry Season
The best months to go to Costa Rica are from mid-December to April. This is considered high season, dry and bright with the least rainfall. That said, as this is a tropical country, some rainfall is expected, but really more in the “rain showers” category. During this time, the parks and beaches are busy, as the conditions for each are perfect.
Nature truly puts on a show in Costa Rica when it comes to wildlife. The word “diverse” doesn’t really begin to cover it. Within your first hour of visiting, you will no doubt become acquainted with a variety of monkeys – howler, squirrel, capuchin and spider – along with the sloth and the coati, which is a relative of the raccoon. Exotic birdlife is prevalent, the trees noisy with macaws, hummingbirds and toucans – creatures you might see on a wildlife TV show. Harmless reptiles include the red-eyed tree frogs, sea turtles and iguanas.
With the road conditions being more favorable during the dry season, adventure activities like ziplining, ATV trekking and hiking in the cloud forests are much more enjoyable. Sanctuary visits, hot springs afternoons and scuba diving mornings can easily fill in your agenda.
Costa Rica Green Season
The Costa Rica rainy season is from May to June, plus November. As an avid traveler, you will no doubt appreciate the fact that the rain is what makes Costa Rica so beautiful and irresistible. During this time, however, there can still be plenty of sunshine, especially along the northern Pacific shore and on the Caribbean coast. The biggest perk with regard to visiting during these months is that the national parks are much quieter.
Weighing the Pros and Cons
As with all vacation destinations, there are times of the year to avoid. Here are a few variables to keep in mind when planning your trip.
• January and February are very hot, but March and April are extremely hot. If you don’t like the heat – or the heat and humidity combo – consider visiting at a different time of the year.
• Sidestep spring breaks.
• September and October are the wettest months, with prolonged rainfall making it difficult to enjoy the outdoors and creating havoc with the road conditions.
• May to November is considered hurricane season. These are months that require you to evaluate your tolerance for unpredictable weather – and your cancellation insurance.
Connect today with your Tully Luxury Travel Designer, who can help you make a sound choice when it comes to deciding when to travel to Costa Rica.