Costa Rican weather is more chaotic than anything you’ll find in the US. When it rains in Costa Rica it really rains. It’s not a shower, it’s a deluge. What makes this country stand out is the fact you can visit anytime of the year, in rain or shine, and still have a great experience. The animals don’t leave and neither do the tour operators. They’re here all year round.
The Four Seasons
In the West we’re used to four seasons. We know spring is when the flowers come out and autumn is when the leaves fall off the trees. Costa Rica really only has two seasons. It has summer and winter.
Often, the weather of Costa Rica is the defining factor of the two seasons. They refer to the seasons as the dry season and the rainy or wet season instead. The environmental changes simply aren’t distinct enough to have any more seasonal segregation.
May to November
May to November is the low season, the green season, the wet season, or the rainy season. Take your pick of the names. This would be equivalent to spring. It’s where the trees really start to flesh themselves out with new greenery and the herbivores come out to play. It shouldn’t stop you from visiting, though. It's lush and green and the true colours of the plant life are visible in all their vibrancy.
On the Caribbean slopes, you should avoid it unless you want to take the risk of an unpaved road turning into a muddy slope. Most areas are fine if you don’t travel during heavy rain. But the low season will yield better deals on your travel and allow you to see a completely new side of this exotic country.
December to April
Normally, this is where we Westerners would hide in our homes and cower from Old Man Winter. Not so in Costa Rica. This is where the temperatures really start to heat up. The flowers and the trees are in full bloom and Ticoland turns into a country of colour. The weather of Costa Rica is marvellous at this time of year.
Tourists looking to get away from the winter should visit during this period. There are more tourists, though, but at the same time you have a wider choice of tours and holiday packages.
If it’s too hot, head for the Northern Zone where there are higher altitudes. It can help to balance out the intense humidity rates.
The Rainforest
It’s called the rainforest for a reason. If you visit the rainforest in June you’re going to get wet. If you visit the rainforest in January you’re going to get wet. In short, bring along a poncho because the rainforest doesn’t adhere to the normal seasons and weather patterns.
San Jose is technically in a rainforest zone and it receives rain 170 days a year, on average. You are welcome to get in touch with us before booking if you are unsure of your best time to travel.
