Costa Rica’s Seasons
Costa Rica’s seasons are far from what we know in Europe. When you ask a Tico what they are, they will tell you: the dry season and the green season. Furthermore, the country is subject to climatic differences, and for this reason, we will speak of climates in the plural. Indeed, although the country is relatively small (51,000 km2), it is nonetheless a country of contrasts. Costa Rica has a diverse and varied climate that can be divided into several climatic zones, each one different and individual. The main reason for these variations comes from the fact that the country is located between two oceans very close to each other. Added to this is a central mountain range that rises to over 3,820 m. The scene is set.

Regions more than seasons

It would be a lie to describe the climate in Costa Rica month by month. When it’s sunny in the west, it can be deluging in the east, and vice versa. However, there are some major trends, and from December to April, the entire Pacific coast enjoys a hot and dry climate, while the Caribbean region experiences heavy rains. From May to October, the Caribbean enjoys more sunshine, while the South Pacific is well-watered, mainly in September and October.
However, the good news is that most of Costa Rica’s tours and attractions can be enjoyed year-round, depending on your interests and preferences. If you’re here to observe the abundant and active wildlife, May to August is the best time to visit. If you prefer very warm days and basking in the sun, December to April will enchant you.
Here is a table showing the main differences in rainfall and sunny days by region. Never lose sight of one important point: humidity = coolness = active and present animals. Basically, rain is part of the country and its wealth. A nice tropical downpour at the end of the day has the advantage of allowing you to sleep cool.

Precipitation and temperatures by region

CENTRAL PACIFIC
Month
Temp.
En mm
Jan26,2 68
Feb26,532
March27,754
April28,2157
May27,6392
June26,7429
July27453
Aug26,6487
Sept26,2523
Oct26,2627
Nov25,7374
Déc25,7147
SOUTH PACIFIC
Month
Temp.
En mm
Jan2662
Feb26,361
March27,494
April27,9215
May27,3399
June26,5388
July26,6371
Aug26,3426
Sept26468
Oct25,7664
Nov25,4347
Déc25,5107
GOLFO DULCE
MonthTemp.En mm
Jan24,649
Feb24,938
March25,987
April26,1220
May25,5433
June24,9378
July25303
Aug24,7410
Sept24,4494
Oct24,3571
Nov24280
Dec24,176
CARIBBEAN
MonthTemp.En mm
Jan25,6286
Feb25,9187
March26,9182
April27,4274
May27,1272
June26,4257
July26,6378
Aug26,4288
Sept26,2128
Oct25,9172
Nov25,4345
Dec25,3425
ARENAL – TENORIO
MonthTemp.En mm
Jan22,8281
Feb23,1182
March24108
April24,4124
May24,2330
June23,6464
July23,5576
Aug23,4509
Sept23,2505
Oct23525
Nov22,9459
Dec22,5469
GUANACASTE – NICOYA
Month
Temp.
En mm
Jan25,32
Feb25,77
March26,92
April27,444
May26,8209
June25,8229
July26,1180
Aug25,8247
Sept25,4338
Oct25,2301
Nov24,9115
Dec24,721
DOTA
Month
Temp.
En mm
Jan22,835
Feb23,219
March24,144
April24,5143
May23,9345
June23,3346
July23,5316
Aug23,2399
Sept23422
Oct23512
Nov22,6277
Dec22,486
CENTRAL VALLEY
Month
Temp.En mm
Jan20,218
Feb20,615
March21,323
April21,978
May21,6343
June21,2382
July21,1282
Aug21,1383
Sept20,8464
Oct20,5472
Nov20,3214
Dec2056

Best seasons for species observation

Below are the best times to observe marine species in Costa Rica.
Some of these species are present year-round, such as dolphins on the Pacific coast from the north to the south, and to a lesser extent on the Caribbean coast.
In Tortuguero, manatees, an endangered species, are still present, but you’ll have little chance of spotting them due to their shy nature.

WHALE SHARKS

HUMPBACK WHALES

GREEN AND BLACK TURTLES

LOGGERHEAD AND HAWKSBILL TURTLES

TORTUES LUTH

TORTUES OLIVATRE

TORTUES CAOUANNE

January

Golfo Dulce
Sporadic

South Pac.

Pac. Nord Sporadic

South Pac.
Origin Arctic

North Pac.

Pac. Nord

Pac. Sud

February

Golfo Dulce
Sporadic

South Pac.

Pac. Nord Sporadic

South Pac.
Origine Arctique

North Pac.

Pac. Nord

March

Golfo Dulce
Sporadic

South Pac.

South Pac.
Arctic origin

April

Golfo Dulce
Sporadic

South Pac.

May

Caraïbes

June

Caraïbes

Caraïbes

Pac. Sud

Caraïbes

July

South Pac.
Origin Antarctic

Carribean

South Pac.

Carribean

Caraïbes

Pac. Nord

Pac. Sud

Caraïbes

August

South Pac.
Origin Antarctic

Carribean

South Pac.

Carribean

Caraïbes

Pac. Sud

Pac. Nord

Pac. Sud

Caraïbes

September

South Pac.
Origin AntarctiC

Carribean

South Pac.

Carribean

Caraïbes

Pac. Sud

Pac. Nord

Pac. Sud

October

South Pac.
Origin Antarctic

North Pac.

South Pac.

Caribbean

Caraïbes

Pac. Nord

Pac. Sud

Pac. Nord

Pac. Sud

November

North Pac. Sporadic

South Pac.
Origin Antarctic

North Pac.

Pac. Nord

Pac. Sud

Pac. Nord

December

North Pac.


Sporadic

South Pac.
Origin Arctic

North Pac.

Pac. Nord

Pac. Sud



If you’re on this page, it’s probably because 850 bird species are catching your eye. Costa Rica has become a benchmark in ornithology. The country welcomes migrants from the north in January and February, and vice versa, those from the south in September and October.

The Toucans

All year round you can observe toucans in Tortuguero, Sarapiqui, Arenal, Tenorio, Monteverde, the Caribbean coast, the Pacific coast and especially in the south, the Osa Peninsula.

Macaws

You’ll have the opportunity to observe Scarlet Macaws throughout the year, particularly in the Central Pacific and the Osa Peninsula. The Nicoya Peninsula also benefits from several successful reintroduction projects.
Below are Costa Rica’s iconic birds. The best times for observation are the nesting periods indicated in color in the table.

Ambigus Green Macaw



Résident

Quetzal
pharomachrus mocinno


Résident

Araponga tricaronculatus
Procnias tricarunculatus


Résident

Unicolor Penelope
Chamaepetes unicolor

Résident

Ruby-throated hummingbird
Archilochus colubris

Migrateur

Calliste safran
Tangara icterocephala

Résident

American Jabiru
Jabiru Mycteria

Résident

January

North zone

Dota

Palo verde tempisque

Caño Negro
Rio frio

February

North zone

Dota

Central Cordillera

Palo verde tempisque

Caño Negro
Rio frio

March

North zone

Dota

Monteverde

Monteverde

Tapantí

La amistad

Central Cordillera

Guanacaste / Guiones – Pelada

Ujarras / Cartago

Palo verde tempisque

Caño Negro
Rio frio

April

North zone

Dota

Monteverde

Monteverde

Tapantí

La amistad

Central Cordillera

Guanacaste / Guiones – Pelada

Ujarras / Cartago

Turrialba

May

North zone

Dota

Monteverde

Monteverde

Tapantí

La amistad

Central Cordillera

Guanacaste / Guiones – Pelada

Ujarras / Cartago

Turrialba

June

North zone

Dota

Monteverde

Monteverde

Tapantí

La amistad

Central Cordillera

Central Valley

Turrialba

Tortuguero

July

Monteverde

Monteverde

Tapantí

La amistad

Central Valley

Arenal

Turrialba

Tortuguero

August

Monteverde

Monteverde

Tapantí

La amistad

Central Valley

Arenal

Turrialba

Tortuguero

September

Central Valley

Arenal

Tortuguero

October

Central Valley

Arenal

Tortuguero

November

Dota

Arenal

Palo verde tempisque

Caño Negro
Rio frio

Décember

Dota

Palo verde tempisque

Caño Negro
Rio frio

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Our customers have their say

164 days ago
Our tour of Costa Rica from 19 to 31 March, organised by Sandrine and everyone at Costa Rica Decouverte, was truly unforgettable! We visited an exciting mix of destinations including San Jose, Monteverde, Arenal, Corcovado, and Tortuguero. From seamless transportation to breathtaking locations, fantastic tours and activities, comfortable accommodations, and delicious food—everything exceeded our expectations. Throughout our journey, we encountered friendly and helpful people who made our experience even more memorable. The places we stayed offered the chance to enjoy Costa Rica’s incredible nature right from the comfort of the verandas. Even the journeys between locations felt like grand adventures in themselves. Every day brought something new and exciting. I won’t share too many specifics, as some things are better left as surprises for others to discover on their own. Thank you again to Sandrine and everyone involved for making this such a wonderful experience for both myself and my partner. Barbara

Owner's reply
Hi Barbara, Thank you so much for your wonderful message 😊 We’re truly delighted to read that your journey through Costa Rica was such a memorable experience, and that each destination brought its share of discovery and emotion. Your words perfectly capture what we aim to create: a seamless adventure filled with beautiful moments, nature, and special encounters. A big thank you as well for your kind mention of Sandrine—we’ll be sure to pass it along! We love that you chose to keep a bit of mystery for future travelers… you’re absolutely right, some surprises are part of the magic ✨ It was a real pleasure to organize this trip for you and your partner. We hope to welcome you again one day for another Costa Rican adventure! Pura Vida 🌴☀️ The Costa Rica Découverte Team
195 days ago
We have had a wonderful stay in Costa Rica. Sandrine organized the trip to perfection in spite that we had decided this at the last moment. It was our first trip to Costa Rica and our main reason for visiting this beautiful country was to get away from the brutally long winter in Toronto, Canada. Sandrine introduced us to the different climates; Manuel Antonio with its mangroves, La Fontana de Arenal with its rainforest, Monteverde with its cloud forest and Carillo with its beach. We had private transportation between the different destinations which all ran like clockwork and all the hotels were exactly as we had requested; international, first class and family oriented. We highly recommend Cost Rica Découverte Travel Agency for its professionalism, punctuality and wonderful follow up throughout the trip.

Owner's reply
Thank you Bernardo for your lovely comment 🙏 It takes daily teamwork to listen to our customers before, during, and after their trip! And that's true that your trip was a good one. Pura Vida! 😎🇨🇷
246 days ago
+8
We had a great trip Costa Rica decouverte. Communication was excellent, great hotels and loved the balance with activities and relaxing times. We managed to see so much wildlife thanks for their knowledge. Highly recommend!

Owner's reply
Dear Tiffany, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your lovely feedback. We’re delighted to hear that you had a great trip and that you enjoyed the balance between activities and relaxing moments, as well as the hotels and communication throughout your journey. We’re especially happy that our team’s knowledge helped you discover so much wildlife — that’s exactly what we love sharing about Costa Rica 🌿🐒 Thank you again for your trust and your recommendation. It was a real pleasure organizing your Costa Rica découverte!
254 days ago
From the very first conversation, the experience with Costa Rica Découverte was exceptional — particularly as a family travelling with children. The booking process was incredibly easy and reassuring, with the team taking the time to understand our family’s needs, pace, and interests. The itinerary came together smoothly, with thoughtful suggestions that balanced adventure, nature, relaxation, and comfort in a way that worked perfectly for both adults and children. In the lead-up to travel, the communication was outstanding. Every question — no matter how small — was answered promptly and clearly, and we felt completely prepared before we even left home. Knowing that every detail had been considered made a huge difference when travelling as a family, especially over the busy festive period. Once in Costa Rica, everything ran seamlessly. Transfers were punctual and well organised, guides were fantastic with the children — patient, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable — and activities were perfectly suited to a family dynamic. We always knew exactly where to be and what to expect, which removed all the usual stresses that can come with family travel. What really stood out was how well looked after we felt at every stage — before travelling, during the trip, and right through to departure. The staff were consistently friendly, professional, and genuinely caring, giving us complete confidence that we were in safe hands at all times. It allowed us to fully relax and focus on making memories together as a family. This was one of the best family holidays we have ever taken. Effortlessly organised, brilliantly communicated, and thoughtfully tailored for family travel, it exceeded our expectations in every way. We would recommend Costa Rica Découverte without hesitation to any family looking for a truly special, stress-free Costa Rica experience — and we will absolutely be booking with them again

Owner's reply
Dear Michelle and Mital, Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a wonderful and detailed review. We are truly touched by your kind words and delighted to know that your family trip to Costa Rica was such a positive and memorable experience. It was a real pleasure for our team to design this journey for your family and to ensure that every detail — from planning to on-the-ground logistics — met your expectations. Knowing that you felt well supported, relaxed, and able to fully enjoy time together as a family is exactly what we strive for. We will be sure to pass on your feedback to our local partners and guides, who will be thrilled to hear how much they contributed to your experience, especially with your children. Thank you again for your trust and recommendation. We would be absolutely delighted to welcome your family back to Costa Rica in the future and to help create another unforgettable journey. Warm regards, Sandrine 🦥
408 days ago
Absolutely incredible service our flights were delayed (we booked individually) they done everything to make every effort to rearrange hotels etc, even had a chauffer at the airport to bring us to our hotel, next day the car rental people were outside saving us having to collect the car, exactly what we needed after a long delayed flight. could not be happier with the service that was provided.

Owner's reply
Hi Brendan! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that, despite the flight delays, everything worked out smoothly for you. Our team is always happy to go the extra mile to ensure your trip starts stress-free and comfortably. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica for another unforgettable experience. Pura Vida! 🇨🇷😎
573 days ago
+3
My wife and I spent 3 weeks traveling across Costa Rica with my retired mother in February 2025. Maelle helped tailor this trip to our interests, particularly our desire to see as much of the country while keeping a reasonable rhythm, all interspersed with some relaxation and beach time. We started with Tortoguero (staying at the Mawamba Lodge, with boat excursions to see the wildlife, including waterfowl, sloths, and baby crocodiles), traveled west to Sarapiqui (the enchanting Selva Verde Lodge and a fascinating visit to Palmitour to see how hearts of palm are cultivated), then to Arenal (the simple but lovely Natural Green Lodge, and a fantastic guided tour of the Mistico suspension bridges), Tenorio (can’t say enough about the Celeste Mountain Lodge, though our excursion to the park was unfortunately rained out), and Monteverde (the cute Calathea Lodge, another great guided tour of Curi-Cancha), before going to Samara in Nicoya for a couple days on the beach (staying at Las Estrellas de Samara, which has an incredible view but definitely needs a 4x4 vehicle to reach it—and Maelle made sure we did). After that we headed south (stopping at beautiful Rancho Capulin B&B, after visiting the animal sanctuary Centro de Rescate Las Pumas—with its jaguars, monkeys, and myriad arts), making the obligatory stop at Manuel Antonio (a bit underwhelming after everything else we’d seen, but the Alma de Ojochal hotel was fantastic), before ending up in Drake (staying at the magnificent Natural Drake Bay) for some well-earned R&R and scuba diving. I cannot stress enough that the entire trip went as planned and without a hitch. The CRD crew was always available and immediately responsive whenever we had questions, and even made some last-minute adjustments for us along the way. Costa Rica is truly a wonderful country, and CRD made sure we saw it in the very best conditions. A heartfelt thanks to all. Pura vida!

Owner's reply
Hello Gregoire! Thank you so much for your heartfelt comment. We are really happy to have been able to participate in the success of this trip! The whole team wishes you an excellent selection of photos, and maybe we'll see you next time :) Pura Vida!
2952 days ago
just visited Costa Rica and the experience was super intense, I loved the nature that is like being inside a green explosion of live, thanks to ROOTS TRAVEL for helping to make this visit a five star time