Costa Rica has a reputation as a tropical paradise all over the world – it’s all about sun, surf, sparkling seas, and natural beauty. This beauty and lush vegetation come from all the different climates that you will find in Costa Rica.
Whatever you are looking for as far as weather and climate go, you will probably find it in Costa Rica. If you want different kinds of weather in Costa Rica, you will change what elevation you are at – because the higher in elevation you go, the cooler the temperatures become.
If you love the cool mists, a place like Monteverde will suit you. But if you are a sun lover, then on the Pacific coast is a place called Guanacaste, where you can bask on the beaches all day.
Costa Rica is so close to the equator, it doesn’t really have a real summer or winter
No matter which season, Costa Rica does have a rainy season when there is a lot of rain; that’s between May and November. Average rainfalls can be around 100 inches a year.
The wettest months in Costa Rica are September to November. If you want to visit Costa Rica and not spend a great deal of money, the rainy season is your best time to visit. That would be in the low season.
Here are some tips for visiting Costa Rica when the rainy weather is there
Usually, in the rainy season, you will find that it is quite sunny and dry in the morning but rainy in the late afternoon and nights. If you are in the mountains, the rain is usually in the morning and clears up a bit in the afternoon.
In the mountains, it can literally rain all day. In fact, it is not recommended that people drive after dusk when it is the rainy season because it rains more at night.
In this humid, moist type of climate, the mosquitos can be terrible, so you need to bring mosquito repellent and reapply it often. Also, you need to pack accordingly.
In the rainy season, you need to always be prepared for a deluge so always remember to bring your waterproof gear. Always carry a rain jacket with you.
In some Costa Rican areas, the power may go out during thunderstorms and rain, so bring a battery pack with you so you can keep your phone charged. Headlamps and flashlights will also be handy.
Let’s look at the rainy season months in Costa Rica
January, February, and March: These are the dry seasons in Costa Rica when there is not really any rain.
April: April might be in the dry season but it can still rain towards the end of the month – it starts getting humid in April.
May: In May, you might find it rains off and on sporadically. Some days there will be more rain than others. It could rain really hard for about 10 minutes and then be hot and cloudless for the rest of the afternoon!
June: June is similar to May but you might see a bit more rain. It tends to rain more on the Caribbean coast in June.
July: The locals call July the “little summer”. Somewhere around the middle of July, the weather gets drier with clear skies and not a lot of humidity. It can still rain in July though in the rainforest areas.
August: August is usually typical of rainy days with sunny mornings and cloudy afternoons. Rain can pick up in the afternoons and nights towards the end of the month.
September: This is the time when the rainiest months start.There will be more clouds and rainy afternoons and nights. The Caribbean becomes drier now. September and October in Costa Rica also tend to be the coldest months in Costa Rica.
October: This is the driest month for the Caribbean side only. In the rest of the country, you can expect sudden rainstorms during the day and continue raining into the night. On the Pacific side, you can get dry weather, but the mornings will be cloudy and in the afternoon it will start raining.
November: Still expect a good amount of rain in November throughout the country, although the weather starts transitioning to dry season. Still, you might see rain in the afternoons and nights with the coast having hard rain at night.
December: The beginning of December is very nice as the weather is becoming drier. But still, it can rain at the beginning of December. By the end of the month, you won’t really see a lot of rain. But you can expect wind throughout the Central Valley and North Pacific coast.
The best things to do in the rainy times because when life gives you rainy times, you play in the puddles
Fishing in Costa Rica is generally excellent to do in the rainy season, particularly when it comes to fish like tuna and mahi-mahi.
White water rafting and tubing are very popular and a whole lot of fun for people in the rainy season. But September through to November, it can get a bit hectic and tour companies will even cancel tours if the rivers are too full and looking a bit dangerous.
Coffee tours: The coffee harvesting season starts around September through to December/January. This gives you the chance to see the whole picking, separating, and processing procedure.
Museums: On a rainy afternoon in San Jose, you can visit the indoor museums and also the Central Market.
The rainy season in Costa Rica is also known as the “green season”
The rainy season is often characterized by sunny mornings and daily rain showers later in the afternoon. Often the weather even becomes a bit cooler even though the sun is shining.
The rainy season starts in May, building up to around September and October when Costa Rica is probably at its rainiest. The dry season experiences hot, dry weather. Around mid-July, there is a little mini type of summer break – called the “El veranillo de san Juan”.
The winter seems to have a break and you experience a bit of gorgeous summer-like weather then. Some people even like to travel to Costa Rica at this time to experience this perfect weather time in July.
Even though the rainy season does start in May, the rainy weather doesn’t really start until the end of the month. Thanksgiving week is quite popular for travel to Costa Rica for those who want to avoid the rain, and also keep prices a bit lower.
But to be honest, even when the weather is “freezing” as the Ticos will call it, and it is raining as well, still, the weather doesn’t get much lower than 60° F, which means a fleece jacket might be the warmest clothing you will need, and you might even be too hot.
Rain in Costa Rica and last 15 minutes or 15 hours!
If you are out and about in Costa Rica in the rainy season, always see that you have an umbrella as well as transportation. You will get to understand the rain patterns in the rainy season. Generally, the mornings aren’t rainy but it comes down in the afternoons – and the rain is generally always warm.
The rainy season has its advantages
Even though you can see a lot of wildlife in Costa Rica all year round, there are certain times when you get to witness natural phenomena’s that only happens during the rainy season, particularly the marine wildlife.
- A top scuba diving spot in Costa Rica in the Bat Islands is only accessible in the rainy weather; from May to November.
- Turtle viewing is best in the rainy season when a mass gathering of nesting turtles takes place in the rainy season.
- The Humpback whale season is at its best from August to September, the rainy months.
- The greenery is amazing to see in Costa Rica, obviously during the rainy season.
- The rivers and waterfalls are fuller in the rainy season and look exquisite at this time.
- The beaches are not nearly as crowded during the rainy season.
Conclusion
It’s true that most visitors want to see Costa Rica when it’s sunny and warm and summery, and the beaches are calling. However, there is something absolutely magical about the rainy season in Costa Rican too – some say it’s just like confetti falling from the sky – it makes you just happily revel in its beauty and splendor.