There is no bad month to visit Costa Rica, only a month that does not match the trip you want. The same country that gives you clear skies and crowded beaches in February gives you lush rainforest, empty trails and lower prices in June, and its Caribbean coast is at its driest in September and October, exactly when the Pacific side is at its wettest. Pick the season around your plans, not the other way round.
Costa Rica was named the most desirable country in the world by Wanderlust readers at the 25th Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards in November 2026, and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute recorded 2,943,991 international arrivals in 2025. This guide explains the two seasons, the month by month pattern on each coast, the best months for wildlife, surfing and rafting, and what each season costs. For the money side of the same trip, see our Costa Rica trip cost breakdown, and for a route that fits the seasons, see our two week Costa Rica itinerary.
The Short Answer: When Is the Best Time to Visit Costa Rica?
For the most reliable sunshine on the Pacific coast, go between December and April, with March the driest and hottest month. For the best balance of decent weather, smaller crowds and lower prices, choose May, June or November. For the Caribbean coast, September and October are the driest and sunniest months. For the lowest prices anywhere in the country, September and October are also the cheapest, because they are the wettest months on the Pacific side.
That answer works because Costa Rica has two coasts with different weather, and the season that is best for a beach holiday in Guanacaste is not the season that is best for the Caribbean beaches near Puerto Viejo. The rest of this guide breaks the choice down by coast, by month and by activity.
Costa Rica Has Two Seasons, Not Four
Costa Rica has a dry season and a green season, not spring, summer, autumn and winter. The Costa Rica Tourism Board, known as the ICT, gives the dry season as mid-December to late April and the green season as May to mid-December. The national weather service, the IMN, describes the Pacific side slightly differently, with a dry season from December to March, April as a transition month, a rainy season from May to October and November as a transition month. The two calendars agree on the shape of the year, and the exact changeover moves a few weeks either way from year to year.
Temperatures stay steady all year, roughly 24 to 33 degrees Celsius on the coasts, so the difference between the seasons is rain, not heat. The country also has more than 20 microclimates, so a rainy afternoon in San Jose can sit beside a dry morning in Guanacaste. The practical rule is simple: plan around the coast you are visiting, not a single national calendar. Rain in the green season usually falls in the afternoon and early evening on the Pacific side, so mornings stay usable for walks, parks and beaches.
The Dry Season, December to April: Sun, Crowds and Peak Prices
The dry season is the classic Costa Rica holiday: clear skies, dry roads, full national parks and the busiest beaches. The Pacific coast is at its sunniest and driest, which makes these months the prime window for beach time, surfing and wildlife watching in the parks. Guanacaste, in the dry north west, gets the most reliable sunshine of all.
The trade off is crowds and cost. Christmas, New Year and Semana Santa, or Holy Week, are the peak weeks, and hotels and tours can fill up months ahead. Book tours at least three months ahead for the dry season, and four to six months ahead for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Popular parks, including Manuel Antonio and Poas, sell tickets online in advance and can sell out in high season, so book park tickets as soon as your dates are fixed.
The Green Season, May to November: Lush, Quieter and Cheaper
The green season is often misunderstood. It does not mean daylong rain. Mornings are usually bright, and showers arrive between about 2 pm and the evening, leaving the forest vivid green, the rivers full and the waterfalls at their strongest. The landscape is at its most alive in these months, and the trails are far quieter than in the dry season.
The green season also brings the best value. Hotel and lodge rates commonly run 30 to 40 percent below peak season prices, and flights are often cheaper too. The shoulder months of May, June and November offer the best balance of all: light to moderate rain, mostly clear mornings, thin crowds and prices below peak. A short drier pause called the veranillo, or little summer, often settles over the northern Pacific for three to four weeks in late July and early August. September and October are the wettest months on the Pacific side, and a few hotels and attractions in the south close completely in the autumn, so check opening dates before booking a trip in those months.
The Caribbean Coast Runs on a Different Calendar
The Caribbean coast does not follow the Pacific seasons, and this is the detail that catches most first time visitors out. The IMN says the Caribbean side has no well defined dry season, because even its least rainy months record 100 to 200 mm of rain. Instead it has two relatively dry spells, from February to March and from September to October, and two rainy periods, from November to January and from May to August.
That makes September and October the surprise sweet spot for the Caribbean coast. While the Pacific side is at its rainiest, the beaches around Puerto Viejo and Cahuita are often at their driest and sunniest. December is the rainiest month on the Caribbean side, so a Christmas trip should aim for the Pacific coast instead. If your trip mixes both coasts, February and March, or the September and October window, give you the best chance of good weather on both sides. The Caribbean coast also hosts Carnaval in Limon during the second full week of October, a lively Afro-Caribbean celebration of costumes and parades.
Month by Month: What Each Month Is Really Like
The table below summarises the pattern for the Pacific coast, where most first time visitors spend most of their trip, alongside the Caribbean coast and the crowd and price picture. Treat it as a planning guide, not a forecast, because the changeover weeks shift from year to year.
| Month | Pacific coast | Caribbean coast | Crowds and prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Dry, sunny and warm | Rainy, wettest period | High crowds, peak prices |
| February | Dry and sunny | Relatively dry spell | High crowds, peak prices |
| March | Driest and hottest | Relatively dry spell | High crowds, peak prices |
| April | Hot, transition to rain | Showers increasing | Busy, Semana Santa peak |
| May | Green season starts, afternoon showers | Rainy period begins | Crowds thin, prices drop |
| June | Sunny mornings, afternoon rain | Showers, some sun | Low crowds, good value |
| July | Veranillo, a drier pause | Rainiest spell peaks | Low crowds, good value |
| August | Veranillo continues, then rain returns | Showers easing late in the month | Low crowds, good value |
| September | Wettest month on the Pacific | Driest and sunniest | Lowest crowds and prices |
| October | Wettest month on the Pacific | Driest and sunniest, Carnaval in Limon | Lowest crowds and prices |
| November | Transition, rain easing | Rainy period starts | Low crowds, good value |
| December | Dry season returns | Rainiest month | Peak crowds over Christmas |
The Best Time to Visit Costa Rica for Wildlife, Surfing and Rafting
Wildlife watching runs all year, but the season changes what you are most likely to see. Humpback whales visit the Pacific coast twice a year: whales from the northern Pacific arrive from late December, and southern humpbacks move into the warmer Pacific waters in July. The Costa Rica Tourism Board lists turtle watching, whitewater rafting, whale and dolphin watching and hiking in Monteverde Cloud Forest among the green season activities, because the rivers are full and the forest is at its most active.
Rafting is at its best in the green season, when the rivers run full after the afternoon rain. In the dry season the same rivers are calmer and better suited to a first rafting trip. Surfing works year round, and which coast is best depends on the month, so check the local swell forecast for your dates rather than picking a season from a calendar. For beaches and water sports, the tourism board points to the dry season, and it names Puerto Viejo, Dominical, Uvita and Quepos among the best spots.
What Each Season Costs, and When to Book
Season is the single biggest lever on the cost of a Costa Rica trip. Green season hotel rates commonly run 30 to 40 percent below peak season prices, and the shoulder months of May, June and November capture most of that saving with far less rain than September and October. The full ranges are in our Costa Rica trip cost breakdown, which also covers flights, car hire, park fees and food. If the trip is a longer one, our Vietnam trip cost breakdown shows how a second long haul destination compares on the same budget.
Book early for the dry season and late for the green season. For dry season travel, book flights and hotels three to six months ahead, and earlier still for Christmas and New Year. For the green season, last minute deals are common, but book the popular parks and the best lodges ahead anyway, because the good ones still fill up. Flight prices move with the same seasons, so check our guide to the best time to book flights for the cheapest fares before you buy, and compare the total journey time as well as the price, because most UK routes connect through a hub.
Practical Checks Before You Fix Your Dates
Check the entry rules at the same time as the weather. British citizens can visit Costa Rica without a visa for up to 180 days under a tourist visa waiver, with the exact period set by the immigration officer on arrival, and passports must have an expiry date at least one day after the planned departure date. A departure tax of 29 US dollars applies when leaving by air, and it is usually included in the ticket price. Those are the rules in the GOV.UK entry requirements for Costa Rica, updated in May 2026, and they should be rechecked close to travel. Costa Rica also asks visitors to complete a free digital arrival card before arrival, so check the current requirement on the immigration portal, migracion.go.cr, before you travel, because the process is newer than many guides.
Buy travel insurance as soon as the trip is booked, and make sure it covers medical care, cancellation and the activities you actually plan to do, from rafting to zip lining. Our guide to what travel insurance actually covers explains the gaps that most often surprise travellers. Check vaccinations in good time with our travel vaccinations checklist, and run through the documents you need to travel abroad before you pack. The flight from the UK is long, so read our guide on how to beat jet lag and arrive ready for the first morning in the forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to visit Costa Rica?
For the driest weather on the Pacific side, March. For the best balance of weather, crowds and prices, late November, May or June. For the Caribbean coast, September or October.
Is Costa Rica good to visit in the rainy season?
Yes, for most travellers. Rain usually falls in the afternoon, mornings stay sunny, the forest is at its greenest, rivers are full for rafting, and prices are lower. September and October are the exception on the Pacific side, when rain is heaviest, but those are the best months on the Caribbean coast.
When is the cheapest time to visit Costa Rica?
September and October are the cheapest months, with the lowest crowds and prices. May, June and November are the better value choice for most people, because they combine lower prices with workable weather.
When is the rainy season in Costa Rica?
The green or rainy season runs from May to November on the Pacific side, with September and October the wettest months. The Caribbean coast runs on its own pattern, with its driest months in September and October and its rainiest months from November to January.
Do UK citizens need a visa for Costa Rica?
No. British citizens can visit without a visa for up to 180 days under a tourist visa waiver, with the exact stay set on arrival. Passports must be valid at least one day beyond the planned departure date, and the GOV.UK entry requirements should be checked before booking.
