One of the most common questions we get from people who are considering travelling to Costa Rica is “What is the weather like?”

Many people don’t realize that Costa Rica is a tropical country that lies close to the equator at 10 degrees longitude.

Actually, most people are surprised to hear that Costa Rica has just two main seasons. In fact, the weather is usually one of the contributing factors as to why many snowbirds and retirees spend so much time here!

The Weather in Costa Rica

Dry Season

Like the name suggests, the dry season is known as Costa Rica’s summer. Starting around November and ending in mid-April, the dry season is hot and sunny with little or no rain.

Temperatures in the dry season vary throughout the different regions of the country but are typically around the mid 20’s Celsius in the Central Valley and the San Jose area, 25 to 35° C in Guanacaste, and around 20-30° C for the Caribbean.

One thing to note about Costa Rica is that there are 12 distinct climate zones and a handful of micro-climates throughout the country due to the varying geographical features.

What the weather is in one town may not be the weather in another just 60 kilometers away. Due to this fact, the dry season may last longer in some parts of the country such as the Pacific coast province of Guanacaste as opposed to the Caribbean side where it can rain even in the dry months.

The dry season is also known as “High Season” as this is the time of year the majority of snowbirds and tourists visit Costa Rica. The hottest months are normally March through May. In Guanacaste, January and February will be blessed with the Papagayo Winds. This breeze helps to keep you cool as you walk along the beach.

Rainy Season

Costa Rica’s rainy season or “green” season runs from May to November. Yes, it does rain here but sometimes not as much as we would like! In fact, it can rain pretty hard during the green season especially in September and October and the average rainfall for the country can be as much as 250 cm but then again, it may not rain for days on end.

Temperatures dip down as low as 10° Celsius in the mountains and 25-29° on the Pacific Coast. It’s normal to have rain most afternoons but seldom does it rain for days on end even during the wettest months. Don’t be surprised if you hear thunderstorms or see lightning as both are common occurrences during the rainy season.

As mentioned earlier, the many different micro-climates in Costa Rica create variations of these two seasons throughout the country. The Caribbean has a hotter and more humid climate with no real defined dry season. Guanacaste has a shorter rainy season and the Central Valley is known as having the best weather in the country — an eternal spring!

Costa Rica is a small country with many different micro climates so make sure to research what the weather is like at your destination so you can pack appropriately! It doesn’t matter what time of year you plan to visit Costa Rica, you’ll be sure to find it an interesting place regardless of what the weather is doing outside.

The map is courtesy of: Wikipedia 

Roland and Nadene Tipper are Canadian citizens who have lived in Costa Rica since 2008. As professional real estate sales agents in the Playas del Coco area, they offer the best service possible by providing accurate and up to date information so that their clients can make an educated decision when it comes to buying real estate in Costa Rica. 

Their focus is on customer service from start to finish and beyond and the fact that their clients become great friends says a lot. 

For more information about Costa Rica condos for sale in the Playas del Coco area, please contact our Recommended Realtors in Playas del Coco Roland and Nadene Tipper using the simple form below: 

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.