Costa Rica is and has been a top destination for travel in 2022 and will continue to grow in 2023. Knowing when to go is a hard question as there are two seasons that both have pros and cons. Our favorite is the green season which also means the Costa Rica rainy season.
Guanacaste is the only province in Costa Rica that has a dry jungle and for part of the year it does not rain and most of the jungle and surrounding areas go brown. With higher heat and less jungle around, we anticipate the rain to come in mid-May. The first rains of the season clean out all the dust, debris, and more and everyone gets excited to see the jungle turn back to green!
Costa Rica’s green season usually lasts until the end of November. During this time of the year, you will see an increase in rainfall and cooler evenings & mornings. Most locals actually prefer this time of the year and we want to share with you our top perks of Costa Rica’s green season.
Costa Rica rainy season
Fewer Crowds
May to November is not the peak season for tourism which will mean you will enjoy less crowded towns, tours, activities, beaches, & surf. Head out and surf and don’t be worried about the normal crowds in Tamarindo, Grande, or surrounding surf breaks.
Restaurants will also have fewer people. This allows you to know you will most likely always have a table open for you and can take your time to dine and be social. Vacation rentals & hotels will have fewer people which will be nice for laying out by the pool, enjoying swims, and having your own space to do whatever you want! Sounds great, right?!
Better Prices
Since the green/rainy season months are not peak times to arrive in Costa Rica you will normally find lower prices, promotions, and discounts on everything. From lodging to tours to restaurants you will better deals during these months.
Ask us about our favorite deals in town. We can provide you with our favorite eats and work with the tour operators that are looking to give deals and amazing experiences. Who doesn’t love to save some money on vacation!?
Scuba Diving Season
Mid-May thru December is the best diving month in Costa Rica. You will find the waters calm, the wind dies down, and better visibility. Due to the abundance of nutrients in the waters during these months, you will see more wildlife come out to eat and cruise around. Also, you will find fewer currents during the rainy season which is comforting. Reach out to us for more info!
Costa Rica scuba diving
Greener Surroundings & More Wildlife
With more rain comes greener jungles and surrounding areas. Go for morning walks in the jungle, or afternoon hikes looking down on the beautiful views, or find the picturesque view that shows the ocean and jungle meet one another during these months. With more rain, the jungle offers greener surroundings and more food for the animals. You will see monkeys out eating more, birds talking, and more wildlife on the ground.
Nature is in full bloom too! You will see trees grow out their branches and beautiful flowers appear. This is a great time to take a hike and watch for birds, deer, and more! With more green surroundings you will also find slightly cooler evenings and mornings!
Costa Rica rainy season
Epic Sunsets
One of the best times of day is sunset. That golden hour that allows you to sit back and take in the beauty of the hour and day is a big hit for most people. During the rainy season, you will see more clouds in the sky which lead to epic sunsets and afterglows.
Sunsets will give you a show from start to finish and more. Enjoy the sunset with a variety of colors from the clouds and then once it descends get ready for more! Most days when the sun sets in the rainy season you will see everything turn to bright reds and pinks looking like the sky is on fire. Then slowly as this dies down you will see pink and purple cotton candy clouds and more! It is quite the show and one worth the wait!
Costa Rica Tamarindo sunset
Doesn’t Rain All Day (most of the time)
When you hear about the rainy season in Costa Rica you may think oh it will rain every day and all day. However, that is not the truth it may not rain at all during the day or rain in the morning leaving you with the afternoon full of sunshine or vice versa. Either way as soon as the rain stops the weather is warm and the sunshine is most likely out. When picking what month to visit and you do want to stay away from the rain then do not come in October as that is normally the rainiest month.
Also, with more rain, you will see more waterfalls emerge and the not-so-small ones will be surging with water! Be careful with the power behind these falls but enjoy the beauty that emerges.
Costa Rica rainy season
Whale Watching & Turtle Season
Humpback Whales migrate up to Costa Rica from the South in July and leave around November. This leaves 5 months of excellent whale watching time! You will see them cruise up and down the coast in pods. Want more information? Contact us about whale watching tours at Las Catalina Islands.
It is also turtle season where they come to nest in July and August and then 2 months later they hatch! You can see thousands of them arrive on Ostional Beach and then see the eggs hatch and thousands of babies head out to sea for their new journey! There are five species of sea turtles – olive ridleys, leatherbacks, loggerheads, hawksbills, and green sea turtles. Contact us for more information on turtle tours.
Costa Rica whale watching
With all these amazing things that happen during the rainy season, how could you not want to visit? Just make sure to be prepared and pack some waterproof gear, bug spray, and tennis shoes.
There are so many fun activities to try and experience during these months that it may be overwhelming. Reach out to the Wonder Away team and we are happy to give you our top recommendations! We can assist with planning your trip from start to finish and book your accommodations for you too!
If you come down and find more clouds than you thought you can always volunteer. We work with several organizations that need assistance. From cleaning the beaches to working with wildlife and improving people’s lives there is something for everyone here! And some chores are easier to do under a cloudy sky! Don’t hesitate to ask!