RAINY/GREEN SEASON: THE BEST MONTHS TO VISIT COSTA RICA?
If you dream of gorgeous sunsets, green landscapes, and lush scenery on vacation, then you’re dreaming of the best months to visit Costa Rica – the green season. (Surprise!)
When you think of the best months to visit Costa Rica, the answer largely depends on you. What do you seek from your time in Costa Rica? When do you have vacation time? What do you want to do while you’re here? These questions will determine your best season to visit Costa Rica.
So, first things first: Costa Rica’s rainy season officially runs from April/May through November. At least, it does in Guanacaste (that’s northwestern Costa Rica, where Tamarindo is located). It flip-flops along the Caribbean coast, goes rogue around Arenal, and doesn’t always follow its own rules, depending on the year’s weather patterns. (Rains can begin in April some years and in others, April will be all dry and sunny!)
But, generally speaking, the green season begins in mid-to-late-April and ends somewhere around mid-November. Anywhere within that range, you can expect great deals, gorgeous landscapes, and plenty of sunshine. No, that’s not a typo. Please read on:
IT DOESN’T RAIN ALL DAY!
When it comes to planning travel, most people skip the green season out of fear that it’ll rain all day, every day. So, take heart: All-day rain is very uncommon. In Guanacaste, specifically, it’s almost unheard of. Throughout most of the green season, you’ll luxuriate in gorgeous, sunny mornings and anything from occasional to consistent afternoon rains. (Here in the northwest Pacific, you can expect anything from zero to a couple of hours of rain most days.)
The rule of thumb: If you visit during the shoulder season (April/May and November), you’ll have better chances at all-day (or most-of-the-day) sunshine. By contrast, the months of September and October are the rainiest here in Guanacaste.
THE CROWDS ARE FEWER
If you crave a Costa Rica that feels a little more “all yours” than “all ours,” then welcome to the green season! Those travelers who avoid the green season (see above)? They make Costa Rica all yours: quieter beaches, uncrowded parks, hardly anyone at the waterfalls…
Tip: If your goal is to avoid the crowds, know that there are two mini peak seasons within the green season: during the first two weeks of July and in mid-September, Costa Rica’s schools go on break and Costa Ricans go to the beach.
THE GREEN IS GLORIOUS
When you think of Costa Rica, what does your mind’s eye see? We’re betting you envision landscapes swathed in emerald-hued rainforests and lush tropical plantings. And we’re here to tell you that your vision belongs to the green season.
The dry season is so named because it doesn’t rain. It is dry – not just the weather, but the scenery. That means you won’t find the landscape as green or the waterfalls as full (some even run dry). Everything comes alive (literally) in the green season. So, if you’re here for the foliage and the panoramas and the exotic everything, then the green season really does represent your best months to visit Costa Rica.
THERE ARE GREAT DEALS
We’ll be frank: You won’t have any negotiating power during the dry/high season months. But in the green season, you’ll have access to lower prices and a bit of room for negotiation on tours and (maybe) certain services.
IT’S TURTLE + HUMPBACK WHALE-WATCHING SEASON!
If all of the above is not quite enough to convince you that the green season encompasses several of the best months to visit Costa Rica, then consider that these months are also the best for sea turtle and whale-watching: both are migrating and nesting/birthing, which means that your chances of seeing both are significantly improved.
WHAT ARE YOUR BEST MONTHS TO VISIT COSTA RICA?
For many of us, the best months to travel are the months we have free – footloose, off of work, and free from school. So, let us know: What are your personal best months to visit Costa Rica?
We’re happy to help. At Luxury Villas Costa Rica, we have two specialties: homes at and on the best beaches in Guanacaste, and you. Yes, you. Because a great vacation is rooted in heart – in what you hope to get out of your travels. So please, tell us why (and when) you’ve chosen Costa Rica. If you only know when you’ll be here and don’t yet know exactly where you want to go, we can help. We love to help.
Cris, our complimentary concierge, will be in touch soon. Until then, feel free to peruse our Costa Rica destinations. Dream a little (and a lot). And then, get in touch! We look forward to it.