Costa Rica will get a short break from widespread rain this weekend before Tropical Wave No. 10 moves in on Sunday and raises the chance of downpours across several regions. Today and tomorrow are expected to bring the best weather window of the weekend, especially along the Pacific coast and in the Central Valley.
Reduced humidity will limit rainfall in many areas and push temperatures higher, with the hottest spots climbing into the mid-30s Celsius, or mid-90s Fahrenheit. Mornings should be mostly clear to partly cloudy across much of the Pacific slope and the Central Valley, giving beachgoers, hikers and travelers a decent start to the day. Afternoon cloudiness will still build, as it usually does during the rainy season, but showers are expected to be more isolated through Saturday.
Guanacaste and the north Pacific should see some of the driest and hottest conditions of the weekend. Tamarindo, Playas del Coco, Nosara and nearby beach towns should have good morning and midday conditions, with strong sun and high heat. Anyone spending time outdoors should plan for sun protection and hydration, especially between late morning and midafternoon.
The Central Pacific, including Jacó, Herradura, Quepos and Manuel Antonio, should follow a familiar green-season pattern. Mornings will offer the best window for beach time, tours and national park visits, while isolated afternoon showers remain possible. Conditions become more unsettled by Sunday.
In the Central Valley, including here in San José, Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago, Friday and Saturday should bring warm mornings with partly cloudy afternoons. Isolated showers or thunderstorms may develop later in the day, but the more widespread rain threat arrives Sunday afternoon and evening.
The change comes Sunday, when Tropical Wave No. 10 is forecast to enter Costa Rica. The Caribbean coast, including Limón, Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo, may see rain from the morning hours. By the afternoon, downpours and thunderstorms are expected to increase across the Northern Zone, the Central Valley and the Pacific slope.
For La Fortuna, Arenal and the Northern Zone, Sunday looks like the more complicated travel day. Afternoon storms could affect outdoor tours, road conditions and visibility, especially in areas near rivers, mountains and rural routes.
Those heading between San José and the Pacific coast should try to get longer drives done earlier in the day, particularly on Sunday. Heavy afternoon rain can quickly slow traffic, reduce visibility and create ponding on roads, especially in mountainous stretches and near construction zones.
The weekend is not expected to be a total washout, but the timing matters. Friday and Saturday favor early plans and beach travel, while Sunday calls for more caution, especially for afternoon tours, long drives and outdoor activities in rain-prone areas. If you’re getting away this weekend, make the most of the drier start, carry a rain layer anyway, and treat Sunday as the day most likely to bring the classic rainy-season punch.
For daily updates before you head out, check our Costa Rica Weather Forecast page
