What will the weather be like in Costa Rica when I get there?

Is a frequent question posed by most visitors coming to Costa Rica.

The short answer is “it depends”.  It depends on when you are traveling and where you are going. Costa Rica is home to many different micro-climates which means the weather in one valley can differ from another as little as several kilometers away.

To break it down we we’ll start with the two major weather season.
The Dry Season and the Green Season.
The Dry Season is considered to be from about December to April.
The Green Season runs from May through November.

The Dry Season, as it is called, tends to be accompanied by little rainfall and sunny skies. As a result, temperatures tend to be a bit warmer as a result.

The Green Season tends to start in May and peaks at the end of September/October before dropping in November as trade winds shift.

While Costa Rica can get a lot of rain at this time of year most mornings tend to be sunny with rainfall normally appearing in the late afternoons. While it may rain for a day or so in the Green Season, depending on where you are, it is not common temperatures.

Costa Rica is blessed with a wide variety of geography so temperatures can vary significantly. Generally speaking if you are on the coast you should expect warm temperatures that vary from the upper 70’s to the high 80’s. (F) (25-30 C) As you travel higher in elevation the temperatures tend to drop the higher you go.  In the capital city of San Jose temperatures can vary from the mid 50’s to mid 70’s.
(F) (14-24C) Again, depending on the time of year.

No matter when you visit Costa Rica you should always expect the unexpected when it comes to the weather. You may experience several days of no rain in the Green Season and it is also not uncommon to have a brief downpour in the Dry Season. Most Costa Ricans enjoy the weather no matter the season. Both provide a wide variety of activities and it all contributes the unique beauty that Costa Rica offers.