A guide to weather in Costa Rica
Costa Rica isn’t too far north of the equator, meaning that the weather here stays warm all year around. It’s one of the reasons why tourists flock to Costa Rica every year and throughout all seasons. As a tropical country, Costa Rica is also a destination that receives plenty of the exotic rainfall you’d normally associate with places like the Caribbean.
Luckily, if you know when to go and what to expect, you can either avoid the rainy season or take advantage of its cooler climes, depending on your preference. The rainy season in Costa Rica extends between May to November, with December to April forming a drier summer.
At the broadest level, an average 25°C throughout the year is a good figure to plan your trip from. Furthermore, although Costa Rica is a narrow nation, it still has a few differences between its various regions that are worth bearing in mind. It’s also a country with big differences in elevation from one area to another, which can affect temperatures. Luckily, it’s not all as complex as it sounds, as we explain here.
Eastern Costa Rica
The weather around the eastern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is dependably warm and inviting year round. Temperatures average at 26°C, with lows of 20°C in January. You can expect the thermometer to frequently surpass 30°C throughout the year though, especially in August.
Those looking to visit this part of the country in June and July should expect plenty of tropical rainfall. As a result, many visitors to Costa Rica’s eastern coast choose to visit in March and April, when temperatures are nice and high, yet the rainy season is far from sight.
Central Costa Rica and San Jose
In the centre of Costa Rica is its capital, San Jose. This is a beautiful, culturally rich city that’s well worth visiting during your adventures. Because it’s away from the coast and snug in the heartlands, March and April enjoy temperatures in excess of 30°, while the coldest months in the city lean towards September through to December. Rainfall in San Jose peaks between August and October.
Western Costa Rica
Although it has an eastern shoreline that kisses the dulcet sea of the Caribbean, many of the most popular parts of Costa Rica, such as Playa Tamarindo and the wider Guanacaste region, face the Pacific Ocean. If anything, that makes the western shoreline of Costa Rica even hotter than the rest of the country, with temperatures frequently closing in on 30°C even in the most conventionally cool months.
Similarly to other parts of the country, rainfall in western Costa Rica is at its highest in September and October. Although temperatures in March often reach the mid-thirties °C, a good number of visitors to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica opt for a sublime springtime trip.