Best time to visit Costa Rica - When to travel to Costa Rica?

Costa Rica climate

Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica is located in Central America. On the almost 51,180 km² one discovers besides the 5 million inhabitants, which call Costa Rica their home, from tropical rainforests to endless white sandy beaches, hidden waterfalls and a unique biodiversity. However, this diversity is not only reflected in this, but also in the different climate that can be found in Costa Rica.

Due to the fact that Costa Rica is located in the tropical to subtropical climate zone, the year is not divided into seasons like in Germany, but into rainy and dry seasons. So if you are planning a trip to the country with the life motto Pura Vida, you should consider the best time to travel in any case, depending on what you have in mind.

Rainy season travel

The rainy season is from May to November, with small, drier periods between May and July, so this time is still suitable for traveling. In addition, it also does not rain during the entire rainy season, but there can be sustained rains lasting several days around the summer-autumn turn. This can lead to flooded rivers and roads, as well as muddy and inaccessible places and paths. Otherwise, the often waterfall-like rains outside the summer-autumn turn begin at midday and usually last a few hours.

The rainy season is especially exciting with blooming nature, lush greenery, dense foliage and plants that shine in a variety of colors. Due to the fact that the rainy season belongs to the low season, the cost of many activities are cheaper and nature parks and beaches are less crowded. 

Dry season travel

On the coast there are much higher temperatures than in the highlands. In the German winter time it is about 28°C degrees in Costa Rica and in principle it is suitable to travel Costa Rica all year round (yes, also in the rainy season), even if it can come to occasional, short rain showers in the dry season between December and April. The dry season provides pleasant, sunny temperatures up to 30°C degrees and brings many advantages: due to the dry air, there are fewer insects in the areas and the visibility under water is clearer, as the sea is less agitated, so that divers and snorkelers also get their money's worth.

Travel to Costa Rica's climate zones

Even though the weather in Costa Rica is divided into rainy and dry seasons, different climatic zones can be found depending on the altitude.

The climate sea, also Tierra cliente is always humid throughout the year: hot and humid. The temperatures on the Caribbean coast are around 25 °C and 27 °C degrees all year round, while it does not cool down below 20 °C degrees at night, so that there are pleasant temperatures all year round. If you want to experience the most hours of sunshine, you should travel between March and April, because you experience the most in these months, and the least in July. In contrast, the Pacific coast is known to be even warmer. Here, the thermometer likes to rise above 40 °C degrees. Here, however, the southern Pacific region is somewhat colder and also rainier. 

The higher you get, the colder it gets. In the Tierra templada, the temperate climate zone, temperatures are around 14 °C and 18 °C degrees up to 2,300 meters above sea level.

In the mountains of Costa Rica, the Tierra fría, temperatures up to the altitude meters 3,300 m fluctuate throughout the year between 10 °C and 14 °C degrees. 

Conclusion

An average temperature of 23°C degrees and the most hours of sunshine during winter time? This can only be found in Costa Rica. A vacation in Costa Rica is worthwhile at any time of the year. However, you should consider the rainy and dry season if you want to see the diverse landscape and wild animals.

Are you interested in getting to know and experiencing the colorful nature and exciting culture of Costa Rica? Then come with us on our Costa Rica Round Trip. We are looking forward to seeing you!

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