Best time to visit Costa Rica

The best time to visit Costa Rica is Dec–Mar. Month by month, the verdicts rate Dec–Feb as comfortable on both daytime heat and rainfall — 3 months in all.

Summer wet season

Best window
Dec–Mar
Driest month
March · 18% rainy days
Warmest month
March · 31.3°C / 88°F
Coolest month
October · 25.7°C / 78°F
Months rated go
3 of 12

Month by month

Monthly climate normals for Costa Rica, 1991–2020
MonthHigh °CHigh °FRainy daysVerdict
January28.08223%Go
February29.58519%Go
March31.38818%Fair
April31.38836%Fair
May28.98469%Too wet
June27.18176%Too wet
July27.18169%Too wet
August27.08173%Too wet
September26.48081%Too wet
October25.77880%Too wet
November26.37965%Too wet
December27.18137%Go

Verdict combines mean daytime high with rainy-day frequency. “Rainy days” is the share of days in the month with at least 1 mm of rain.

What the numbers say

March is the driest month, with rain on 18% of days and daytime highs near 31.3°C (88°F). September is the wettest, at 81%. The warmest month is March at 31.3°C (88°F); the coolest is October at 25.7°C (78°F). The record rules out too wet in May–Nov.

Where else to go