December weather in Costa Rica: the complete guide
December in Costa Rica?
Dry season arrives on the Pacific coast — Guanacaste is sunny and warm by Christmas. The Caribbean coast is at its wettest. Peak season prices kick in from mid-December, with Christmas and New Year rates 50-80% above November. Book everything months ahead for the holiday period.
December in Costa Rica: dry season dawns, prices follow
December is two different trips depending on when you arrive. Show up in the first two weeks and you find improving Pacific coast conditions, genuinely uncrowded parks, and prices that are still within range of shoulder season. Arrive during Christmas week and you encounter the most expensive, most crowded fortnight of the Costa Rican tourism year — fully booked hotels at rates that can match Caribbean resort markets.
Both versions of December have their honest case. Early December is excellent value with good and improving weather. Late December delivers the best dry season conditions of the year paired with the steepest prices and the most logistical stress. This guide helps you navigate both.
Pacific north (Guanacaste) in December: the dry season arrives
Guanacaste’s dry season is underway by December. The transition from green season’s afternoon-shower pattern to dry season’s morning-sun-through-evening-clear pattern happens gradually through the month. By December 20-25, Tamarindo, Playa Conchal, Nosara, and Sámara are reliably dry for the majority of the day. Beach mornings are sunny and warm (30-33°C). Evenings are clear enough for sunset sailing.
The early December period (weeks 1-2) is still in transition. A brief late afternoon shower remains possible, particularly in the first two weeks. By weeks 3-4, Guanacaste’s dry season is fully established. Ocean conditions calm down compared to November, making catamaran trips, snorkelling at Catalina Islands, and beach swimming consistently enjoyable.
Playa Tamarindo: sunset sailing and snorkeling tour — from $95The logistical reality of late December in Guanacaste is unavoidable: it is the most in-demand destination in the country for the holiday period. Tamarindo, Playa Conchal, and the Papagayo Peninsula resorts fill completely for Christmas-New Year week. Rates at mid-range hotels jump 50-80% from November levels. A property that charges $120 per night in October lists at $280-350 in Christmas week. Budget travellers who have not pre-booked by October may find limited options in peak Guanacaste.
If you are booking December Guanacaste, especially for Christmas or New Year, the lead time is 2-3 months minimum for the best properties. Some popular mid-range hotels at Tamarindo and Nosara sell out for Christmas as early as August.
Central Pacific in December: wildlife and improving conditions
Manuel Antonio National Park in December is one of the most reliable destinations of the month. The park’s resident wildlife — sloths, squirrel monkeys, white-faced capuchins, coatis, agoutis, and iguanas — is active year-round and December is no exception. Visitor numbers begin rising from December 15, and by Christmas week the park manages crowds through a timed-entry reservation system that limits daily visitors.
Manuel Antonio NP: guided tour with entrance fee included — from $60December rainfall at Manuel Antonio is meaningfully lower than October-November. The Central Pacific has its own transition into dry season, somewhat lagging Guanacaste — expect occasional brief afternoon showers in early December, shifting to mostly dry conditions by late December. Beach days at Manuel Antonio beach (inside the park) and Biesanz Beach (adjacent, quieter) are enjoyable from the third week of December onward.
Quepos as a base for Manuel Antonio is worth considering in December. The town is less price-inflated than the park-facing hotel strip and puts you close enough to catch early opening at the park gates. Reservations for Manuel Antonio park entry are essential in December — the park sells out for Christmas week and New Year week well in advance through the SINAC booking system.
Southern Pacific in December: drying slowly, whale season building
The Osa Peninsula takes longer to transition into dry season than Guanacaste. December rainfall in Drake Bay and around Corcovado is still significant in the first half of the month — 150-250 mm is possible. Road conditions to remote Osa locations improve through December but may remain challenging in early weeks.
By late December, the Southern Pacific begins showing early dry season characteristics. Drake Bay and Uvita see improving conditions for Caño Island snorkelling and Pacific boat tours. Caño Island — one of the best snorkelling sites in Central America, with pelagic fish, sea turtles, and nurse sharks — is most accessible in January-April dry season but becomes viable in late December as swells ease.
December is significant for whale watching at Marino Ballena. The northern hemisphere humpback population — a different group from the July-October southern hemisphere whales — begins arriving in December. These are whales from Hawaiian and Mexican Pacific breeding grounds that travel to Costa Rica’s warm southern Pacific waters. Early December sightings of northern hemisphere humpbacks begin occurring, with the season building through January-March. This makes December whale watching possible and increasingly rewarding as the month progresses.
Whale & dolphin watching in Uvita — from $75Caribbean coast in December: genuinely very wet
The Caribbean coast in December is at peak wet season. This is the critical planning fact that most end-of-year Costa Rica itineraries ignore. Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, and the Limón province receive their heaviest rainfall of the year in November-December. Monthly totals in December can reach 300-400 mm or more in Puerto Viejo, with sustained multi-day rain events rather than just afternoon showers.
Beach days on the Caribbean in December are unreliable. Cahuita reef snorkelling — one of the Caribbean’s headline activities — is affected by freshwater runoff and poor visibility in December. Manzanillo beach and Punta Uva are less enjoyable in sustained rain than in September-October’s dry window.
This does not make Tortuguero impossible in December — the canal boat tours operate year-round, the wildlife is present, and the dramatic rainy season jungle is atmospheric in its own way. But a Caribbean-focused December holiday expecting beach conditions will likely be disappointed. Redirect to the Pacific in December; save the Caribbean for September-October.
La Fortuna and Arenal in December: reliable and popular
La Fortuna in December sees the beginning of high-season visitor flow, particularly after December 15. The Arenal area is one of the most popular Christmas week destinations — the combination of hot springs, volcano views, and wildlife-rich rainforest suits families and couples alike. Nayara Springs and Tabacón Resort are fully booked for Christmas week months in advance; mid-range options like Arenal Manoa and Arenal Observatory Lodge fill up quickly.
December weather at La Fortuna involves continued rainfall — the Arenal area receives year-round rain due to its position at the Caribbean-Pacific climatic boundary — but morning conditions often provide the clearest views of the volcano (when it is not in cloud). The La Fortuna Waterfall remains a major draw in December with good flow from months of accumulated rain. Hot springs are optimal in any weather.
Booking for La Fortuna over Christmas should happen by September-October. The gap between November pricing and late-December pricing is real: a hotel charging $180 per night in mid-November may list at $320-380 for December 24-31.
Monteverde in December: cloud forest as Christmas backdrop
Monteverde in December has a quietly spectacular quality that its reputation does not fully capture. The cloud forest’s mist and cool temperatures (14-20°C) create an unexpected contrast with Costa Rica’s tropical identity. December visitor numbers in Monteverde are high, but the town of Santa Elena absorbs crowds more gracefully than coastal resort areas.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve both require advance reservation in December. Christmas week sees full capacity at popular guided tours and the suspension bridge parks. Book cloud forest hikes and hanging bridges visits 2-3 weeks ahead minimum for Christmas week.
What December delivers in Monteverde that other months do not: the combination of pre-Christmas atmosphere in the town (Santa Elena has restaurants and shops with local Christmas decorations) with a cloud forest landscape at its most dramatically atmospheric. The mist is thick, waterfalls are running, and if you time a morning hike right, occasional clearing reveals the Gulf of Nicoya in the distance — one of the most memorable views in the country.
Dry forest reawakening: December Guanacaste wildlife
An underappreciated December wildlife story is the dry forest reawakening as Guanacaste’s rains stop. The tropical dry forest — which is the dominant ecosystem of Guanacaste and found in few other places on Earth at this latitude — sheds leaves as the dry season begins. The process is counterintuitive: trees go dormant and leafless as the rain stops, exposing what was hidden canopy and making wildlife dramatically more visible.
By late December, the Guanacaste dry forest landscape transforms: trees that were thick-leafed green canopy in October are now open, leafless, and showing fruit and flowers that attract birds and mammals. Monkeys moving through leafless branches are visible from 200 metres. White-tailed deer, peccaries, and coatis become easier to spot in open forest. The dry-forest wildlife viewing window — December through March — is genuinely different from the green-season hiding game.
Rincón de la Vieja National Park in December is excellent for this reason. The Las Pailas trail through the volcanic landscape and the adjacent dry forest circuits reward December visitors with wildlife that is invisible in November’s dense foliage.
Cerro Chirripó in December: dry season climbing begins
December is the first month of the viable climbing season for Cerro Chirripó, Costa Rica’s highest peak at 3,821 metres. The Chirripó trail is officially open year-round, but the summit ridge is genuinely cold and wet in green season. December’s arrival of drier conditions makes the ascent more manageable, though highland nights at the Crestones Base Camp (3,400 metres) still drop to 3-8°C year-round.
Permits for Chirripó are limited (50 people per day ascending) and must be reserved through SINAC’s booking system. For December, particularly the holiday period, permits are reserved weeks in advance. If Chirripó is on your list, plan the permit well ahead — the Sinac.go.cr system opens reservations several months out.
Accommodation and pricing in December
December has the country’s sharpest in-month pricing variation:
| Period | Budget/person/day | Mid-range | Comfort | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1-14 | $42-62 | $90-140 | $165-270 | $300-550+ |
| Dec 15-23 | $55-75 | $120-180 | $220-350 | $400-700+ |
| Dec 24 - Jan 1 | $65-90 | $150-220 | $280-450 | $500-900+ |
Christmas week and New Year represents the peak of Costa Rica’s tourism pricing — comparable to or exceeding European resort peak periods. Budget travellers who must travel in Christmas week should book early, consider staying in San José or Alajuela (much cheaper than resort destinations) and day-tripping, and be realistic that the Costa Rica of November deals simply does not exist between December 24 and January 2.
December itinerary strategy
For early December (Dec 1-14) — value combined with improving conditions:
Days 1-3: La Fortuna — hot springs, waterfall, hanging bridges Days 4-5: Monteverde — cloud forest reserve, night hike, bird watching Days 6-8: Guanacaste (Tamarindo or Nosara) — beach days improving, sunset sailing Days 9-10: San José — Orosi Valley, Doka coffee tour, Irazú Volcano
For Christmas week (Dec 22-Jan 1) — book everything in advance:
Days 1-3: Guanacaste dry season beaches — Tamarindo, Conchal, or Papagayo Peninsula Days 4-6: La Fortuna — hot springs Christmas atmosphere; Nayara and Tabacón are popular for Christmas specifically Days 7-9: Manuel Antonio — wildlife park + beach; reserve park entry in advance Day 10: Return San José
What to pack for December
Early December packing mirrors late green season:
- Waterproof layer for the first two weeks on the Pacific
- Quick-dry clothes for everything
Late December is dry season packing:
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for Guanacaste heat (30-33°C daytime)
- Sunscreen — the dry season Pacific sun is strong
- Light jacket for Monteverde and La Fortuna evenings (cool year-round)
- Reef-safe sunscreen for snorkelling (Caño Island and Guanacaste reefs)
- Advance-printed or digital copies of all park reservations (Manuel Antonio, Chirripó, Monteverde)
Frequently asked questions about December weather in Costa Rica
When does dry season actually start?
In Guanacaste, dry season typically establishes itself by December 20-25. The Central Pacific (Manuel Antonio, Quepos) transitions slightly later, with reliable dry conditions by late December. The Southern Pacific (Osa, Uvita) transitions in January. The Central Valley and highlands have year-round rain but reduced frequency in dry season. The Caribbean coast does not have a December-April dry season — it runs opposite.
Is it worth visiting Costa Rica for Christmas?
If you value sun, beaches, and Costa Rica’s natural setting for a Christmas trip, yes — but the price is real. The dry season Guanacaste Christmas experience (sunny beach mornings, warm evenings, good restaurants) is genuinely appealing. Accept that you are paying peak-season rates, book 2-3 months ahead, and the experience delivers. If you are price-sensitive, early December or January after New Year drops significantly and offers essentially the same dry season conditions.
What is the weather like on New Year’s in Costa Rica?
New Year in Guanacaste is typically beautiful — dry season is established and December 31 often sees clear skies. Tamarindo has a recognised beach party scene on New Year’s Eve. La Fortuna’s hot springs fill with festive visitors. San José has Central Valley New Year celebrations in the city centre. Temperatures in Guanacaste on New Year’s are typically 28-32°C in the day, 22-25°C in the evening.
Can I see the northern hemisphere humpback whales in December?
Early December sightings are possible but not guaranteed. The northern hemisphere season builds through January-March, with December being the arrival period. A whale watching trip from Uvita in December has a reasonable but not high probability of encountering humpbacks. By January and February, encounter rates are much higher. If whale watching is the primary goal, January-March is a better window than December. See our Uvita guide for full seasonal context.
Is the Caribbean completely off-limits in December?
Not completely — Tortuguero canal tours run year-round, and the wildlife observation is excellent regardless of Caribbean rain. But beach-focused Caribbean holidays in December are genuinely challenging: Puerto Viejo and Cahuita receive 300-400 mm in December. The reef snorkelling at Cahuita is poor visibility in December rain season. If the Caribbean is calling you, September-October is the right window. December visitors to Costa Rica are better served by the Pacific side.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Costa Rica?
Early December (weeks 1-2) offers improving Pacific conditions at prices still close to green season. From December 15 onwards, Costa Rica enters its most expensive fortnight of the year, with prices at Christmas and New Year comparable to peak European resort markets. If your dates are flexible, early December gives the best combination of improving dry season conditions and manageable costs.
Where to go in December?
Guanacaste (Tamarindo, Playa Conchal, Nosara) delivers the classic dry season experience by Christmas — sunny mornings, warm evenings, calm sea. Manuel Antonio works well throughout December for wildlife. La Fortuna and Monteverde are year-round destinations that handle December visitors smoothly. Avoid the Caribbean coast, which is at peak wet season in December.
What about rain in December?
Guanacaste transitions into dry season through December: the first two weeks can still see occasional afternoon showers, but by Christmas the region is reliably sunny. Manuel Antonio and the Central Pacific are drier in December than October-November. The Southern Pacific (Osa) takes longer to dry out. The Caribbean coast is at its wettest: December averages 300-400+ mm in Puerto Viejo.
How much does it cost?
December has two pricing phases. Early December (weeks 1-2): green season to shoulder pricing, $45-65 per day budget, $95-150 mid-range. From December 15: peak season pricing applies — $60-80 budget, $140-200 mid-range, $250-400+ comfort. Christmas week and New Year are highest: boutique hotels that charge $120 in November charge $280-400 in late December.
What about wildlife in December?
December is the start of northern hemisphere humpback whale season off the Pacific coast — Uvita is a good base for early sightings. Dry forest in Guanacaste reawakens as rain stops: deciduous trees lose leaves and wildlife becomes more visible in the increasingly open canopy. Resplendent quetzals at San Gerardo de Dota begin pre-nesting behaviour. Cahuita reef is best avoided in December due to Caribbean rain runoff.