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Best time by region

Costa Rica has radically different microclimates in the same month. This grid shows dry/wet/transitional conditions, temperature ranges and brief notes for each region — month by month.

Dry season Transitional Wet season Mixed / variable

Guanacaste

Pacific Northwest — driest region
Dry 30–34°C
Dry 30–34°C
Dry 31–35°C
Dry 32–36°C
Transitional 29–33°C
Wet 27–31°C
Transitional 27–31°C
Wet 27–31°C
Wet 27–30°C
Wet 27–30°C
Transitional 28–32°C
Dry 29–33°C

Pacific Central

Manuel Antonio, Jacó, Quepos
Dry 27–31°C
Dry 27–32°C
Dry 28–33°C
Dry 29–33°C
Transitional 27–31°C
Wet 25–29°C
Transitional 25–29°C
Wet 25–29°C
Wet 25–28°C
Wet 25–28°C
Transitional 26–30°C
Dry 27–31°C

Pacific South

Uvita, Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula
Dry 27–31°C
Dry 27–31°C
Dry 28–32°C
Transitional 27–31°C
Wet 26–30°C
Wet 25–29°C
Wet 25–29°C
Wet 25–29°C
Wet 25–28°C
Wet 25–28°C
Transitional 26–30°C
Dry 26–30°C

Caribbean

Tortuguero, Puerto Viejo, Cahuita
Mixed 24–29°C
Mixed 24–29°C
Wet 25–30°C
Wet 25–30°C
Wet 26–30°C
Wet 26–30°C
Dry 25–30°C
Dry 25–30°C
Dry 25–29°C
Dry 25–29°C
Wet 25–29°C
Wet 24–29°C

Central Valley

San José, Cartago, Heredia, Alajuela
Dry 15–24°C
Dry 15–25°C
Dry 16–26°C
Transitional 16–25°C
Wet 16–24°C
Wet 15–23°C
Transitional 15–23°C
Wet 15–23°C
Wet 15–22°C
Wet 15–22°C
Transitional 15–23°C
Dry 15–24°C

Talamanca / Highlands

San Gerardo de Dota, Chirripó, Cerro de la Muerte
Dry 5–18°C
Dry 5–18°C
Dry 6–19°C
Dry 6–19°C
Transitional 5–17°C
Wet 5–16°C
Transitional 5–16°C
Wet 5–16°C
Wet 5–15°C
Wet 5–15°C
Transitional 5–16°C
Dry 5–17°C

Understanding the Pacific vs Caribbean inverse pattern

The most important thing to know: when it rains on the Pacific, it's often dry on the Caribbean, and vice versa. This is because the two coasts are separated by the continental divide (Cordillera Central and Talamanca). Trade winds from the Atlantic bring moisture year-round to the Caribbean side, while the Pacific is governed by the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone that moves north in boreal summer and south in boreal winter.

The veranillo (little summer) is a 1–2 week dry spell that occurs in the Pacific around late June to early July, interrupting the wet season. It's a great opportunity to visit if you've already committed to a June–July trip.

When to visit each region

For most travelers, December to April is the safest choice — it corresponds to the dry season on the Pacific, the most visited and infrastructure-rich coast. However, traveling in green season (May–November) has real advantages: 30–40% lower prices, fewer crowds, dramatically lusher landscapes and a genuine sense of discovery.

If your priority is the Caribbean coast — Tortuguero, Puerto Viejo, Cahuita — the best windows are September–October (dry for the Caribbean, even as it pours on the Pacific) and to a lesser extent February–March. Read the complete best time to visit Costa Rica guide for a full analysis by activity and budget.

Going to Guanacaste? See our Liberia destination guide for entry via LIR airport and the Guanacaste beach orientation guide.

Explore Costa Rica's national parks with expert local guides:

Rincón de la Vieja: one-day nature pass