How to Score Good Weather (While Paying Rainy Season Rates) in Costa Rica

Rock the Shoulder Season

If December through April is the high season, and August, September, and October are the rainiest months, then the rest of the year is what you could call Costa Rica’s sweet spot. 

At most hotels, low season rates kick in from May to November. And yet, the real, honest-to-wetness rainy season doesn’t magically commence come May 1. So, aim for the two extremes: May and November, when the rains have just begun (May) or are tapering off (November). Weather, of course, is an unpredictable thing, but generally speaking, both May and November see only occasional rains and, when it does rain, it’s often only for an hour or two a day. In other words, book during these months and, unless you get hit with unseasonal weather, you’ll probably only see a few hours of rainfall during your vacation. 

Choose Your Destination Wisely

Shoulder season isn’t the only way to snag good weather at great rates. There are two basic methods of choosing a green season locale: 

• Option 1: Visit destinations where it’s wet year-round. After all, why pay high-season rates if it’s going to rain anyway? 
• Option 2: Dodge the heaviest rains by heading into the drier regions of Costa Rica.

Here are five of our green-season favorites.

1. Arenal / La Fortuna

Arenal and La Fortuna don’t see much more rain than any other area of the country, but if you’re going to visit the “adventure capitol of Costa Rica,” you’re going to get wet. Whitewater rafting, waterfall rappelling, river tubing, cave spelunking, hot springs — Arenal adventures revolve around water, no matter the season. 

Hotel Pick:

2. The Osa Peninsula

Tucked into the southwestern corner of the country, the ever-rainy rainforest of the Osa Peninsula is one of the most biodiverse places on earth. Endangered species abound — among them, Central American squirrel monkeys, Baird’s tapir, jaguars, and white-lipped peccary — and tropical plant life thrives in this wet, wild wonderland. What’s more, if you’re interested in whale-watching, humpback whales migrate here every July to November. Take that, high season. 

Hotel Pick:

3. Monteverde

Like the Osa’s rainforest, the cloud forests of Monteverde — the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Santa Elena Cloud Forest, Children’s Eternal Rainforest, and several others — all rely on year-round moisture. And trust us, the rain is totally worth it. Monteverde is one of the world’s greenest, most magical places — epiphyte-laden everything and emerald forests dotted with ruby-red orchids, sapphire blooms, and other cloud forest gems. Once you see it, you won’t mind wearing a raincoat.

Hotel Pick:

4. Puerto Viejo de Talamaca

Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast is the contrary province of the bunch, seemingly intent on dishing up opposite weather to the rest of the country. That means, when it’s raining in most of Costa Rica, it’s often dry (or drier) in Puerto Viejo, Cocles, and Cahuita. And that means extra hours to stretch out on the beach, catch some waves, snorkel, or do any one of a hundred activities the Caribbean region is famous for. 

Hotel Pick:

5. Guanacaste

If you’re a dedicated sun-lover who simply won’t be happy with daily showers, no matter how mild, your best bet is Guanacaste. Located in Costa Rica’s northwest, this is the sunniest, driest province of Costa Rica. Even when the rest of Costa Rica is safely (and very undoubtedly) into the rainy season, Guanacaste is often sun-dappled and cloud-free. Bonus: Guanacaste is home to some of the most spectacular coastline in all of Costa Rica and, extra bonus: can’t-miss sea turtle nesting occurs throughout the green-season months. 

Hotel Pick:

Related Links: 

• Why You Should Visit These 8 Destinations in Low Season Right Now
• 5 Affordable Off-Peak Destinations Worth a Visit This Fall
• 17 Things You Need to Know Before Traveling During Hurricane Season
• 10 Off-Season Beaches You Want to Visit This Fall