Climate and Weather in Costa Rica

Climate Overview

Like its neighbors, Costa Rica has a hot, humid tropical climate with two distinct seasons: the dry season ("summer") and the rainy season ("winter"). The dry period runs from December to April and offers more bearable heat, with lower humidity than the rest of the year. This is also the climatically recommended season. The rainy season (May to November) brings heavy downpours, often in the late afternoon, along with heat and humidity.

However, regional variations exist. While temperatures in the lowlands hover around 28–30°C during the day and 20–23°C at night, altitude significantly moderates them. In the Central Plateau or the capital region, roughly between 800 and 1,500 meters, days are pleasant (around 25°C on average) and nights cool (around 15°C). At higher elevations, daytime temperatures can be less comfortable, and nights are always cold, with even a risk of frost.

Beyond altitude, the biggest climatic differences lie between the country’s two coasts. The Pacific coastline is far less rainy than its Caribbean counterpart (July being the worst month), where the dry season often barely lasts three months, from February to April. Note also that, regardless of the coast, the north is wetter than the south, and hurricanes from the Antilles do not directly affect Costa Rica’s coastline.

Best Climate Period for Costa Rica

The dry season from late November to early May is the most favorable time to explore the country. This avoids the heavy rains that can cause issues across most of the territory, particularly on the coasts, where the atmosphere is also quite muggy during this period. That said, even in the dry season, you won’t escape the nearly constant rainfall on the Caribbean coast, where February to April is the best window for the least rain.

★★★: very favorable | ★★: favorable | ★: moderately favorable | ⊘: unfavorable.

Sea Temperatures Throughout the Year

Climate by Region

Pacific Coast

Central Region

Caribbean Coast

Additional Information