THE OVERVIEW
Plan Costa Rica as a selective journey through contrasting ecosystems and communities, rather than rushing between wildlife sightings, with road time and rainfall built into every route. San José and the Central Valley offer museums, arrival recovery and coffee landscapes, although urban traffic and airport geography require careful timing. Arenal and the northern lowlands bring volcanic landscapes, forest and hot springs across a dispersed area where weather can obscure the volcano. The Osa Peninsula offers high-biodiversity rainforest and marine access alongside remote transfers, basic infrastructure and intense rain. The southern Caribbean combines coastal communities, forest and sea, with rainfall patterns that differ from the Pacific and roads that can be disrupted.
YEAR AT A GLANCE
The weather rhythm in Costa Rica.
Climate averages, not a forecast. Current conditions still need checking before travel.
- Jan21.2° / 14.3°125.9 mm rain
- Feb21.8° / 14.3°71.6 mm rain
- Mar22.6° / 15.1°74.5 mm rain
- Apr23.3° / 16.2°91.9 mm rain
- May22.8° / 17°356.5 mm rain
- Jun22.6° / 17.1°318.9 mm rain
- Jul22.1° / 16.6°245.7 mm rain
- Aug22.4° / 16.7°281 mm rain
- Sep22.5° / 16.9°361.8 mm rain
- Oct22.2° / 16.8°455.4 mm rain
- Nov21.4° / 16.2°307.4 mm rain
- Dec21.1° / 15.1°171.3 mm rain
Average daily high, low and rainfall: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API, ERA5-Land, Costa Rica destination coordinates (9.7489, -83.7534), 1991 to 2020
area
San José and Central Valley
Museums, arrival recovery and coffee landscapes
Museums, arrival recovery and coffee landscapes
Details should be checked for your travel dates.area
Arenal and northern lowlands
Volcanic landscapes, forest and hot springs
Volcanic landscapes, forest and hot springs
Details should be checked for your travel dates.area
Osa Peninsula
High-biodiversity rainforest and marine access
High-biodiversity rainforest and marine access
Details should be checked for your travel dates.area
Caribbean south
local Rican culture, forest and coast
local Rican culture, forest and coast
Details should be checked for your travel dates.experience
Museo del Oro Precolombino
Planning note
A focused introduction to Indigenous metallurgy and regional histories before travelling onward.
Details should be checked for your travel dates.experience
Arenal Volcano National Park
Planning note
Use a naturalist guide to examine forest recovery and volcanic ecology rather than promising a clear summit view.
Details should be checked for your travel dates.experience
Carara National Park
Planning note
The transition between dry and humid forest supports rich birdlife and includes an accessible trail.
Details should be checked for your travel dates.experience
Cahuita National Park with local guide
Planning note
A community-linked park visit can connect reef, forest and local coastal history.
Details should be checked for your travel dates.experience
Boruca community visit
Planning note
Arrange directly or through a responsible partner to learn about Brunca art, language and contemporary community priorities.
Details should be checked for your travel dates.station
Juan Santamaría International Airport
airport
Located near Alajuela rather than central San José; road times vary and assistance should be pre-booked.
Details should be checked for your travel dates.station
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport
airport
Useful for Guanacaste and the northwest; do not treat it as interchangeable with San José.
Details should be checked for your travel dates.travel_advice
Costa Rica climate normals
Verified 1991 to 2020 monthly averages
Open-Meteo historical data at the destination coordinates show average daily highs from 21.1°C to 23.3°C and lows from 14.3°C to 17.1°C across the year.
Details should be checked for your travel dates.travel_advice
Choosing the time to go
Seasonal planning
The Pacific dry season generally runs December to April, while Caribbean rainfall follows a different pattern. Green-season travel can be rewarding but roads, rivers and small flights need buffers.
Details should be checked for your travel dates.travel_advice
Plan the complete route
Access and practical detail
Do not infer accessibility from a country or hotel category; obtain exact room, vehicle, boat and site details. Heat, rain, rough surfaces and limited medical infrastructure may materially change suitability. Use protected connection times and recheck weather or security conditions before every complex transfer.
Details should be checked for your travel dates.travel_advice
Current travel guidance
Keep official advice date-specific
Recheck entry, health, security, natural-hazard and regional travel guidance immediately before departure.
Details should be checked for your travel dates.STAY
Hotels to consider
A considered starting point, not a statement of availability or a booking recommendation.
Hotel Grano de Oro
Restored city hotel
Costa Rica
For an independent first or final night close to the city’s museums.
Historic levels and urban traffic require room-specific access checks.Nayara Gardens
Low-rise rainforest resort
Costa Rica
For a settled Arenal base with strong guiding and extensive grounds.
Steep paths and large distances make exact villa location important.Lapa Rios Lodge
Conservation lodge
Costa Rica
For forest interpretation and a conservation-led remote stay.
Many stairs, rough roads and an isolated setting make this unsuitable for some travellers.ORIENTATION
A sense of place
Every marker uses coordinates supplied by the published Desk guide.
AT A GLANCE
Practical notes
- Typical stay
- Choose two regions, or three only with enough time for weather and road delays. The strongest itinerary leaves room to settle into each ecosystem rather than using every day as a transfer.
- When to consider
- The Pacific dry season generally runs December to April, while Caribbean rainfall follows a different pattern. Green-season travel can be rewarding but roads, rivers and small flights need buffers.
- Climate
- Open-Meteo historical data at the destination coordinates provide a complete 1991 to 2020 series. Average daily highs range from 21.1°C to 23.3°C and lows from 14.3°C to 17.1°C. These are climate averages, not a forecast.
- Getting around
- Juan Santamaría International Airport: Located near Alajuela rather than central San José; road times vary and assistance should be pre-booked. Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport: Useful for Guanacaste and the northwest; do not treat it as interchangeable with San José.
- Worth preparing for
- Do not infer accessibility from a country or hotel category; obtain exact room, vehicle, boat and site details. Heat, rain, rough surfaces and limited medical infrastructure may materially change suitability. Use protected connection times and recheck weather or security conditions before every complex transfer. Recheck entry, health, security, natural-hazard and regional travel guidance immediately before departure.
Sources and credits
- Costa Rica official tourism · Official tourism authority
- Hotel Grano de Oro official website · Hotel Grano de Oro
- Nayara Gardens official website · Nayara Gardens
- Lapa Rios Lodge official website · Lapa Rios Lodge
- Museo del Oro Precolombino official information · Museo del Oro Precolombino
- Arenal Volcano National Park official information · Arenal Volcano National Park
- Juan Santamaría International Airport official information · Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport official information · Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport
- Costa Rica travel advice · UK FCDO
- Open-Meteo 1991 to 2020 climate series · Open-Meteo · Open-Meteo Historical Weather API at the destination coordinates; complete 1991 to 2020 daily maximum, minimum and precipitation series aggregated by calendar month
Guide last reviewed 27 September 2026.