If the shorter days are already sending you into sunshine withdrawal, Costa Rica weather could provide a bright spot in your winter blahs. Just as the sun starts to hide in the Northern Hemisphere, the Costa Rican clouds part, ushering out the rainy season for months of gorgeous tropical sun.

Costa Rica Weather Offers an Untraditional “Winter”

Unlike most areas defined by summer and winter seasons, Costa Rica weather divides itself between the Green Season (rainy) and High Season (dry). With the dry season starting in most areas by December and lasting until April, it provides a perfect escape for snowbirds seeking respite from gloomy afternoons and snow flurries.

Most winter days average twelve hours of sunshine. This means your winter holiday can come across much brighter than other destinations … and warmer too! The “cool” months of December, January and February, hold average temperatures between 21 to 27 degrees Celsius, or 70 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit. But even though the temperatures may feel temperate, keep your sunscreen handy. You’ll want to be outside whenever possible.

Tamarindo, on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast earns its great reputation for water adventures year-round with ocean temperatures hitting a pleasant 28 degrees Celsius or 82 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months. This makes for perfect surfing and scuba diving, while many in North America and Europe are shoveling snow and scraping ice. Even on days when the winds kick up, the thinnest skinned of ocean-goers will need only a spring suit at most when venturing into the surf.

If the Costa Rica weather of long, warm days and plenty of sunshine sounds like the ideal way to shake off your chilled, cabin fever this year, pack your bags and learn the Costa Rican definition of “Winter Wonderland.”