Costa Rica weather, although pleasant and mild most of the year, becomes difficult to pin down with blanket statements. Its location between the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea produces a number of microclimates, which vary greatly. Travel a few miles away and you might want to trade that swimwear in for a rain jacket. Tourists benefit from staying prepared.

Costa Rica Weather General Guidelines

Costa Rica weather generally divides itself into two key seasons: rainy and dry. The rainy season lasts from May to November. While September and October generally see the most rain during this period, May and November may only see traces, depending on your location. The dry season stretches from December through April. February and March tend to showcase dry, sunny weather, ideal for surfers. The closer you get to the rainy season, the warmer the weather becomes. This often marks April as a warm month, when the humidity tends to build toward the rainy season.

Don’t count out the rainy season altogether, though. This is really where the microclimates come into play. During the months of September and October, when other areas of the country may see cloudy days and heavy rainfall, the Northern and Caribbean areas of the county often enjoy great weather. Surfers congregate on the Caribbean side of the country throughout the month of November to enjoy that region’s high swells.

Ideal Spot for Weather

Temperature-wise, most of the country stays in the mild range with 60 to 80 degree ranges year round. The Monteverde Cloud Forest records a colder exception. Here, low temperatures hover in the 50s all year and highs only tip into the lower 70s. The Osa Peninsula stays warmer with the average highs reaching well into the 90s, while Guanacaste stretches toward the century mark in March and April.

Tamarindo, on the other hand, is one of the world’s few places that enjoys “dry jungle” weather. This area ranges in temperature from warm to hot. The humidity is much lower than the rest of Costa Rica, so you’ll find there are far fewer mosquitoes. Casa de Luz is located right next to Tamarindo.

Costa Rica weather rarely interferes with vacationers’ plans when they prepare to witness nature at it’s raw best – rain or shine.