Costa Rica has just two seasons: the dry season lasts from December to April, and the rainy season spans from May to November. Although rainfall increases through June, July and August, visiting Costa Rica during the ‘green’ season is extremely underrated and savvy travellers will still be able to find beautiful, warm weather. Plus, low season visitors enjoy fewer crowds, reduced rates and increased hotel availability. Here are some of our top reasons to visit Costa Rica in summer…
- Surfing and Scenery on the North Pacific Coast
- Coffee and Culture in Central Costa Rica
- Tortuguero: Land of the Turtles
- River Rafting and Whale Watching
- The Brightest Beaches
- Events and Festivals in Costa Rica in Summer
Surfing and Scenery on the North Pacific Coast
Those searching for reasons to visit Costa Rica in summer need look no further than the surf. While swells are reliable all year round, advanced surfers are likely to prefer the much larger waves between March and November. The North Pacific Coast is good at this time of year – Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula boast relaxed and scenic surfing spots as well as lush national parks like Palo Verde, home to a mixture of tropical lowland dry forests, mangroves, savannahs and wetlands, plus a huge array of wildlife.
Coffee and Culture in Central Costa Rica
The Central Valley is gorgeously green in June. Armed with a sense of adventure (and a raincoat), travellers can take a tour of the area’s coffee plantations, stunning mountains and volcanoes. Trust us, your photos will be amazing. You can also explore San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital, which is packed with museums, parks and historic buildings. This region averages 25°C in June, so is still lovely and warm, but the average rainfall is much higher than previous months, at 290mm.
Tortuguero: Land of the Turtles
Tortuguero National Park, on the Caribbean Coast, is home to green sea turtles from July to September. If you’re lucky, you may see the tiny hatchlings making their scramble to the sea for the very first time, a real treat for any animal enthusiast. In fact, the word Tortuguero translates to ‘land of the turtles’, and the park is also home to leatherbacks, hawksbill and loggerheads. In the rest of the park, you can spot wildlife such as curious monkeys and sluggish sloths. At this time of year, rain usually builds throughout the morning, climaxing in afternoon downpours, but temperatures remain warm, regardless of the rain.
River Rafting and Whale Watching
For those with younger family members (or thrill seekers of any age) summer can be a fabulous time to go rafting on the Pacuare River. Further down Costa Rica in the remote southwest, is an area called Dominical which receives relatively few visitors. Here, from August to October, you can catch humpback whale season, and watching these beautiful beasts gather in Marino Ballena National Park is an awesome sight.
The Brightest Beaches
If you’re dreaming of a relaxing beach break, this is still possible despite the rainy season being in full swing, and we recommend heading to the North Pacific Coast which receives the lowest amount of rainfall in the country. We can’t guarantee it’ll be rain-free, but you’re likely to enjoy lots of bright spots during the day.
Events and Festivals in Costa Rica in Summer
Costa Ricans love to celebrate, and several festivals fall in June, July and August. During Fiesta Virgen del Mar (‘Virgin of the Sea Festival’), a regatta of colourfully decorated boats carrying a statue of Puntarenas’ patron saint tours the town. A similar event is held at Playa de Coco and both take place on the Saturday closest to 16th July. On Annexation of Guanacaste Day (25th July), bullfights, folk dancing, horseback parades, rodeos, concerts, and other events celebrate the anniversary of this region becoming part of Costa Rica. Fiesta of the Virgin of Los Angeles takes place on 2nd August in Cartago. This is the pilgrimage day of the patron saint of Costa Rica when many people walk the 15 miles from San José to the basilica in Cartago. 31st August is Día de San Ramón when more than two dozen statues of saints from various towns are paraded through the streets of San Ramón.