Where to go when - our guide to Costa Rica

Tailor-made holidays

Flexible, custom-made holidays to Latin America created to match your exact requirements: our tailor-made itineraries are as unique as the clients for whom they are designed.

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December - April

In terms of climate, Mid-December to mid-April is considered the ideal season to visit Costa Rica. Across most of the country, this is the dry season with the least rainfall and warm temperatures reaching highs of 30-32°C.
The only exception is the Caribbean coast, where temperatures are hotter and you’ll find rain all year round, though March is the driest month. Monteverde and the cloud forest also see some precipitation throughout the year, with February - April being the best bird-watching period. Temperatures in the highlands are at their most pleasant (15-20°C) and it can even get chilly at night.

30°C Average max daytime temperature

18°C Average min nighttime temperature

8 days per season rainfall

Moderate humidity

Monteverde cloud forest

May - November

As in much of Central America, this is the wet season with increased rainfall in many areas. Costa Rica is spared the hurricanes that can hit its more northerly neighbours, and visiting the country during this off-season brings numerous benefits. Whether it be quieter beaches, empty national parks or nesting Green sea turtles (June – October in Tortuguero) Costa Rica remains a year-round destination whatever the season.

28°C Average max daytime temperature

18°C Average min nighttime temperature

20 days per season rainfall

Moderate humidity

Turtles

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

  • Carrie
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Alex
    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

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