The best time to visit Costa Rica depends on a few main factors and the quick quiz below will help you determine your ideal dates.

Answer the three questions below for yourself to determine when to come for a visit.

1) When can you go?

If your work or school schedule forces certain dates that’s the best time and you can start looking at where’s the best place in Costa Rica to find the weather and activities you want when you go.

If you can go any time then read on to figure out when you’ll have the best weather for where you want to go and what you want to see.

2) How badly do you want to stay dry?

I melt in fresh water and must have 100% sun and sea water.

Consider the Baja desert as an alternate destination, but if Costa Rica is definitely where you’re headed then you should go to the Pacific northwest (Guanacaste) beaches between mid January and mid April.

Some rain is okay as long as there’s some great beach weather too.

Avoid September and October on the Pacific side (the Caribbean is dry and sunny then though) and November could be questionable but the rest of the year should meet your weather expectations almost anywhere in Costa Rica.

3) What do you want to see and do?

If you must see sea turtles nesting, quetzales mating, or hit the Pacaure at high water for class IV rapids then obviously you have to travel during those seasons.  For other things like canopy ziplines, wildlife watching, or hanging out on the beach almost any time can be a good time to go if you head to the right places.

If you’ve decided on must see destinations then your time frame might be restricted.  For example Corcovado and the Osa peninsula practically shut down due to rain in September through November.

Still seems like information overload?  We’ll be happy to provide personalized recommendations for your trip.