February might just be the best time there is for a Costa Rica vacation. The weather is hot and dry in the most beach popular destinations and it’s when we discovered many of our “Best Trips Ever.”

Best Time to Travel?

It’s almost as popular as January but there are no peak season surcharges like at Christmas, New Years and Spring Break/Easter).

Monkeys would rather hang around in the sun and there are a number of seasonal migrants in residence making February an excellent time for wildlife watching.

Weather in February in Costa Rica

February is the middle of the dry season in Costa Rica’s Central Valley and Pacific beaches. The western and central regions of Costa Rica have sunny hot weather and nearly no rain.  What little rain falls usually comes as afternoon or evening showers.

A February weather phenomenon is strong winds called “Papagayos.”  These winds are most common in the northwest and are caused by cooler, dry air moving down from the north and displacing the moist, warm dense, tropical air mass. The air moves across Costa Rica as a result of the pressure difference and accelerates through gaps in the central mountain ranges and can exceed 100 kph.

Because there’s no rain on the Pacific side temperatures on the beaches and in the lowlands climb. Highs around 86 to 94 °F (30-35 °C) with lows only dropping a few degrees to 76 to 84 °F (25-29 °C) overnight can make heading to the mountains for part of your vacation attractive.  Daytime temperatures around the central valley are a very pleasant 75 to 85 °F (24-29 °C) this time of year.

The La Niña Pacific Ocean cooling predicted to intensify the 2022 rainy season will persist into February 2o23 but usually has little to no impact on weather in Costa Rica by the beginning of the year.

It’s wetter on the Caribbean side of the central mountains and the likelihood of temporales del Atlantico (polar air pushes across the Gulf of Mexico picking up heat and moisture then deposits it as continuous days of rain) is still fairly high.

Temperatures on the Caribbean side are moderated by the rains and a few degrees lower – hot instead of really hot.

Surf conditions depend strongly on weather conditions and these regional descriptions can help you find the best waves in February.

Planning Ahead & Reservations

The best lodges and resorts normally sell out in February.

February 2022 was very busy despite lingering Covid restrictions and vaccination requirements for some non-essential businesses. Costa Rica removed all pandemic related restrictions in April 2022. The elimination of testing and quarantine requirements for travelers to return to their home countries will encourage even more visitors.

If you’re thinking about a last minute trip you may find accommodations a couple of weeks in advance if you’re a little flexible but if you have your heart set on a particular property on specific dates you should plan to reserve at least three to six months in advance.

Budget and mid-priced hotels that rely on walk-in or direct online booking clientele also fill up fast so if you’re traveling without reservations plan to arrive early in the day and stay flexible with price range and expectations.

Rental cars have been problematic since the beginning of the pandemic.  Fleets are depleted and new vehicles are not available.  During the entire 2021/2022 high season all of the agencies were sold out weeks if not months in advance.  Prices have doubled since 2020 and it’s not unusual to have to pay over $100 per day for a mid-sized SUV with full insurance.

Costa Rican School holidays end in the first half of February so there’s less local competition for activities and accommodations in the later part of the month.

Costs & Availability for Travel in February

February is the high season but not the peak so you’ll find slightly lower prices and better availability that may give you the option of choosing a less luxurious room that better matches your budget or the best view if you’re splurging. Our recommended itineraries each include details on the popularity of the destinations.

For an accurate idea of how much to budget for a Costa Rica vacation in January try the instant trip cost calculator.

Reasonable airfares are available for advance purchasers, but most have sold out by December. Occasionally airfares for February go on sale a few weeks in advance especially when temperatures have been unseasonably warm in the northeastern U.S. and Canada.

Alternatives to February in Costa Rica

February is one of the alternatives to the crowds in late December and early January.

If February dates don’t work for you but you want to stick with the Dry Season then take a look at early March before the Spring Break and Easter crowds arrive.

…Other Bests…best kept secrets, favorite tours, best itineraries, best things to do in February & top10 destinations…

Notes:

Even though the La Niña Southern Oscillation pattern forecast to continue through 2022 will intensify and extend the rainy season its impact will be minimal in February 2023.  The Pacific side dry season will be in full swing by the beginning of the month.

“Summer” School Holidays—The long public school vacations in Costa Rica run from the middle of the second week in December through the beginning of the second week in February.  Expect families on vacation and bigger crowds at the beach.  Exact dates can be found on the Ministerio de Educación Pública calendar.

Calendar of Nature, Holidays & Fiestas – Costa Rica in February

The Costa Rica tide table below is for informational purposes and is not suitable for navigation. The more you see of a turtle, whale or quetzal symbol the more likely you’ll see one and you can read about the best February wildlife viewing here…

A detailed explanation and legend is also included at the bottom.

February 2023						approximate exchange rate ¢681 per $U.S.
		Rise & Set		Tide Times		Pacific	Caribbean
Sat 1		↑11:17 ↓23:54	↑6:01 ↓17:44	↑7:43 ↑20:08	↓1:32 ↓13:39
Sun 2		↑11:58 ↓23:54	↑6:01 ↓17:44	↑8:31 ↑20:55	↓2:18 ↓14:24
Mon 3		↑12:42 ↓0:43	↑6:01 ↓17:44	↑9:27 ↑21:50	↓3:11 ↓15:16
Tue 4		↑13:31 ↓1:35	↑6:01 ↓17:45	↑10:30 ↑22:51	↓4:10 ↓16:16
Wed 5		↑14:24 ↓2:29	↑6:01 ↓17:45	↑11:35 ↑23:53	↓5:13 ↓17:22
Thu 6		↑15:22 ↓3:27	↑6:01 ↓17:45	↑12:35 ↑	↓6:14 ↓18:25
Fri 7		↑16:23 ↓4:26	↑6:01 ↓17:45	↑0:50 ↑13:29	↓7:09 ↓19:23
Sat 8		↑17:25 ↓5:24	↑6:00 ↓17:46	↑1:44 ↑14:18	↓7:59 ↓20:16
Sun 9		↑18:27 ↓6:21	↑6:00 ↓17:46	↑2:34 ↑15:05	↓8:46 ↓21:06
Mon 10		↑19:27 ↓7:14	↑6:00 ↓17:46	↑3:22 ↑15:51	↓9:32 ↓21:54
Tue 11		↑20:25 ↓8:05	↑6:00 ↓17:47	↑4:08 ↑16:36	↓10:17 ↓22:42
Wed 12		↑21:21 ↓8:53	↑5:59 ↓17:47	↑4:55 ↑17:22	↓11:02 ↓23:30
Thu 13		↑22:17 ↓9:40	↑5:59 ↓17:47	↑5:43 ↑18:10	↓11:48 ↓
Fri 14		↑23:12 ↓10:28	↑5:59 ↓17:47	↑6:32 ↑18:59	↓0:19 ↓12:36
Sat 15		↑23:12 ↓11:16	↑5:59 ↓17:47	↑7:25 ↑19:53	↓1:11 ↓13:26
		Fiesta de los Diablitos – The festival of the little devils takes place in the second half of February. An indigenous celebration wrapped around a re-enactment of a battle between the toro (Spanish troops) and the diablitos (Boruca Indians). Striking hand carved masks and tradit
Sun 16		↑0:08 ↓12:06	↑5:58 ↓17:48	↑8:22 ↑20:51	↓2:07 ↓14:22
Mon 17		↑1:04 ↓12:57	↑5:58 ↓17:48	↑9:27 ↑21:56	↓3:09 ↓15:25
Tue 18		↑1:59 ↓13:50	↑5:58 ↓17:48	↑10:39 ↑23:06	↓4:18 ↓16:37
Wed 19		↑2:53 ↓14:43	↑5:57 ↓17:48	↑11:51 ↑	↓5:31 ↓17:50
Thu 20		↑3:45 ↓15:36	↑5:57 ↓17:48	↑0:13 ↑12:55	↓6:37 ↓18:57
Fri 21		↑4:34 ↓16:27	↑5:57 ↓17:48	↑1:12 ↑13:49	↓7:33 ↓19:52
Sat 22		↑5:20 ↓17:17	↑5:56 ↓17:49	↑2:03 ↑14:35	↓8:19 ↓20:38
Sun 23		↑6:03 ↓18:05	↑5:56 ↓17:49	↑2:47 ↑15:15	↓8:59 ↓21:18
		Carnival and Festival del Mar – A week of local celebrations in Puntarenas and Quepos including street fairs and fiestas, dancing and sporting events.
Mon 24		↑6:43 ↓18:50	↑5:55 ↓17:49	↑3:26 ↑15:52	↓9:35 ↓21:54
Tue 25		↑7:22 ↓19:35	↑5:55 ↓17:49	↑4:03 ↑16:27	↓10:09 ↓22:29
Wed 26		↑7:59 ↓20:19	↑5:55 ↓17:49	↑4:39 ↑17:01	↓10:42 ↓23:04
		Ash Wed. –
Thu 27		↑8:36 ↓21:03	↑5:54 ↓17:49	↑5:14 ↑17:34	↓11:15 ↓23:39
Fri 28		↑9:14 ↓21:49	↑5:54 ↓17:49	↑5:50 ↑18:08	↓11:48 ↓
Sat 29		↑9:53 ↓22:36	↑5:53 ↓17:49	↑6:26 ↑18:44	↓0:14 ↓12:22
		Rise & Set		Tide Times		Pacific	Caribbean

Calendar Legend

Averages for the month

• Approximate exchange rate
• General weather pattern for each half of the country
  
• Average surf wave height for each coast
  

Shown for each day

• The phase of the moon, and the moon and sun rise and set times for planning turtle viewing or a night hike (best under the dark skies of a new moon when nocturnal animals are most active).
• Times for each high and low tide along the outer Pacific coast (gulfs and bays vary). Average height 8 feet (2.5 meters).
  Not intended for navigation.
• Tides on the east coast occur about 2 hours earlier. However, the average height is only 8 inches (0.2 meters) so levels in the Caribbean Sea do not significantly impact most activities.
• Natural events are shown as shaded icons for quetzals (nesting), turtles (nesting), and humpback whales (calving) on each coast.
  
• The more solid color shown the more likely the event, the more shaded the less likely.
  
• Baby turtles hatch (usually at night) after approximately 50-70 days incubation so look for nesting activity on the calendar two months prior to your visit if you’d like to see the little ones popping out of the sand..
• Holidays – Bold indicates a government & bank holiday when most businesses are closed and buses may run on limited schedules.
• Fiesta and local festival dates are approximate – most include events spread over a week or two so check the schedule locally for more information.