The last three weeks of January is one of the best times for a Costa Rica vacation.  New Years is also great from the perspective of weather but it’s crowded and peak season surcharges make it one of the most expensive weeks of the year.

All the best tours and activities are going full blast and the wildlife is abundant and active.  Any of our “Best Trips Ever” take advantage of the beautiful tropical weather this time of year.

trip planning | Dec | Jan | Feb| Mar | best trips ever | weather | cost | notes

January Weather in Costa Rica

January the first reliably dry month at the beginning of Costa Rica’s Pacific side dry season. The northwestern (Guanacaste) and central regions (Jaco, Manuel Antonio) of Costa Rica have little rain and mostly sunny weather. What little rain falls usually comes as afternoon or evening showers.

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

In January strong winds are common especially in the northwest. These “Papagayo” winds are the result of cooler, dry air moving down from North America and displacing the moist, warm dense, tropical air mass. The pressure difference causes winds that are accelerated through gaps in the central mountain ranges and can exceed 100 kph.

On the Caribbean side of the central mountains it’s wetter especially in the northeast where polar air pushes across the Gulf of Mexico picking up heat and moisture then depositing it as continuous days of rain referred to locally as temporales del Atlantico.

With no rain to cool things down on the Pacific beaches and in the lowlands highs of 86 to 94 °F (30-35 °C) with lows only dropping a few degrees to 76 to 84 °F (25-29 °C) overnight make air-conditioning a nice amenity.  Heading to the mountains for part of your vacation this time of year can be attractive since daytime temperatures around the central valley are usually 75 to 85 °F (24-29 °C) in January and it cools off more at night.

A day or two of temperatures in the mid nineties (35-37 °C) is possible at low elevations and especially in Guanacaste and on the Nicoya coast during January.

trip planning | Dec | Jan | Feb| Mar | best trips ever | weather | cost | notes

Costs & Availability for Travel in January

Prices reflect the popularity of travel at this time, high season rates are in full effect, and most hotels and lodges in the mid and luxury price ranges add a holiday surcharge for the first week of January. Many hotels and lodges that have dining rooms throw New Years Eve parties. Dinner and dancing are often mandatory for all guests and included in the room rates for the night of December 31 adding between $50 and $150 per person.

Many accommodations also have minimum stays ranging from three to seven nights over New Years so you should check the fine print carefully when booking.

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 November when prices typically climb by 20-100%.

Planning Ahead & Reservations

Not only is January one of the best months to travel it is also one of the most popular. It’s the heart of the high season for international travelers and the middle of the school holidays for Ticos so activities and accommodations fill up quickly.

January 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 and with the elimination of testing and quarantine requirements for travelers to return to their home countries traveler numbers are again setting records.

January 2023 will probably be the busiest ever and booking ahead (as far ahead as six to twelve months) is a necessity for the popular higher quality mid-price, superior and luxury class hotels, lodges and resorts.

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.

trip planning | Dec | Jan | Feb| Mar | best trips ever | weather | cost | notes

Alternatives to January in Costa Rica

If you like the sound of Dry Season, but would prefer to avoid the crowds try traveling in February or early March before the Spring Break and Easter crowds arrive.

…Other Bests…best kept secrets, best to do, best trips ever & best places…

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 January.  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.  All of January is always included.

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

The Costa Rica tide table below is for informational purposes and is not suitable for navigation.  The more that is colored in on the turtle, whale or quetzal symbol the more likely you’ll see one. A detailed explanation and legend is also included at the bottom.

January 2023						approximate exchange rate ¢685 per $U.S.
		Rise & Set		Tide Times		Pacific	Caribbean
Wed 1		↑10:49 ↓23:00	↑5:56 ↓17:29	↑6:52 ↑19:26	↓0:42 ↓12:58
		New Year’s Day – Revelers who were partying in the clubs the night before gather in San José’s Parque Central and Buenos Aires, and Puntarenas to continue the festivities at dances.
Thu 2		↑11:26 ↓23:44	↑5:56 ↓17:29	↑7:39 ↑20:12	↓1:28 ↓13:42
Fri 3		↑12:04 ↓23:44	↑5:57 ↓17:30	↑8:30 ↑21:02	↓2:18 ↓14:28
Sat 4		↑12:42 ↓0:29	↑5:57 ↓17:31	↑9:25 ↑21:54	↓3:11 ↓15:19
Sun 5		↑13:22 ↓1:15	↑5:57 ↓17:31	↑10:24 ↑22:47	↓4:08 ↓16:13
Mon 6		↑14:05 ↓2:03	↑5:58 ↓17:32	↑11:23 ↑23:40	↓5:06 ↓17:09
Tue 7		↑14:53 ↓2:55	↑5:58 ↓17:32	↑12:18 ↑	↓6:01 ↓18:05
Wed 8		↑15:45 ↓3:49	↑5:58 ↓17:33	↑0:31 ↑13:09	↓6:52 ↓18:57
Thu 9		↑16:41 ↓4:46	↑5:59 ↓17:33	↑1:20 ↑13:57	↓7:39 ↓19:47
Fri 10		↑17:41 ↓5:45	↑5:59 ↓17:34	↑2:07 ↑14:42	↓8:24 ↓20:35
Sat 11		↑18:42 ↓6:44	↑5:59 ↓17:34	↑2:53 ↑15:26	↓9:08 ↓21:23
		Fiesta Palmares  – Traditional (no bloodshed) bullfights, live music, folk dancing, carnival with rides and games take place the first two week of the year in Palmares
Sun 12		↑19:43 ↓7:41	↑5:59 ↓17:35	↑3:39 ↑16:11	↓9:52 ↓22:10
Mon 13		↑20:42 ↓8:35	↑6:00 ↓17:35	↑4:25 ↑16:56	↓10:36 ↓22:58
Tue 14		↑21:39 ↓9:25	↑6:00 ↓17:36	↑5:12 ↑17:43	↓11:22 ↓23:47
Wed 15		↑22:34 ↓10:13	↑6:00 ↓17:36	↑6:00 ↑18:32	↓12:08 ↓
		Día de Santo Cristo de Esquipulas – Popular religious festival celebrated with fiestas and dancing in Alajuelita, Dulce Nombre and Santa Cruz. Alajuelita also includes an ox-cart parade and procession to the iron cross on the mountain above the village where a blessing is given.
Thu 16		↑23:28 ↓10:59	↑6:00 ↓17:37	↑6:52 ↑19:23	↓0:38 ↓12:57
Fri 17		↑23:28 ↓11:44	↑6:01 ↓17:37	↑7:47 ↑20:18	↓1:33 ↓13:50
Sat 18		↑0:22 ↓12:31	↑6:01 ↓17:38	↑8:46 ↑21:18	↓2:31 ↓14:47
Sun 19		↑1:17 ↓13:18	↑6:01 ↓17:38	↑9:51 ↑22:21	↓3:35 ↓15:50
Mon 20		↑2:12 ↓14:08	↑6:01 ↓17:39	↑11:00 ↑23:26	↓4:42 ↓16:56
Tue 21		↑3:08 ↓15:00	↑6:01 ↓17:39	↑12:06 ↑	↓5:50 ↓18:03
Wed 22		↑4:03 ↓15:54	↑6:01 ↓17:40	↑0:28 ↑13:08	↓6:51 ↓19:05
Thu 23		↑4:58 ↓16:48	↑6:01 ↓17:40	↑1:24 ↑14:02	↓7:46 ↓20:00
Fri 24		↑5:50 ↓17:41	↑6:01 ↓17:40	↑2:15 ↑14:50	↓8:34 ↓20:49
Sat 25		↑6:38 ↓18:33	↑6:01 ↓17:41	↑3:02 ↑15:34	↓9:17 ↓21:33
Sun 26		↑7:24 ↓19:22	↑6:01 ↓17:41	↑3:44 ↑16:15	↓9:57 ↓22:14
Mon 27		↑8:06 ↓20:09	↑6:01 ↓17:42	↑4:25 ↑16:54	↓10:34 ↓22:54
Tue 28		↑8:45 ↓20:55	↑6:01 ↓17:42	↑5:03 ↑17:31	↓11:11 ↓23:32
Wed 29		↑9:23 ↓21:39	↑6:01 ↓17:42	↑5:42 ↑18:09	↓11:46 ↓
Thu 30		↑10:00 ↓22:23	↑6:01 ↓17:43	↑6:20 ↑18:46	↓0:10 ↓12:22
Fri 31		↑10:38 ↓23:08	↑6:01 ↓17:43	↑7:00 ↑19:25	↓0:50 ↓12:59
		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.