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March in Costa Rica

March weather patterns in Costa Rica
Costa Rica weather map. March is the dry season and the weather is fine across the country.

or see best time to travel summary

Early March is definitely a good time for a Costa Rica vacation (see our favorite routes). The most popular destinations have hot dry weather and many hotels and lodges have some rooms available even a couple of weeks ahead. Later in March Spring Break travel may reduce availability and raise prices.

Wildlife comes out in March to enjoy the sunshine and gathers at shrinking water supplies as the dry season stretches out.

Weather in March in Costa Rica

March is the heart of the Costa Rican dry season. The western and central regions of Costa Rica have sunny weather, nearly no rain and surprisingly low humidity.  The tropical dry forests covering the lowlands of Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula have dropped their leaves and some are flowering in spectacular displays.

March through April is the hottest weather of the year on the Pacific side of Costa Rica.  Highs around 86 to 96 °F (30-37 °C) and low temperatures of 76 to 86 °F (25-30 °C) keep the beaches sizzling and there’s nearly never any rain to cool things off.

Average temperatures 2-3,000 feet higher in the mountains are 75 to 85 °F (24-29 °C) during the hottest part of the day and it cools off more at night.  You may want to consider a few days in the high elevation cloud forests of Monteverde, Savegre or Los Angeles where temperatures are even lower.

March is a slightly drier month on the Caribbean coast but this region is covered in lowland rain forest that never experiences the dry dusty conditions that prevail on the Pacific north.  Rains still cools things off many afternoons and average daytime highs are 80 to 88 °F (27-31 °C).

The weather is perfect for surfing and even though the northern Pacific surge is smaller than the southern that sets up later in the year offshores keep the waves consistent see regional surf descriptions for March. 

Planning Ahead & Reservations

The hurricanes in the Caribbean Islands in 2017 increased demand for Costa Rican beach destinations.   Return visitors and significant increases in flights from Europe mean 2020 will likely set records

In 2019, March was basically sold out (most of our favorites had 0-5% availability) three months in advance so we recommend booking before Christmas.

Make reservations on your own or with a qualified travel planner who may have expanded availability compared to online booking sites but make reservations. Many popular places (especially in beach areas) have minimum stays of 3-6 nights for the peak season.

Costs & Availability for Travel in March

Easter and the preceding week (Semana Santa or Holy Week) are the busiest (and most expensive) time on the Costa Rica travel calendar but since it’s the second week in April (April 12, 2020) it should not impact March travelers.

Costa Rica travel budget calculator
instant trip cost calculator – no app to download, no mailing list to join

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

If you want the flexibility of traveling without reservations you may not get your first choice in March, but you should be able to find somewhere to stay – plan on looking for accommodations in the morning.

Airfare rarely goes on sale for the peak travel months but if it does it’s usually several months in advance. If you plan ahead and set a fare alert on a search site like kayak.com there are occasional bargains – In 2019 there were tickets available for half price as the total number of flights set records and competition increased.  Even more flights have been added over the summer and  we’ve found some bargains for 2020.

Alternatives to March in Costa Rica

Depending on the timing of Easter you may consider shifting into February, or April for similar weather with less crowds.

…Other Bests…best kept secrets, favorite tours, best itineraries & top10 destinations…

Notes:

The weak El Niño of 2019 gave way to a La Nada at the end of the year which means rainfall should be normal for the early part of 2020 in Costa Rica (dry on the Pacific and afternoon rains on the Caribbean).

Costa Rica was not affected by the hurricanes that devastated the beach vacation destinations of the Caribbean in the fall of 2017 and in 2020 tourism is experiencing a third year of rapid growth as people shift away from the island destinations.

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

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

 

March 2020
approximate exchange rate ¢572 per $U.S.
Rise & Set
Tide Times
Pacific
Caribbean
Costa Rica Moon Phase sunrise and sunset
Costa Rica High and Low Tides
dry season    wave size
rainy season    wave size
Sun 1
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑10:36 ↓23:25 ↑5:53 ↓17:49 ↑7:04
↑19:22
↓0:53
↓12:59
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Mon 2
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑11:21 ↓23:25 ↑5:52 ↓17:49 ↑7:48
↑20:07
↓1:35
↓13:41
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Tue 3
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑12:11 ↓0:17 ↑5:52 ↓17:49 ↑8:40
↑21:02
↓2:23
↓14:32
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Wed 4
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑13:05 ↓1:12 ↑5:51 ↓17:50 ↑9:44
↑22:08
↓3:22
↓15:35
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Thu 5
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑14:03 ↓2:09 ↑5:51 ↓17:50 ↑10:55
↑23:19
↓4:29
↓16:48
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Fri 6
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑15:04 ↓3:06 ↑5:50 ↓17:50 ↑12:02
↑
↓5:37
↓17:59
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Sat 7
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑16:05 ↓4:03 ↑5:50 ↓17:50 ↑0:24
↑13:01
↓6:38
↓19:01
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Sun 8
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑17:07 ↓4:57 ↑5:49 ↓17:50 ↑1:21
↑13:52
↓7:32
↓19:56
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Día de los Boyeros – Oxcart driver’s day takes place on the second Sunday in March. A parade of beautifully handmade and painted oxcarts and driving competitions are surrounded by traditional costumes, food and dancing in San Antonio de Escazú. One of the most colorful celeb
Mon 9
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑18:07 ↓5:50 ↑5:49 ↓17:50 ↑2:13
↑14:41
↓8:21
↓20:47
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Tue 10
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑19:06 ↓6:40 ↑5:48 ↓17:50 ↑3:02
↑15:27
↓9:09
↓21:35
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Wed 11
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑20:04 ↓7:30 ↑5:48 ↓17:50 ↑3:49
↑16:13
↓9:54
↓22:22
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Thu 12
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑21:01 ↓8:19 ↑5:47 ↓17:49 ↑4:36
↑16:59
↓10:40
↓23:09
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Fri 13
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑21:59 ↓9:08 ↑5:47 ↓17:49 ↑5:23
↑17:46
↓11:26
↓23:58
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Sat 14
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑22:57 ↓9:59 ↑5:46 ↓17:50 ↑6:12
↑18:35
↓12:13
↓
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Sun 15
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑23:54 ↓10:52 ↑5:46 ↓17:50 ↑7:03
↑19:28
↓0:48
↓13:04
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Mon 16
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑23:54 ↓11:45 ↑5:45 ↓17:50 ↑8:00
↑20:26
↓1:42
↓14:00
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Tue 17
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑0:49 ↓12:39 ↑5:44 ↓17:50 ↑9:05
↑21:32
↓2:43
↓15:05
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Wed 18
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑1:42 ↓13:32 ↑5:44 ↓17:50 ↑10:18
↑22:45
↓3:53
↓16:20
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Thu 19
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑2:32 ↓14:24 ↑5:43 ↓17:50 ↑11:32
↑23:55
↓5:08
↓17:37
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Día de San José – Saint Joseph is the patron saint of the capital city San José, and the day is recognized nationwide by Catholics with special masses (especially in the many other towns and communities named San José). It is an official business, bank and school holiday i
Fri 20
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑3:19 ↓15:14 ↑5:43 ↓17:50 ↑12:36
↑
↓6:16
↓18:44
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Sat 21
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑4:02 ↓16:02 ↑5:42 ↓17:50 ↑0:54
↑13:27
↓7:11
↓19:36
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Sun 22
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑4:43 ↓16:48 ↑5:41 ↓17:50 ↑1:43
↑14:11
↓7:55
↓20:18
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Mon 23
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑5:22 ↓17:33 ↑5:41 ↓17:50 ↑2:25
↑14:48
↓8:33
↓20:54
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Tue 24
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑5:59 ↓18:17 ↑5:40 ↓17:50 ↑3:03
↑15:22
↓9:07
↓21:29
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Wed 25
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑6:36 ↓19:01 ↑5:40 ↓17:49 ↑3:39
↑15:56
↓9:40
↓22:02
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Thu 26
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑7:14 ↓19:46 ↑5:39 ↓17:49 ↑4:13
↑16:28
↓10:12
↓22:35
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Fri 27
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑7:52 ↓20:32 ↑5:38 ↓17:49 ↑4:47
↑17:01
↓10:44
↓23:09
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Sat 28
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑8:33 ↓21:21 ↑5:38 ↓17:49 ↑5:21
↑17:34
↓11:16
↓23:43
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Sun 29
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑9:17 ↓22:11 ↑5:37 ↓17:49 ↑5:57
↑18:09
↓11:50
↓
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Mon 30
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑10:05 ↓23:04 ↑5:37 ↓17:49 ↑6:34
↑18:48
↓0:20
↓12:28
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Tue 31
Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑10:56 ↓23:59 ↑5:36 ↓17:49 ↑7:17
↑19:33
↓1:02
↓13:11
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Costa Rica Moon Phase sunrise and sunset
Costa Rica High and Low Tides
dry season    wave size
rainy season    wave size
Rise & Set
Tide Times
Pacific
Caribbean

Calendar Legend

Averages for the month

  • Approximate exchange rate
  • General weather pattern for each half of the country
    dry season or rainy season average weather pattern
  • Average surf wave height for each coast
    larger or smaller than average wave height

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.
    wildlife calendar species
  • The more solid color shown the more likely the event, the more shaded the less likely.
    more or less likely turtle nesting
  • 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.

Ray & Sue

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