On a typical green-season day at our home base in Avellanas, the morning is clear and hot, and around 3 or 4pm the clouds build and it rains for about an hour. Max grew up in Costa Rica, and we’ve used Guanacaste as our base since 2015, so we’ve lived through a decade of the Costa Rica rainy season, and that afternoon shower is the normal pattern, not a washout. But Costa Rica has two coasts with opposite patterns, and the Caribbean side is often at its driest just as the Pacific gets its heaviest rain. This guide covers the rainy season month by month, where it rains least, how much you save, and how to plan around it.
Key Takeaways
- The Costa Rica rainy season runs May to November on the Pacific side and in the Central Valley, with September and October the wettest months.
- Most days aren’t washouts. A sunny morning and an hour or so of heavy afternoon rain is the usual pattern, especially in Guanacaste.
- The Caribbean coast flips the pattern. September and October are often among its driest months, so it’s the place to go when the Pacific is wettest.
- It’s cheaper and quieter, with lower hotel rates and car rentals, and the landscape at its greenest.
- Skip the South Pacific in September and October if you can; the Osa Peninsula and Uvita get the heaviest rain, and some lodges close.
When Is the Costa Rica Rainy Season?
| Rainy season | May to November (Pacific side and Central Valley) |
| Wettest months | September and October |
| Dry season | December to April |
| Typical day | Sunny morning, heavy rain for about an hour mid-afternoon |
| Driest region | Guanacaste and the North Pacific |
| Wettest region | South Pacific (Osa, Uvita) and the Caribbean slopes |
| Caribbean exception | Often driest in September and October |
| Temperatures | About 21 to 32C (70 to 90F) on the coasts; cooler in the mountains |
| Also called | Green season, wet season, low season |
Costa Rica sits between two oceans with a mountain range down the middle, so its weather is split. On the Pacific side and in the Central Valley, the dry season runs from December to April and the rainy season from May to November. On the Caribbean side, it rains year-round, with a drier spell in September and October and another around February and March. The national weather institute (IMN) publishes regional forecasts and climate data, and it’s the source local news uses for storm warnings.
Costa Rica Rainy Season Month by Month
This is the pattern on the Pacific side, where most visitors go, with the Caribbean alongside for comparison.
| Month | Pacific and Central Valley | Caribbean coast | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | First rains; mostly dry mornings | Moderate rain | Landscape turns green fast |
| June | Afternoon showers most days | Moderate rain | Good surf on the Pacific |
| July | Often a dry spell, the “veranillo” | One of the wetter months | School holidays, busier |
| August | Showers build again | Moderate rain | Whale season on the South Pacific |
| September | One of the two wettest months | Often dry and sunny | Best month to switch coasts |
| October | Wettest; multi-day storms possible | Often dry and sunny | Some lodges close |
| November | Rain easing; often great by mid-month | One of the wetter months | Crowds still low |
For Costa Rica weather by month across the rest of the year: December to April is the dry season on the Pacific side, with almost no rain in Guanacaste from January to March, strong winds in December and January, and the hottest weather in March and April. It’s also high season, with prices at their peak over Christmas, New Year and Easter.
Does It Rain All Day in the Rainy Season?
Rarely, for most of the season. In Guanacaste, the typical pattern is a clear, hot morning, then an hour of heavy showers around 3 or 4pm, and often a clear evening. Plan beach days, surf and hikes for the morning, and keep the afternoon for something that doesn’t mind rain. The exception is September and October. That’s when storm systems from the Caribbean or the Pacific can bring several days of non-stop rain, and the rivers and roads feel it. By mid to late November, the weather is often great again, with green hills, clear skies and hardly anyone around.
In the mountains, rain tends to come earlier in the day and cloud settles over the peaks, so volcano views at Arenal are often hidden by late morning. Go early.
Where It Rains Least: Costa Rica’s Wet Season by Region
Costa Rica’s regions behave so differently that the rainy season is really several seasons. Here’s how each one compares.
| Region | Rainy season | Best green-season months | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guanacaste and North Pacific | May to November, lightest overall | May to August, late November | September and October storms |
| Nicoya Peninsula | May to November | June to August | River crossings on dirt roads |
| Central Pacific (Manuel Antonio) | May to November, heavier | May to July | Heavy October rain |
| South Pacific (Uvita, Osa) | April to December, heaviest | July and August | Lodge closures in October |
| Arenal and Monteverde | Rain possible year-round | May to August | Cloud hiding the volcano |
| Central Valley (San Jose) | May to November | May to August | Afternoon downpours and traffic |
| Caribbean coast | Year-round, drier spells | September and October | Wetter July and November |
Guanacaste and the North Pacific
Guanacaste is the driest part of Costa Rica, and it’s where we live between trips. The rainy season here is shorter and lighter than anywhere else in the country, with long dry spells in May, June and July. It’s the easiest region to visit in the green season, and around our home base at Playa Avellanas the dry brown hills turn green within weeks of the first rain.
The Caribbean Coast
The Caribbean side gets rain throughout the year, but its pattern runs opposite to the Pacific. September and October, the Pacific’s wettest months, are often dry and sunny around Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita. If you’re coming in either month, spend at least part of the trip here.
The South Pacific
Uvita, Dominical and the Osa Peninsula are the wettest stretch of the Pacific coast, and the season starts earlier, from April. September and October can be very wet, and some lodges around Drake Bay close for those months. July and August, though, are whale season around Uvita and Marino Ballena, with humpbacks arriving from the southern hemisphere.
Arenal, Monteverde and the Mountains
The mountain regions get rain in both seasons, with cloud and drizzle common even in the dry months. The rainy season brings more of it, but also full waterfalls and a greener forest. Monteverde, Tenorio and La Fortuna are all good green-season trips; just plan hikes for the morning.
Arenal is often clear first thing and hidden by cloud by late morning in these months.
Costa Rica in September and October
September and October are the wettest months of the Costa Rica rainy season on the Pacific side, and the quietest months for tourism. A visit can still work well if you plan around it. Base yourself on the Caribbean coast, where these are often the driest months of the year, or in Guanacaste, which gets less rain than the rest of the Pacific. Build flexibility into your plans, because this is when storms can bring several days of rain and close roads, especially in the south. Avoid the Osa Peninsula and the Central Pacific in October, and check that your hotel is open; some close for a few weeks. The reward is the lowest prices of the year and empty beaches.
Rainy Season vs Dry Season in Costa Rica
The choice between seasons comes down to what you want from the trip. Here’s how they compare on the Pacific side.
| Rainy season (May to November) | Dry season (December to April) | |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | Sunny mornings, afternoon rain | Sunny and dry, windy in December and January |
| Landscape | Green, waterfalls full | Brown in Guanacaste, waterfalls lower |
| Crowds | Low, except July | High, peaking at Christmas and Easter |
| Prices | Lower hotel and car-rental rates | Highest of the year |
| Surf | Bigger south swells on the Pacific | Smaller, cleaner Pacific waves |
| Wildlife | Turtle nesting, humpback whales in the south | Easier birding in dry forest |
| Roads | Mud and river crossings on dirt roads | Dusty but easy |
If you want guaranteed beach weather, the dry season is safer; if you want green landscapes, lower prices and quieter beaches, and can live with an afternoon shower, the rainy season is the better trip.
What Stays Open in the Rainy Season
Almost everything. Costa Rica’s tourism doesn’t shut down in the green season, and in Guanacaste most businesses now stay open year-round. The exceptions are a few weeks in September and October, when some lodges and restaurants in the South Pacific and on the Osa Peninsula close, and some small, family-run places elsewhere take a break between late October and mid-November. National parks stay open, though trails can close after heavy rain, and some river and boat tours are cancelled if the water is too high. Book tours with a flexible cancellation policy and check the day before.
Why Visit Costa Rica in the Rainy Season
Fewer Tourists and Lower Prices
Outside the July school holidays, the rainy season is low season, so hotels, tours and car rentals are cheaper and easier to book at short notice. Many hotels drop their rates noticeably from May, with the deepest discounts in September and October. Costa Ricans travel more in July, but the beaches stay quiet.
Good Surf
The rainy season brings consistent south swells to the Pacific coast from roughly April to October, so it’s the best-known surf season for intermediate and advanced surfers. Max learned to surf in Costa Rica as a kid, and the Guanacaste coast picks up plenty of these swells. The Caribbean side is different, with its best swells from December to March. Our guide to the best surfing in Costa Rica covers breaks by region.
Nature at Its Greenest
The dry season turns Guanacaste brown; the first rains turn it green within weeks. Waterfalls go from trickles to full flow, and the rainforests are at their most alive. It’s the best time to visit the Costa Rica waterfalls, including the La Fortuna Waterfall, and to walk Rincon de la Vieja or one of the rainforests.
Rio Celeste, the bright-blue river in Tenorio, is a classic green-season day trip from La Fortuna, though heavy rain can turn the water cloudy, so go after a few dry days if you can.
A guided day to Tenorio’s blue river and waterfall, with transport, so you don’t drive rainy-season mountain roads yourself.
Full day · pick-up in La Fortuna · rated 4.7/5 from 700+ reviews
Wildlife and Turtle Nesting
The rainy season is peak time for sea turtles on the Pacific coast. The mass nesting, or arribada, of olive ridley turtles at Ostional is largest from August to November, when thousands of turtles come ashore over a few nights. Humpback whales visit the South Pacific from July to October, and in the forests, frogs and birds are at their most active.
Yoga and Wellness
An afternoon downpour doesn’t matter much on a yoga retreat, and green-season retreats are quieter and often cheaper. We’ve done yoga at home in Avellanas, and an open-sided shala in a tropical downpour is a good place to be. See our pick of the best yoga retreats in Costa Rica.
Driving in the Rainy Season
Paved highways stay open through the rainy season, but gravel roads get muddy, rivers rise after storms, and landslides can close mountain roads, particularly in September and October. A 4×4 is worth it for dirt roads to Monteverde, the Nicoya Peninsula and the South Pacific, where you may need to ford rivers. Drive in the morning, avoid driving after dark in heavy rain, and never cross a river you can’t see the bottom of. For a first-time drive, our Liberia to Tamarindo guide covers renting a car at Liberia airport.
We always rent from Vamos in Costa Rica, and a 4×4 is worth the extra in these months if you’re heading off the paved roads.
The Costa Rica rental company we use ourselves, with transparent pricing that includes the mandatory insurance.
Pickup at Liberia and San Jose airports · 4x4s available · no surprise fees at the counter
If you’d rather not drive in the rain, shared and private shuttles connect the main destinations, and you can book them through Bookaway.
What to Pack for Costa Rica’s Rainy Season
Pack light and quick-drying. A lightweight rain jacket or poncho, a dry bag for your phone and camera on boat trips and waterfall hikes, sandals or water shoes that can get wet, and quick-dry clothes. Add insect repellent, since mosquitoes are more active in the rain, and a small umbrella for towns. In the mountains, bring a warm layer; evenings in Monteverde can be cool.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the rainy season in Costa Rica?
Roughly May to November on the Pacific side and in the Central Valley. September and October are usually the wettest months; the Caribbean coast follows a different pattern.
Does it rain all day in Costa Rica’s rainy season?
Rarely. The usual pattern is a sunny morning and about an hour of heavy afternoon rain, especially in Guanacaste. September and October storms can bring several days of rain.
What is the rainiest month in Costa Rica?
October in most of the country, with September close behind. On the Caribbean coast, those are often among the driest months.
Which part of Costa Rica is driest in the rainy season?
Guanacaste and the North Pacific coast are the driest part of the Pacific side, and the Caribbean coast is often dry in September and October.
Is it worth visiting Costa Rica in the rainy season?
Yes, especially from May to August and in late November. The landscape is at its greenest, wildlife is active, beaches are quieter and prices drop.
Is Costa Rica cheaper in the rainy season?
Yes. Hotels and car rentals are usually noticeably cheaper outside the dry season and holidays, with deeper discounts in September and October.
Do you need a 4×4 in Costa Rica’s rainy season?
Not on paved main roads, but a 4×4 helps on gravel roads to places like Monteverde and parts of the Nicoya Peninsula, where rivers can rise after storms.
Is the rainy season good for a family beach trip to Costa Rica?
Yes, on the Guanacaste coast from June to August. Mornings are usually clear for the beach, and July’s school holidays bring a small bump in crowds.
Final Thoughts
After a decade of green seasons in Guanacaste, we’d happily visit Costa Rica in almost any rainy-season month. Go in May to August or late November for the best mix of green landscapes, sunshine and low prices; in September and October, head to the Caribbean or plan for the rain. Either way, get out early, keep afternoons flexible, and enjoy the storm when it comes. For more of the Central Pacific, see our tips for Manuel Antonio. Would you go for the surf, the turtles or the quiet beaches?
Rainy-season evenings, once the afternoon storm has passed, often bring big, colourful sunsets.
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