Costa Rica Weather

The temperatures are always perfect. Because Costa Rica is located 9-10 degrees north of the Equator, the climate is tropical and the weather tends to be moderate year-round. Of course, the country has many microclimates depending on elevation, rainfall, topography, and by the geography of each particular region.

Two primary seasons. Costa Rica's seasons are not divided into the four seasons found closer to the poles. Rather they are defined by how much rain falls during a particular period. The year can generally be split into two periods.

The dry season, known to the residents as "summer", goes from December to April. This is the high season for surfing and for traveling into more remote locales like Corcovado National Park.

The rainy season, known locally as "winter", stretches from May to November. In most parts of Costa Rica this means rain in late afternoon and during the night, and fresh clear mornings that are perfect for sight-seeing and other outdoor activities.

It is important to know that the rainy season coincides closely with the Atlantic hurricane season, so it can rain constantly in some regions, swelling rivers and limiting access.

That's why they call it a "rain"forest. The location that receives the most rain is the Caribbean slopes of the Central Cordillera mountains, with an annual rainfall of over 5,000 mm (196.9 in). Humidity is also higher on the Caribbean side than on the Pacific side.

The main annual temperature on the coastal lowlands is around 27 °C (81 °F), 20 °C (68 °F) in the main populated areas of the Central Cordilera, and below 10 °C (50 °F) on the summits of the highest mountains.

Costa Rica Weather Averages