Seasons
When should you visit Costa Rica?
There is no bad month — only tradeoffs between rain, crowds and price. Green season afternoons are wet, but the forest is spectacular and rates drop sharply.
January
Dry seasonCrowds: High- Rain
- Little rain on the Pacific; the Caribbean can still be wet.
- Prices
- High-season rates through most of the month.
- Wildlife
- Quetzal nesting begins in the highlands. Northern humpbacks still around early in the month.
- Beaches
- Excellent on the Pacific — reliable sun, moderate surf.
Windy in Guanacaste and around Lake Arenal. Great for kitesurfing, less so for calm boat trips.
Best bets this month
These are Pura Vida Compass planning estimates, not live quotes, and not guarantees about weather, availability or wildlife sightings.