Traveling to Costa Rica in the Rainy Season

If you plan your visit right, you can enjoy paradise (almost) all to yourself, for less, and still not get rained on all day. Here are some more tips to help you plan.  With the arrival of the rainy season in June, it’s as if a switch has been flipped. Suddenly everything transforms into a beautiful, verdant green. The jungle becomes lush, flowers bloom, and there is less dust. Temperatures feel slightly cooler due to the moisture too, which is a nice break especially at the beach where temps can climb into the 90s°F (32°C).  The Jungle Is Green and Lush and It’s Slightly Cooler.

In the rainy season, there just aren’t as many people around so you’re more likely to have parks, beaches, and other sights all to yourself. It’s also a nice way to get to know the culture and people, as many locals are out and about, taking vacation time and enjoying their country.

Costa Rica has a few different travel seasons: the high season (December to April), the peak season (the weeks around Christmas, New Years, and Easter), and the low season (generally May/June to November.  Some hotels and rental car companies consider July and August to be the mid-high season.

During the rainy/low season, just about every hotel has reduced rates, car rentals tend to be cheaper, and it’s much easier to negotiate prices on things like tours. Some restaurants offer 2-for-1 specials and other deals, and sometimes you can even name your own price on a room.

Waterfalls Are Gushing and Gorgeous in the rainy season. In the dry season, river levels tend to get lower, which makes some of the country’s amazing waterfalls less than spectacular. You may notice that some waterfalls are called “seasonal.” If someone tells you this, don’t even bother visiting during the dry season because you will likely see just a sad trickle. During the rainy season, these same waterfalls are gushing and glorious.

Those are some of the big reasons that you should consider visiting Costa Rica during the rainy season.