Why You Should Visit Costa Rica in the Rainy Season

Last Updated: October 22, 2025

Most people traveling to Costa Rica come during the dry season. When we visited as tourists, we did the exact same thing. All we wanted was sun and clear blue skies, the opposite of the cold weather back in Boston in the US. Now that we live here, though, we’ve seen how amazing Costa Rica becomes with a little sprinkling of rain. Below are our top reasons why you should consider traveling to Costa Rica during the rainy season and some tips for planning during those off-season months.

For detailed information about what to expect for weather in rainy season, including which months are best, check out our post Rainy Season in Costa Rica: How Wet Is It?

Advantages of Traveling to Costa Rica in the Rainy Season

1. The Jungle Is Green and Lush and It’s Slightly Cooler

During the dry season (December to April), it seldom rains in much of the country. For stretches of weeks, or even months, it might not rain a single drop. In fact, in some regions like northern Guanacaste Province, forests turn brown towards the end of the dry season, many of the trees lose their leaves, and there are even fires in the hills.

With the arrival of the rainy season in May, it’s as if a switch has been flipped. Suddenly everything transforms to 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).

2. It’s Less Busy

During the high season when tourism picks up, many towns can feel congested. Trails become crowded, traffic increases, and finding space on the beach can be tough.

This is a problem especially in popular tourist towns like Tamarindo, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, and La Fortuna/Arenal.

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, as many locals are out and about, taking vacation time and enjoying their country.

3. It’s Cheaper to Travel

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 to November, but sometimes hotels consider July and August to be high season too).

During the 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.

See more money-saving tips for your next trip to Costa Rica.

4. Waterfalls Are Gushing and Gorgeous

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.

5. Wildlife Is More Active

One last benefit of wet weather is better wildlife viewing. Frogs like red-eyed tree frogs and poison dart frogs thrive with rain. Even mammals like sloths and monkeys become more active as they forage for fresh leaves, fruits, and flowers.

Prime whale watching and turtle watching seasons in Costa Rica also fall during the rainy months (July-October).

For wildlife enthusiasts and photographers, rainy season is the perfect opportunity to see some of Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity.

Conclusion

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

Tips for Visiting Costa Rica During the Rainy Season

When Exactly Is the Rainy Season?

For most of the country, the rainy season is from May through November and the dry season from December through April.

What Is the Best Time to Visit?

• Beginning of the rainy season (May-July). Mornings are generally sunny and it rains for an hour or two in the afternoon or night, but usually not all day.
• Beginning of the dry season (December-February). Typically little to no rain and the rainforest is still lush in most places since rainy season only ended recently.

Our post on the Best Time to Visit Costa Rica has lots more information.

Is the Weather the Same All Around Costa Rica?

Climate differs regionally in Costa Rica because of its extremely varied topography, so in some places, the seasons are slightly different.

Guanacaste Province (towns like Tamarindo, Flamingo, Playa Conchal, Playa Hermosa, Playas del Coco) is the driest part of the country and has the shortest rainy season. If you visit Guanacaste in May, it still might not have had its first rain of the season.

Rainforest zones like the southern Pacific coast (Dominical and Uvita) and the Osa Peninsula have the longest rainy season, sometimes continuing into mid-December, and get the most rain.

The Caribbean coast (towns like Tortuguero, Puerto Viejo, and Cahuita) has its own microclimate and different weather patterns. Rain is more frequent and spread out throughout the year.

The Caribbean side is the driest in September and October, which conveniently coincides with peak rainy season on the Pacific coast. This makes it a great option for a trip in September and October. For an itinerary that includes the Caribbean coast, check out our Rainy Season Coast to Coast Itinerary.

For more information on how much rain each region gets, including easy-to-read charts, check out our Weather in Costa Rica guide. 

Disadvantages of Traveling During the Rainy Season

Of course, there are some disadvantages to visiting Costa Rica in rainy season. Here are the most important.

Road Conditions

If you travel during the rainy season, be prepared for the unexpected and build in extra travel time. With the increased rain, road conditions worsen. Dirt roads can become pothole-ridden, and washouts and landslides occasionally occur. Rivers also swell, making access to some areas more difficult.

For detailed tips on navigating Costa Rica’s roads during the wet season, read our post Rainy Season Driving in Costa Rica.

Cancelled Plans

You might have a day where it rains non-stop, ruining your plans for a beach day or other excursion. Be flexible when travel planning so that if you can’t do an activity one day, you have time built in to do it another.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are the worst during the rainy season so be sure to bring some insect repellent. Costa Rica does have some mosquito-borne diseases to be aware of. Our post on Mosquitoes in Costa Rica has more information and recommendations on the best repellents to use.

Would you ever travel to Costa Rica during off-peak season? Let us know in the comments below.

Looking for more information to plan your trip? Check out these posts:

Weather in Costa Rica: What You Need to Know – Everything you need to know about the weather, including average temperatures, rainfall amounts by month, and if forecasts are reliable.

Heat and Humidity in Costa Rica – Learn what to expect for humidity in Costa Rica’s different regions.

Packing – Traveling during the rainy season has its own special considerations. Our Packing post will help you be completely prepared.

Practical Travel – Get more helpful tips on travel basics like transportation, visiting for the first time, safety, SIM cards, and lots more.

What It’s Like to Live in Costa Rica During Rainy Season – Considering a longer stay or potential move? Get a realistic look at daily life during the wetter months.