Average Temperatures in Costa RicaDuring the months of February to April, you will find the highest temperatures. Similarly, months like September through November are generally the coldest months that the country sees, however this does vary region to region.
Costa Rica Weather in DecemberDecember is the middle of the winter season for most of the northern countries. In most of the country, the rainy season is officially over by the middle of November, when the climate gets a bit colder, windier, and less muggy, providing gorgeous clear skies and sunny days.
Costa Rica is a primarily Catholic nation and Costa Rican citizens observe Christmas with exuberance. Christmas in Costa Rica is a vibrant time: a celebration of the season, of lights and music, and of course, of family togetherness.
We recommend spending 10 days to two weeks in Costa Rica, as this timeframe will give you enough time to cover all the major highlights while also including time for traveling from one destination to another. A two-week Costa Rica itinerary will guarantee you see everything the country has to offer.
Coldest months (with the lowest average sea temperature) are January, February, March and December (27°C).
Where to Stay in Costa Rica
- #1: San JoséSan Jose | kiwibu/Pixabay.
- #2: Monteverde. Monteverde | Britt Reints/Flickr.
- #3: The Central Valley. Coffee beans | Ajay Suresh/Flickr.
- #4: Tamarindo. Playa Tamarindo | Zachary Shea/Unsplash.
- #5: Cartago. Cartago | Illusio/Pixabay.
- #6: Nicoya Peninsula. Nicoya Peninsula | eugene_o/Flickr.
- #7: Limón.
- #8: Quepos.
Where to go on holiday in December: 25 top destinations
- VENICE, ITALY. Temperature: 7ºC high; 0ºC low.
- MOSCOW, RUSSIA. Temperature: 1ºC high; -7ºC low.
- CANOUAN, THE GRENADINES. Temperature: 28ºC high; 21ºC low.
- STRASBOURG, FRANCE. Temperature: 5ºC high; -1ºC low.
- BOGOTA, COLOMBIA.
- NEW YORK CITY, USA.
- UGANDA, AFRICA.
- MILAN, ITALY.
December marks the beginning of the dry season for most of Costa Rica. The Pacific side and Central part of the country will see vast improvements in weather, and the Caribbean side will experience a fair amount of rain. The end of the month will pack the beaches and hotels, and the weather is terrific!
Costa Rica is absolutely wonderful. In Puerto Rico the roads are better food is great people friendly, weather about the same as CR. I still find that the farther you get inland or when you are in small towns you still hear mostly Spanish, but it is all good. They are both wonderful places to visit.
Country Summary: While petty crime is the predominant threat for tourists in Costa Rica, violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault, occurs in Costa Rica. The Costa Rican government provides additional security resources in areas frequented by tourists.
Costa Rica's two seasons are the dry “summer” (verano) – January through April and rainy “winter” (invierno) – May through December.
Costa Rica's lowlands and coastal areas have an average temperature of 79 F, if you like warm weather. In fact, if you are looking for a warm climate, head to Costa Rica's northern Pacific coast. Known as the Gold Coast, this area receives the least rainfall and has more sunny days than anywhere else in the country.
A week of vacation in Costa Rica costs between $850 and $1,450 for an average traveler in mid-priced hotels, lodges or rental houses and doing standard tours (assuming double occupancy). Beachfront accommodations and high dollar activities like deep sea fishing will quickly push the budget over $2,500.
Costa Rica: 10 Places You Don't Want To Miss
- Monteverde. Oh, Monteverde!
- Tortuguero. Undoubtedly, the place should be placed on your list ”best places in Costa Rica”.
- Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
- Cahuita.
- Manuel Antonio National Park.
- La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano.
- Santa Teresa.
- Samara.
The Top 10 Boutique Hotels and Resorts on Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast
- Hotel Banana Azul, Limón.
- Kenaki Lodge, Cahuita - Provincia de Limon.
- Almonds and Corals Hotel, Manzanillo.
- Tortuga Lodge and Gardens, Jiménez.
- Samasati Retreat and Rainforest Sanctuary, Limón Province.
- Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel Limon.
Costa Rica is known for its incredible national parks, where tourists can enjoy some thrilling activities like river rafting, canyoning, cave tubing, and zip lining. It's also one of the best places for animal lovers to discover some interesting wildlife like macaws, sea turtles, and adorable sloths.
Best Things To Do in Costa Rica
- #1. Nicoya Peninsula. free. #1 in Costa Rica.
- #2. Arenal Volcano. #2 in Costa Rica. Find Tours & Tickets.
- #3. Guanacaste. free.
- #4. Corcovado National Park. #4 in Costa Rica.
- #5. Manuel Antonio National Park. #5 in Costa Rica.
- #6. Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. #6 in Costa Rica.
- #7. Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. free.
- #8. Jacó free.
How Much Does Beer Cost in Costa Rica? One beer from the grocery store costs about 720 Colones or $1.25 US. If you want to have a beer at a restaurant or bar, you can pay between 1,000 Colones ($1.75) and 2,000 Colones ($3.50) for Imperial beer which is the local Costa Rican light beer.
Beach Destinations
- Playa Conchal. Photo via Flickr.
- Nosara. Photo via Flickr.
- Playa Carrillo. Photo via Flickr.
- Punta Islita. Photo via Flickr.
- La Fortuna /Arenal. Photo via Flickr.
- Rio Celeste – Tenorio Volcano National Park. Photo via Flickr.
- Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park. Photo via Flickr.
- Need to plan a trip to Costa Rica?
- Step #1: Get to know Costa Rica.
- Step #2: Determine your vacation window.
- Step #3: Research Costa Rica destinations.
- Step #4: Choose cities, towns, and beaches to visit based on your tour and activity preferences.
- Step #5: Research and choose your desired accommodations.
For this reason, there are many cultural and historical things to do in San Jose, Costa Rica. Many travelers brush off San Jose, using it solely as a transit hub to get to the volcanoes and beaches or skipping it entirely. Though a bit rough around the edges at first impression, it's certainly worth visiting.
11 best things to do in Costa Rica
- Try white water rafting. With so much jungle and humidity, there are plenty of rivers around Costa Rica for white water rafting.
- Go snorkeling.
- Take a day trip to a waterfall.
- Zip line through the forest.
- Lounge on the beach.
- Learn how to make coffee.
- Try canyoneering.
- Soak in some hot springs.
Wash your hands before eating, Take sensible precautions with where you eat while travelling around the country. Chose places with a high turnover so the food will be fresh, avoid eating uncooked vegetables and unpasteurized milk and dairy products such as cheese and yogurt.
Many people I've met have told me that the Pacific side of Costa Rica is the better coast to visit. The remote Osa Peninsula, the monkey-filled area of Manuel Antonio, and the touristy Nicoya coast make it the superior choice when compared with the Caribbean, they claim.
Mexico is always affordable, and probably going to be the same for a long time. Go to Costa Rica while its a travelling gem, and its in the right price range.
Despite protests from taxi drivers, Uber in Costa Rica is up and running and going strong. You can still take taxis in Costa Rica but for us, Uber is quick, cheaper and more comfortable.
Costa Rica's 7 Best Beaches Put All Others to Shame
- Playa Conchal.
- Playa Manzanillo.
- Nosara.
- Playa Montezuma.
- Costa Ballena.
- Tamarindo.
- Manuel Antonio.
It's generally safe to drink tap water in Costa Rica, except in the most rural and undeveloped parts of the country. However, if you prefer to be cautious, buying bottled water is your best bet. If you have the means, vigorous boiling for one minute is the most effective means of water purification.
Costa Rica is a very clean and safe place to visit. The people are friendly and there aren't major weather events (like earthquakes or hurricanes) that happen here regularly. Update: 3/6/2020 Currently COVID-19 Corona Virus is a concern for everyone deciding to travel.
