Costa Rica Rainy Season
Before COVID, I would have never written this blog post. The reason being is that tourism in Costa Rica never really struggled to have people visit until COVID. We would receive guests from later December until Mid-August. Many of those guests thought that we would bunker up for September, October, and November, just waiting out the Costa Rica rainy season. They were correct that those months were the rainy season. But they could not be farther from the truth to think we just hunkered down to try and stay dry.
So why doesn’t a Costa Rica Rainy Season Exist?
Costa Rica’s rainy season doesn’t exist on a country-wide level. At no point in every area of the country is it the rainy season at the same time.
Costa Rica has many variables that allow such a small country to never have the same weather all at once.
These variables are its rugged terrain and a coastline on each of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. A rainy season in one part of Costa Rica is not the rainy season in another. The reasons listed below are why no one would not spend these three months hunkered down.
If you are familiar with rafting, then more rain means better and more adventurous rapids! Too much rain, of course, means it’s canceled. But for the most part, the rainy season has a water level that is just perfect for rafting.
Caribbean Costa Rica
The second reason is that not all of Costa Rica has the same rainy season. In the spirit to re-activate tourism in Costa Rica, I will let you in on a little secret.
The Caribbean side of Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful coastal areas on the planet. It is a short window, but it can’t be matched during September, October, and November. The white sandy beaches, sunny blue skies, and crystal clear water. It has always been mind-boggling that more people do not visit during this time of the year.
It has always been unfortunate that Costa Rica was labeled the rainy season for the entire country. This has resulted in fewer visitors and investment on the Caribbean side.
The driest months of the southern Caribbean in September, October, and November. Ironically this is a phenomenon related to hurricane season forming a sun umbrella over the southern Caribbean.
I will say the good majority of the country; you can expect rain even once you get into the Caribbean mountains. But the actual coastline is practically no rain for three months.
This combination is one of the few places where you can find world-class rafting on the Pacuare River. Then only a one and ½ hour drive to the sunny white sandy beaches of the southern Caribbean. You might think I am biased, but it is without question my favorite combination possible for a Costa Rica adventure vacation.
