When to go to Costa Rica for families

Costa Rica never really gets cold – the average temperatures usually stay between 24 and 30°C year-round. However, its weather patterns are complicated by the mountains in the central part of the country, meaning that the heavier, more consistent rains come at different times to different coasts. Rain in Costa Rica usually comes in short, sharp bursts, and we’d recommend packing a light waterproof whatever time of year you go. But with a bit of planning you can improve your chances of a blissfully sunny family holiday.

In all likelihood, you’ll be restricted to times when the kids aren’t at school. So, to make things easier here’s a little summary of the weather during school holidays, where to go to get the best of it, and when you’ll see the best wildlife.

A great time to explore pretty much any part of Costa Rica. The Pacific coast is likely to stay dry, and whilst the central regions and Caribbean will have the odd shower mixed in with wonderful sunshine.

Humpback whales will be active in the Pacific and, if you’re lucky, your holiday may coincide with the very start of nesting season for Hawksbill and Leatherback turtles.

Easter is a good time to visit Costa Rica, but expect the days to get pretty hot at times. There will also be an increase in rainfall, particularly on the Caribbean side, but this usually consists of a heavy afternoon shower and you shouldn’t let it put you off. You’ll likely find that the sun is shining for the vast majority of your holiday.

We’d recommend booking ahead as things can get busy around Easter, especially if you’re thinking of heading to Tortuguero where Leatherback and Hawksbill turtle nesting season is underway.

The summer months fall within Costa Rica’s “green season”. This means more rainfall, more active wildlife and some lovely, lush landscapes. Again, rain usually comes as an afternoon downpour rather than all-day drizzle, but for your best chance of staying dry you should stay more on the Pacific side and travel in July rather than August.

Turtle nesting will be well underway in Tortuguero, including Loggerheads and Green Sea Turtles, but you may be slightly too early for the great migrations over on the Pacific coast. If you want to see humpback whales then your best chance is in August

This is generally regarded as off-season in Costa Rica, although it’s often a pretty good time to have a beach break on the Caribbean coast. Elsewhere, rainfall can get heavy and travel to places like the Osa Peninsula grinds almost to a halt.

On the plus side, it’s a good time for whale spotting and seeing turtles nest, and prices are generally lower too. Be prepared to get a bit wet though!

Costa Rica is a very popular destination over the festive period, and for good reason. The beaches on the Pacific coast are usually blessed with lovely, dry weather, while the landscapes are looking green and beautiful after the rainy season. In contrast, this is one of the wettest times over on the Caribbean, so we recommend staying west over Christmas and New Year.

It’s also a good time for Pacific wildlife, with Hawksbill and Green Sea turtles nesting at a few spots along the coast and down on the Osa Peninsula. Humpbacks will also be active so it’s well worth booking a whale watching tour.