Costa Rica in September

If you’re planning when to go to Costa Rica, September definitely won’t be your first choice. The height of the wet season, you’ll have some of the rainiest weeks so it’s harder to get around as well as trickier to spot wildlife in the downpours, while trekking and hiking are off the cards in some areas.

If you’re hoping to see some of the more remote corners of the country, you may find it’s simply not possible due to the state of the roads, including the Osa Peninsula, home to Corcovado National Park.

However, the crowds will have left by this point and there is plenty of wildlife to tempt those who aren’t put off by the weather. Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of Olive Ridley turtles arrive to nest on the Pacific Coast, one of the best months to see this impressive sight, while it’s also one of the peak months to see humpback whales around Uvita and Costa Ballena. On the opposite coast, green sea turtle-nesting season continues at Tortuguero, with hawksbill turtles also arriving this month.

It’s not the best month to hit the beach on either coast, and while the rainforests, jungles and cloudforests are bursting with vibrant green life, you can expect 15 inches of rain this month in Monteverde alone, so it’s not the most tempting time to explore.

Festivals: Expect big celebrations for Independence Day on September 15, marking the date Costa Rica won its independence from Spain in 1821. A student relay race carrying a ‘freedom flashlight’ from Guatemala to the original capital of Costa Rica, Cartago, is one big highlight.

Best for: Turtles nesting, whale watching

 

Or perhaps you’re thinking of travelling on another month..?

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