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Coastal bay with hills and beach at dusk

Costa Rica travel guide

Rainforests, volcanoes and two coastlines in one small country

Best: Feb

Photo: Jean Paul Montanaro / Pexels

Capital
San José
Language
Spanish
Currency
Costa Rican colón
Time zone
UTC-06:00
Plugs
Type A, B · 120 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
112 / 911

Why visit Costa Rica

Costa Rica suits travellers who want jungle hikes, beach time and wildlife in one trip, without covering huge distances. February is the best month to go, with dry, sunny weather across most of the country. One honest limitation: outside this dry window, Costa Rica's Pacific and Caribbean sides see heavy rain for long stretches of the year, so plan around the season you're travelling in.

  • Dry season sunshine in February

    February is rated the best month to visit Costa Rica, falling in the dry season. That makes it a solid pick for beach time and outdoor plans without rain interruptions.

  • Two coasts, one small country

    At just 51,100 km2, Costa Rica packs in both a Caribbean coast, home to the port city of Limón, population 71,514, and a Pacific coast with Puntarenas, population 41,528. You can experience both sides without long travel distances.

  • A compact capital base

    San José, the capital, has a population of 335,007, making it by far the country's largest city. It works as a central hub for trips into the surrounding highlands and out to the coasts.

  • Highland towns beyond the capital

    Inland cities like Alajuela, population 44,374, and Cartago, population 22,775, sit away from the coast and offer a cooler, highland alternative to beach travel within easy reach of San José.

  • Easy entry for Spanish speakers and learners

    Spanish is the national language across Costa Rica's 5,160,700 people, and the country runs on UTC-06:00, with a calling code of +506 and driving on the right, details worth knowing before you land.

Is Costa Rica right for you?

Great for

  • Travellers who dislike heat: daytime highs stay between 21.4°C and 23.3°C all year
  • February trips, the best month, with 11.4 rain days and 10.7 sun hours a day
  • Late-winter trips in February or March, with only 63 to 66 mm of rain
  • Visitors from North America, since power is 120 V with type A and B plugs
  • Spanish speakers or learners, as Spanish is the language used across the country

Less ideal for

  • Trips from May to November, with 28.6 to 30.2 rain days a month
  • Sun seekers in September and October, with 571 to 587 mm of rain and under 8 sun hours
  • Travellers wanting big-city life, as the capital San José has only 335007 people

Costa Rica right now: October

6.9/10
Avg high
23°C
Avg low
16°C
Rain days
30

Averages for Costa Rica.

Weather by month

This climate data is for Costa Rica's central region. February is the best month, with only 63mm of rain over 11.4 days, 22.1°C highs, and 10.7 hours of sunshine, while October brings the toughest weather, with 587mm of rain spread across 30.2 days and just 7.4 hours of sun.

Average highs and lows in Costa Rica by month January: high 21°C, low 15°C , 17 rain days . February: high 22°C, low 15°C , 11 rain days . March: high 23°C, low 15°C , 16 rain days . April: high 23°C, low 16°C , 21 rain days . May: high 23°C, low 17°C , 29 rain days . June: high 23°C, low 17°C , 30 rain days . July: high 22°C, low 17°C , 29 rain days . August: high 23°C, low 16°C , 30 rain days . September: high 23°C, low 16°C , 30 rain days . October: high 23°C, low 16°C , 30 rain days . November: high 22°C, low 16°C , 29 rain days . December: high 22°C, low 15°C , 21 rain days . 21°C 15°C JAN 17d 22°C 15°C FEB 11d 23°C 15°C MAR 16d 23°C 16°C APR 21d 23°C 17°C MAY 29d 23°C 17°C JUN 30d 22°C 17°C JUL 29d 23°C 16°C AUG 30d 23°C 16°C SEP 30d 23°C 16°C OCT 30d 22°C 16°C NOV 29d 22°C 15°C DEC 21d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Costa Rica (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Costa Rica: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Capital, highland town and the coast

  1. Day 1–3

    San José

    Start in the capital, the largest city on this list. Get local cash in Costa Rican colón, buy a SIM, and spend time walking the centre while you settle in.

  2. Day 4

    Cartago

    Take a day in this smaller inland city. It is a calmer place to explore on foot after the capital. Return to San José or stay overnight.

  3. Day 5–7

    Puntarenas

    End on the coast with three slower days by the sea. Keep this stop simple and rest before you fly home.

10 days

Inland cities and a coastal finish

  1. Day 1–2

    Alajuela

    Begin in Alajuela, a smaller inland city. It is an easy first base while you adjust. Remember that Spanish is the official language, so a few basic phrases help.

  2. Day 3–4

    San José

    Move to the capital for two days. Explore the centre on foot and use it to sort out practical things like cash and plugs, which are types A and B.

  3. Day 5

    Cartago

    Spend a day in Cartago, a quieter inland city than the capital. It is a good change of pace before you head to the coast.

  4. Day 6–10

    Limón

    Finish with five days in this coastal city. The long stay leaves time to rest by the sea. If you rent a car, note that Costa Rica drives on the right.

Food to try in Costa Rica

Gallo pinto

This is a breakfast dish of rice and beans mixed together, often with onion, pepper and cilantro. It is eaten across Costa Rica and is usually served with eggs, cheese or plantain.

Casado

A casado is a set lunch plate with rice, beans, salad, plantain and a choice of meat or fish. It is common in sodas, the small family-run restaurants found in every town.

Olla de carne

This is a beef and vegetable soup with chunks of squash, corn, yuca and potato. It is a home-style dish often served on Sundays or for family gatherings.

Chifrijo

Chifrijo mixes fried pork, rice and beans, topped with pico de gallo and served with tortilla chips. It started as a bar snack and is now found in sodas and restaurants nationwide.

Tres leches cake

This soft sponge cake is soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated, condensed and whole. It is a popular dessert at celebrations and in bakeries across the country.

Agua dulce / coffee

Costa Rica grows coffee in its central highlands, and a cup is part of daily life. Agua dulce, a hot drink made from raw sugar cane, is another traditional option, especially in rural areas.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Costa Rica uses plug types A and B, and the voltage is 120 V. Check your chargers and devices before you travel. You may need an adapter or a voltage converter.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and when you pull out.
  • Emergency number: For emergencies, call 112 or 911. Save both numbers in your phone before you arrive.
  • Currency: The local currency is the Costa Rican colón. Ask your bank about card fees abroad before you leave home.
  • Language: Spanish is the official language. Learning a few basic phrases will help in shops, on buses and in smaller towns.
  • Time zone: Costa Rica is on UTC-06:00. Check the time difference with home so you can plan calls and flights.
  • Calling code: The country calling code is +506. Use it when you call a Costa Rican number from abroad or save local contacts.

Costa Rica: frequently asked questions

Is Costa Rica good to visit in August?

Yes, August scores 7 out of 10 and counts as a good month. It's warm, with highs of 22.7°C, but rain falls on about 29.5 days and totals around 490 mm. Expect frequent afternoon showers rather than all-day rain, with 8 hours of sun on average.

When is the best time to visit Costa Rica?

February is rated the best month, scoring 7.7 out of 10. It has the lowest rainfall of the year, about 63 mm over 11.4 rain days, plus 10.7 hours of sunshine daily and a high of 22.1°C. Every month still scores at least 6.9, so there is no bad time by these numbers.

What is the wettest month in Costa Rica?

October is the wettest month, with 587 mm of rain spread across 30.2 rain days. September and August are close behind, at 571 mm and 490 mm. This stretch from May to November is the country's rainy season, with sun hours dropping to around 7.4 to 8.1 per day.

How hot does it get in Costa Rica?

Daytime highs stay in a narrow range all year, from 21.4°C in January to 23.3°C in April. Nights are mild too, with lows between 14.5°C and 16.6°C. There's no extreme heat or cold by these averages, just steady tropical warmth year-round.

Which Costa Rican cities are on the coast?

Limón and Puntarenas are the two coastal cities listed, with populations of 71,514 and 41,528. The capital, San José, sits inland and is the largest city at 335,007 people. Alajuela and Cartago are also inland, with 44,374 and 22,775 residents.

Similar destinations

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