Climate & Geography

When talk turns to Costa Rica's climate, hyperbole flows as thick and as fast as the waterfalls that cascade in ribbons of quicksilver down through the forest clad mountains. The country likes wholly within the tropics, yet boasts at least a dozen climate zones and is markedly diverse in local microclimates, which make generalizations on temperature and rainfall misleading.

Most regions have a rainy season (May-November) and a dry season (December-April). And the rainfall almost everywhere follows a predictable schedule. In general, highland ridges are wet and windward sides are the wettest.

When planning your study abroad trip, don't be misled by the terms "summer" and "winter", which Ticos use to designate their wet and dry seasons. The Tico summer runs from December through April, and occurs in what are winter months in the Northern Hemisphere, so it can be confusing. Under any circumstance, do not be put off by the "rainy season". Costa Rica promotes it as the green season and it is generally speaking a splendid time to travel.

Temperature, dictated more by elevation and location than by season, range from tropical on the coastal plains to temperate in the interior highlands.

Mean temperatures average 82 F (27 C) one the coasts and lowlands, and in the central highlands the average temperatures average 74 F (23 C).

Rain is a fact of life in Costa Rica. During the rainy season, rains occur in the early afternoons in the highlands, midafternoons in the Pacific lowlands, and late afternoons in the Atlantic lowlands. Sometimes it falls in sudden torrents called aguaceros, sometimes it falls hard and steady, and many times it is intermittent throughout the afternoon.

Much of the information on our site as it relates to Costa Rica is:

Courtesy of Christopher P. Baker and Avalon Travel Publishing.
© 2004 Christopher P. Baker. All Rights Reserved.

A2Z Languages highly recommends Christopher P. Baker's book: Moon Handbooks Costa Rica. Click on the image to visit his website where you can purchase this book or find out more about the author.

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