The Best Time To Visit Costa Rica For A Budget-Friendly Escape With Less Crowds
Costa Rica is not a huge country. In fact, it's about the size of West Virginia. Still, it is an increasingly popular destination for travelers. It seems that, especially since the COVID-19 lockdowns, the country has become even more of a tourist hot spot than ever before. Who could blame travelers longing to see the lush rainforests or trying their hand at a death-defying zipline over a ravine of green? Though if it's your first (or fiftieth) time seeing Costa Rica, you might want to consider going during the low tourist season, which is also the cheapest and least crowded time to visit.
We'll be honest: The low season is also the rainy season in Costa Rica. Rightly known as the green season, May through November is technically winter in Costa Rica. It is important to remember that over half of Costa Rica's land is rainforest-covered. So, it only makes sense that you'll be in a place with a healthy amount of rainfall.
Although if you're visiting from a place that's buried in snow or frostbite-inducing cold, winter in Costa Rica still involves temperatures in the 70s, 80s, and even sometimes the 90s. Not to mention how much rain you encounter will depend on where you spend time in the country. An area like Golfito will likely have much more rainfall than Liberia or Puerto Limón.
Rainy season makes vacation cheaper
When it comes to visiting Costa Rica in the green season, you're sure to save a lot of green, too. That's because hotels, car rentals, and even restaurants reduce their prices. Sure, you'll want to pack more rain gear than you might otherwise, but the cost savings are pretty appealing. If you want to maximize your vacation budget, consider visiting Costa Rica in the cheapest months of May, June, September, or October. Saving money anywhere gives you more room in the budget for all the best things to do on a family vacation in Costa Rica.
For instance, the incredible Arenal Springs Resort and Spa (at the time of writing) can cost as little as $298 per night for the cheapest room in September. Meanwhile, the same room in late December would be $468 per night or $340 per night in mid-January. And not only will these months save you big bucks, but they'll also be far less crowded.
Fewer tourists around means fewer people bumping around on nature trails, fewer carefully positioned photographs to keep strangers out, and less stress if you don't like crowds. That also means you won't have to worry as much about whacking a stranger with your umbrella or sticking to someone while donning a soaked poncho. Although the higher likelihood of rain may deter some visitors, it shouldn't scare anyone looking to see stunning Costa Rica in its most vivacious color.
Fewer human crowds but more wildlife
Natural encounters are a massive draw for tourists to Costa Rica. It's fitting since so much of the country is rainforest. For visitors wanting to see more of the wildlife that is abundant in the land of pura vida (the pure life), the rainy season is the best time to do so. Plus, you're likely to save money on tours, making it even easier to say yes to every nature excursion you can book.
Even though human crowds are smaller when it's rainy, the same cannot be said for the myriad wildlife that call the forests home. Seeing wildlife is just one of the many amazing things to do in Costa Rica — especially if you want to see sloths, as rainy time is one of their favorite things. And you also don't want to go home with the biggest complaint many tourists have after a trip to Costa Rica.
You're far more likely to spot active animals in the rain than in the arid heat of the dry season. Critters like sloths, monkeys, and birds love the freshness of the rain. Even wearing a poncho on a nature walk through a place like Manuel Antonio National Park, you'll be grateful the animals do more than sleep to conserve energy. Imagine all the money you could save visiting Costa Rica when other tourists want to stay away! And how many pairs of coatimundi socks you could bring home to remind you of your adventures.