The climate in Costa Rica is often rated in the top 5 desirable climates to live in worldwide. Temperature variations are minimal throughout most of the country, with average highs in the mid eighties, and average lows in the upper sixties. The temperature can climb into the nineties in some of the beach areas, and fall into the fifties in some of the highest elevations throughout the country Costa Rica only has two seasons which are referred to as verano (summer) and invierno (winter), but temperature has nothing to do with the changing of seasons in Costa Rica.

The summer or dry season starts in early December and continues through June, and is characterized by beautiful sunny weather with minimal amounts of rain. The winter or rainy season begins in July and continues into late October and November, and while the temperature remains constant, rain often comes in heavy amounts. Most winter days are characterized by clear mornings with afternoon showers and clear evenings. The dry season is a great time to take advantage of all the exciting outdoor activities Costa Rica has to offer, while the wet season is the ideal time to see all of the beautiful flora and fauna Costa Rica possesses.

Climate by Costa Rica Regions:

Northern Pacific/Guanacaste Region

This region has become the most popular with North Americans over the last few decades because of its wonderful climate. The days can get a bit warm in this area, but the lower humidity seems to make it more tolerable. The dry season up north is truly that, very dry. The foliage will often turn from its vibrant greens to a sandy brown as the rains diminish drastically starting around the middle of December. This allows for much less humidity which is appealing to many that have moved from drier climates. When the rains do come in late June and July, one can bear witness to the magical transformation as the hillsides spring to life with new foliage and flowers. It is truly a wonderful time to be in the is area as the tourists seem to be less frequent, but the flora and fauna are much more abundant.

Central and Southern Pacific Regions

While the Central and Southern Pacific regions also enjoy a wet and dry season, the change in the amount of rain is not nearly as drastic as it is up north. The most intense part of the rainy season(usually during October) can see tremendous amounts of rainfall which often leads to regional flooding and isolated landslides. Fortunately, this intense period of rainfall only lasts for a few weeks, and the benefits include the amazing landscape that is unique to this area, and that many people feel is the most beautiful part of Costa Rica. The dry season in the south is not nearly as dry as the same time span up north. There are periods of weeks when there is limited rainfall, but generally some rain can be expected even in the driest times of the year. The beauty about this region is that it stays green and lush year round, and one can enjoy the beautiful plants and flowers throughout all seasons.

Central Valley Region

The Central Valley region enjoys moderate temperatures year round and its higher elevations give the air a light and crisp aspect that many people find appealing. This area does not have the extremes from a wet to a dry season, but enjoys a sustained amount of rainfall throughout the year. The climate in certain regions of the central valley near the town of Atenas has been called the “best climate in the world” by National geographic. The cooler temperatures and moderate rainfall make the central valley the most attractive choice for many home buyers relocating to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica weather is without a doubt one of the best climates throughout the world, and one of the many advantages of living in this beautiful country.

Tags: costa rica climate, costa rica weather

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 2nd, 2007 at 2:24 pm and is filed under Facts on Costa Rica. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.