Costa Rica has a tropical climate ...

Costa Rica has a tropical climate since it lies so near the equator. The country is famous for having one of the best climates in the world. You dress in lightweight clothing year-round and a jacket may be necessary for higher elevations and cool nights. Don’t forget your umbrella for the rainy season. U.S. style rain gear is too warm and cumbersome for the tropics.

Temperatures vary little from season to season and fluctuate with altitude. The higher you go the colder it gets, and the lower you go the warmer it is. In the Central Plateau spring-like daytime temperatures hover around 72 degrees all year, while lower elevations enjoy temperatures ranging from the upper 70s to the high 80s. Temperatures at sea level fluctuate between the high 80s and low 90s in summer with slightly more humidity than at higher elevations.

Like other tropical places, Costa Rica only has two seasons. The summer or verano is generally from late December to April with March and April being the warmest months of the year. The rainy season or invierno, runs from May to November. January is usually the coolest month. At times, there is an unseasonably dry spell or Indian summer in either July, August or September. The Costa Ricans call this pause in the rainy weather, veranillo. A relatively dry period at the end of July is referred to as canícula when there is a respite in the May to November rains. Light rains mixed with sunshine characterize this period, which can sometimes extend into August.

Unlike many of the world’s tropical areas, during the wet season almost all mornings are sunny and clear with only a few hours of rain in the afternoons. Since the temperature varies little, the wet months are usually as warm as the dry months. It is unusual to have two or three days of continuous rainy weather in most areas of the country. October is usually the rainiest month of the year. However, the Caribbean Coast tends to be wet all year long. For this reason many foreigners choose to live on the West Coast of Costa Rica. This climate, along with a unique geography, is responsible for Costa Rica’s lush vegetation and greenness at all elevations especially during the rainy season.

Foreigners shouldn’t let the rain get them down since there are a variety of indoor activities available in this country known for its outdoors. San José’s many museums, theaters, malls, casinos, roller skating rinks, Internet Cafés and other indoor activities will more than keep you busy when it rains.