Costa Rica a Way to Enjoy the Rainy Season
For newcomers, the rainy season may seem a bit gloomy, right? All that rain! The dampness, being cold… Well! Not really! Go on reading, and we will tell you the good news
Different from other latitudes in the World, Costa Rica only has two seasons: The sunny Season and the Rainy season. You can even say it has one solid season, the same temperature all year round… with two periods.
The rainy season is, the best time to visit Costa Rica. All the activities are available, including tours, hotels, and transportation, there are lower fares, and some of the attractions are better. For example, rafting, if you get to do rafting in Costa Rica at the very climax of the rainy season, you are up to an unforgettable ride. Not only because the rivers are full, but also because the landscapes get to be breathtaking!
If you ask a real, local expert, what is the best time to come to Costa Rica? The answer is always the same: Rainy seasons when the land blooms, there are lower prices, and everything is available. No lines, no crowds, great rates.
Of course, this depends on what you are looking for; if you just want to stay sunbath on the beach, the rainy season may not be the best for you. But, if you are up to seeing rainforest, fauna, and flora, and having adventures, then the rainy season is for you! You will enjoy it intensely!
1, When it rains, it’s just for two or three hours.
The rainy season is not that rainy. September and October are the wettest months in the Pacific and Central areas, November and December for the Caribbean side, yet surprisingly, the rain just lasts about two or three hours the most.
Experiencing a good downpour at 4 a.m. while on the bed it’s probably one of the most exciting things you can live while still under the sheets. If you are in your room, it may be very surprising because the noise of a massive tropical rain on the tin roofs of the lodges is super impressive.
Now, in the day… If you are walking in the rainforest, you will get surprised at how little rain gets to the bottom of the forest. And even if you are in the open, don’t worry! The rain is not cold; it is quite comfortable and warm.
2. Costa Rica in the Rainy Season is a Green Wonderland!
Throughout the rainy season, the whole country turns to be luscious green wherever you go. And wherever you go, you will witness how life shines everywhere. This radically changes in the sunny season, where you will find beautiful as well, brown and yellowish landscapes combined with the pink, red and purple trees in bloom.
3. Rivers Full of Adrenaline
The mother of teamwork; Full rivers! The best way to enjoy this sport is in the rainy season! The rivers are full, which means that the forest is brighter, wildlife appears, and you are wet already! During the Rainy season, Costa Rica is fantastic for rafting, which is way better than when the rivers are low.
4. This is a Land Created by Volcanoes
As weird as it may sound, it’s way easier to see the volcanoes after a good rain. Moreover, well, yes! In Costa Rica, mostly all hills are volcanoes. Let’s explain this: In the sunny season, the humidity comes from the Caribbean and forms clouds over them; this gets stuck up on the tops of the mountains. In Costa Rica, in the rainy season, this humidity turns into pouring rains that, after a while, pass and leave the hills transparent.
5. Shorter lines and fewer people.
When you get to Costa Rica in the sunny season, you may find yourself doing long lines and a lot of people running away from winter to get the tropical weather. This happens as well with cruises. You will find large groups running around, buses of forty or fifty people, a rainforest trail full of persons, the same in the hanging bridges, restaurants, and even souvenir stores. They come to the coast when the sunny season starts.
But Costa Rica in the rainy season is absolutely great if you don’t want lines, and if you are into adventure, wildlife, and rainforest, we recommend the rainy season; you won’t find, not even remotely, the same amount of people. (Maybe only in June, because of the summer vacations).
Even Costa Ricans don’t travel as much in the rainy season since our summer vacation has to do with the coffee harvest (The good old days remain) in December and January.
You may also enjoy 18 facts about the Costa Rica Southwest that will impress your friends.
6. Insects, Fauna with More Than Four Legs
Ok, ok. This may not be the favorite part for everyone, but neither is it attractive. But, it’s true. In the Rainy Season, hundreds, if not thousands of insects come to life with the humidity; there are wonderful and beautiful
Metal-like bugs, the mighty Hercules beetles (Picture above) that live on the trees and come out in the rainy season, and the super colorful and weird-looking caterpillars and fantastic praying mantis are much easier to see in the rainy season than in the dry heat of the sunny season.
7. The Rain Over Here is Quite Warm
Because we are a tropical country, the rain is warm, unless you go to the higher mountains, where the temperature decreases. Kids are very used to playing in the shower, and in general, getting wet is not related to being cold in the warm rainforest areas.
8. The Glow of the Rainforest
Rain is what makes a rainforest! And because of this, when the rain comes, the forest starts to come back to life, the foliage turns brighter, fruits get ripe, and birds and, in general, animals have a lot of food to eat. If there is a time when it is best to see the rainforest is right after a downpour of the rainy season.
9. Dolphins and Whales:
Humpback Whales’ migration time is from July to November, dates which are part of the rainy season. And dolphins get more active. Maybe because of the rivers pouring out more water with sediments in the oceans, these mammals are more visible in the rainy season than in the sunny season.
10. Turtle Season Happens all Throughout the Rainy Season.
Depending on where you are going, in Costa Rica in the rainy season, you can see the huge leatherbacks, the beautiful hawksbill, or the abundant green sea turtles:
- Leatherback Turtles: Caribbean Coast, On the Caribbean, they nest from March to July, although hard to see. On the Pacific, they nest from September to March.
- Green Sea Turtles: They nest from July to October along the North Caribbean, especially Tortuguero.
- Olive Ridleys: On the Pacific Coast they nest throughout the year, but the actual nesting is intense from July to November.
- Hawksbill Turtles: Nest in Cahuita National Park in September & October and can be found foraging in the Golfo Dulce.
So well! There you go! Costa Rica in the rainy season sure sounds like fun! Check it out with our Sales Consultants and see if you can book a great package to see all these wonders before the sunny season kicks back again!
Written by Olga Sáenz-Carbonell for Camino Travel. If you would like to ask any questions or comments please write to blogwriter@caminotravel.com
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