Micro Climates of Costa Rica

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Abundant in lush tropical rainforests, spectacular sunbathed beaches and a wide array of plant and animal species, Costa Rica is blessed with incredibly diverse micro climates.

The great variety in climates is mainly due to the geographical diversity. Being closer to the equator, it has been classified as a tropical country.

However with its own distinct climatic zones it has a lot to offer in terms of weather.

12 Climatic Zones

Located in the tropics, Costa Rica has twelve climatic zones varying from hot and humid to cold and frosty.

The temperatures are mostly determined by the elevation and other geographical factors.

There are two major seasons that exist in this tropical paradise, these being the dry season (lasting from December to April) and the rainy season (from May to November).

Costa Rica’s micro climates vary from the exotic volcanoes to the cool cloud forests, from the dense jungle to the tropical dry forests and golden beaches to the secluded waterfalls and rivers.

The overall climate of Costa Rica can be described as mild. Located within the tropics, it is prone to drastic seasonal changes. The temperatures during the dry season remain pleasantly in the high 80 degrees F while during the wet season the mornings may be sunny and showers are expected in the afternoons.

The coastal areas have slightly higher temperatures while the mountain ranges are colder and temperatures may even drop down to the low 50 degrees F.

Temperatures usually vary from 70 degrees F in the Central region to high 80’s in the Northern lowlands and in the low 80’s near the Caribbean coast.

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Coolest temperatures have been recorded as low as 40 degrees F. On average the hottest months in Costa Rica are February to April while the coolest are September through November, with a great contrast in temperatures during the night and day. Of course these are averages and this greatly varies on location.

Look at our Costa Rica weather chart to see the specifics on the time and location for the best times to travel.

Rainfall in Costa Rica

Rain also varies from region to region. Costa Rica receives an average rainfall of 100 inches per year.

The Caribbean coastline is the most humid while the Northern lowlands are the driest.

Some areas like the Guanacaste province receive very low amount of rain.

The weather ranges from dry to humid, from hot to rainy with sunshine to light tropical breeze and rainbows with occasional pelo de gato.

With such an array of temperatures to offer, it is necessary to keep the varying weather in mind while travelling in Costa Rica.