Much of what attracts travelers and creates much of Costa Rica tourism are the natural wonders of this relatively safe country. It is safe and easy to travel here so this stable and peaceful country is beginning to enjoy the fruits of outside visitors. Tourism in Costa Rica is a rapidly growing industry that encompasses nature tours, surfing, deep-sea fishing and the ever-popular Costa Rica river-rafting.

With no less than 12 microclimates, knowing what areas of the country you"d like to see and knowing about Coast Rica weather when you visit will help you decide when to go. Costa Rica climate in the humid lowlands is consistently in the upper 80s, while the capitol of San Jose, in the center of the country sees a constant springtime, with temperatures averaging in the mid sixties most of the year. The Costa Rica climate in towns like Cartago is generally cool, being only 12 miles away from the Irazu volcano, where it rarely gets warmer than 60 degrees.

The rainy season can begin as early as April or late as the end of May, and oftentimes last well into November. You will find mornings to be strangely clear and sunny, with showers beginning in the afternoon and continuing until the early evening.

Costa Rica Map

The months of November to March is considered prime Costa Rica surfing time. High tide enhances the rough waves of the Northern pacific coast, creating an irresistible lure for mavericks and making Costa Rica surfing a mainstay of tourism. High temperatures and little rain bring surfers and other beachgoers to the protected gulf of Nicoya in the west as well as the Atlantic coasts. As with other popular vacation destinations, travel to Costa Rica involves more crowds and higher rates for plane tickets and hotels during the dry season.

The early days of April is the time that a large International Art Festival takes place in the capitol, San Jose. Arts and cultural festivals are more plentiful during the dry season, however there are a number of smaller regional craft and culture festivals that take place during the wet season, when Costa Rica tourism practically grinds to a halt. If you don"t mind a little rain, you might find this the perfect time to visit Costa Rica and enjoy great rates on hotel accommodations.

Activities that are the mainstay of tourism in Costa Rica are mainly outdoor activities, so taking a little time to find out about what sort of Costa Rica weather you can expect based on your plans helps you make the most of your time there.

Whether you travel to Costa Rica to ride mountains of water or test your bravery on a jaw dropping volcano expedition, you might just find that any type of year and any Costa Rica climate can be fun, all you have to do now is plan when to go.