Costa Rica Weather

     Costa Rica’s weather alternates between the rainy (green) and the dry seasons.  The rainy season begins in earnest in May and ends in November.  Even though it might rain every day for a few days or weeks (often at exactly the same time every day!), it seems like the mornings always begin with sunshine and fresh breezes.  It does not rain every day during the rainy season and people go about their business as usual, but they may try to run errands in the morning.  Even if you get caught in a rain shower, the rain is not cold.  Rains can come quickly, flooding roads and causing traffic to slow down.  Soon the rain ends, the sun comes out and things return to normal.  Because of the number of microclimates, you can be riding in pouring rain and, suddenly, the rain will stop and you will be surrounded by sunshine! 

     In December, the “winds of Christmas” begin, days start getting warmer and the tourist season begins in earnest.  (However, as Costa Rica has become better known over the last several years, the tourist season now extends over most of the year.)

     Beach areas are much hotter and more humid than the Central Valley.  Don’t convince yourself that you are protected from the sun’s burning rays by sitting under an umbrella.  Reflected light can burn your skin within minutes.

     (Rain or shine, you’ll love the view of the Central Valley from this San Rafael home for sale.)

 

Microclimates, pelo de gato and more

People often ask “Where’s the best place to live in Costa Rica?”  That depends on what you like.  Do you like hot, humid weather?  Cool, rainy weather?  Warm, dry weather?  Do you enjoy the occasional pelo de gato (light rain – almost like mist – accompanied by sunshine and bits of rainbows)?  Are breezes more to your liking?  Costa Rica has all of these weather conditions and more, thanks to its microclimates!  Your surroundings can change dramatically within minutes depending on the elevation, mountain proximity, vegetation, coastal breeze patterns, season (dry or wet), etc.  You can go from sitting outside enjoying cool breezes in the Central Valley to running for shade at a hot, humid beach within a couple hours.  You can be dressed comfortably in a sweatshirt watching heavy rainfall in the mountains above Heredia at the same time that someone in Heredia may be experiencing light rain and someone else in Alajuela can be walking around in bright sunshine in shorts and shirtsleeves peering up at the rainbows over the mountains.  And these areas are mere kilometers apart!  When I lived in Minnesota, we used to say that if you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes and it will change.  There, temperatures could swing 40-60° in one day.  You could go into a shopping center in the morning with the sun shining brightly overhead only to emerge 4-5 hours later and be greeted by 6 inches of snow on the ground and be blinded by blustery winds that brought tears to your eyes and made your nose run.  I’ll take Costa Rica’s swings over Minnesota’s any day.  For me, the best place to live is in a lower region of the Central Valley; I love it.  You’ll have to decide the best place for you – have fun exploring all the options.  (If you like cool, mountain living with a view, check out this home.)