Costa Rica in August

Humpback whales off Uvita (Aug–Oct); rain most afternoons.

August is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• JanuaryGreatDry and sunny on the Pacific; windy in Guanacaste; peak prices after New Year.
• FebruaryGreatDry and clear; whale-free but good wildlife; book cars early.
• MarchGreatHot and dry; Semana Santa may fall here (check) — beaches full.
• AprilGreatHottest month in Guanacaste; Easter crowds if late; still dry.

• Guanacaste and the north Pacific · Liberia, Tamarindo, Nosara, Santa Teresarainy

  The driest region: brown hills and hot days Dec–Apr; a short dry spell (veranillo) in July.

• Central and south Pacific · Manuel Antonio, Uvita, Osa, Corcovadorainy

  Very wet Sep–Oct; some Osa lodges close and Corcovado can shut in October (check).

• Central Valley and mountains · San José, Monteverde, Poás, Irazúrainy

  Spring-like 18–26 °C (64–79 °F); Monteverde is cool, windy and misty — pack a fleece.Spring-like 64–79 °F (18–26 °C); Monteverde is cool, windy and misty — pack a fleece.

• Northern plains · La Fortuna, Arenalrainy

  Rain any month; Arenal's cone is often in cloud — mornings are clearest.

• Caribbean · Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Tortuguerofine

  Reverse pattern: September–October are the driest months; Nov–Jan the wettest.

• Central Pacific: Jacó and the central coast · Sea level, Tárcoles to Queposrainy

  Dry season roughly December to April; heaviest rain September–October, often in afternoon bursts.

• Central Pacific: Gulf islands and Montezuma side · Nicoya Gulf coastrainy

  Similar pattern; the gulf crossing can be rough in wind.

• Central Valley: Central Valley floor · San José, Alajuela, Heredia, Cartagorainy

  December–April is the driest window; May–November brings afternoon showers. Temperatures sit around 20–26 °C (68–79 °F) by day and 10–15 °C (50–59 °F) at night year-round.December–April is the driest window; May–November brings afternoon showers. Temperatures sit around 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) by day and 50–59 °F (10–15 °C) at night year-round.

• Guanacaste: Guanacaste coast and lowlands · Liberia, the beach strip, Nicoyarainy

  Dry season roughly December to April with strong sun and wind; rain concentrates June–October, often as afternoon showers. The province is hotter and drier than the rest of Costa Rica.

• Limón Province: Caribbean coast (Puerto Limón to Sixaola) · Sea-level lowlands along the coast roadrainy

  No true dry season. September and October are the driest months; February and March are the next best. Expect 27–31 °C (81–88 °F) year-round and short heavy showers.No true dry season. September and October are the driest months; February and March are the next best. Expect 81–88 °F (27–31 °C) year-round and short heavy showers.

• Limón Province: Tortuguero and the canals · Northern Limón, boat access onlyrainy

  Rain almost daily; turtle nesting peaks July to October, with green turtles the main species.

• North Costa Rica: La Fortuna / Arenal · Volcano foothills and lake basinrainy

  Driest stretch is roughly December to April; the rest of the year is green and wet, with afternoon downpours. Arenal is often cloud-covered — mornings give the clearest views.

• North Costa Rica: Sarapiquí and the northern lowlands · Rainforest toward the Nicaraguan borderrainy

  One of the wettest parts of the country; rain most months, so plan indoor and river activities with wet-weather backup.

• South Pacific Costa Rica: Costanera Sur coast · Dominical, Uvita, Ojochalrainy

  Dry season roughly December to April; heaviest rain September and October.

• South Pacific Costa Rica: Osa Peninsula · Puerto Jiménez, Drake Bay, Corcovadorainy

  One of the wettest parts of Costa Rica; expect mud and leeches on trails in the wet months.

• San José26 °C (79 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 20 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 20 rain days
• Alajuela27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 19 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 19 rain days
• Atenas27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 9 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 9 rain days
• Bijagua de Upala28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 16 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 16 rain days
• Brasilito33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 9 rain days
• Bribri29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 16 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 16 rain days
• Cabo Matapalo30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 21 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 21 rain days
• Cahuita33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 16 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 16 rain days
• Carate30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 20 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 20 rain days
• Cartago25 °C (77 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 20 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 20 rain days
• Curridabat25 °C (77 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 20 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 20 rain days
• Dominical30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 20 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 20 rain days
• Drake Bay33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 16 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 16 rain days
• Esterillos31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 15 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 15 rain days
• Finca Sonador29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
• Golfito29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 13 rain days
• Grecia29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
• Heredia25 °C (77 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 20 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 20 rain days
• Jacó31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 17 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 17 rain days
• La Fortuna29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 20 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 20 rain days
• Las Catalinas32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 15 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 15 rain days
• Liberia31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 14 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 14 rain days
• Los Chiles28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
• Malpaís30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 17 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 17 rain days
• Manuel Antonio30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 13 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 13 rain days
• Montezuma28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
• Nicoya30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 13 rain days
• Nosara33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 10 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 10 rain days
• Parismina33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 15 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 15 rain days
• Pavones30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 23 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 23 rain days
• Playa Carrillo31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 15 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 15 rain days
• Playa Grande32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 13 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 13 rain days
• Playa Hermosa, Garabito31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 15 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 15 rain days
• Playa Hermosa, Osa28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 16 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 16 rain days
• Playas del Coco33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 13 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 13 rain days
• Pochote32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 15 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 15 rain days
• Potrero33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 14 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 14 rain days
• Providencia23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 19 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 19 rain days
• Puerto Jimenez27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 18 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 18 rain days
• Puerto Limón33 °C (91 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 12 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 12 rain days
• Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
• Puerto Viejo de Talamanca30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 19 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 19 rain days
• Punta Uva32 °C (90 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 15 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 15 rain days
• Quepos29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 21 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 21 rain days
• Quesada29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
• Sámara33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
• San Gerardo de Dota22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 19 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 19 rain days
• San Isidro de El General30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 14 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 14 rain days
• San Pedro de Montes de Oca27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 20 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 20 rain days
• San Ramón26 °C (79 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 13 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 13 rain days
• Santa Elena33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 13 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 13 rain days
• Santa Teresa30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 12 rain days
• Sierpe33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 14 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 14 rain days
• Sixaola29 °C (84 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 13 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 13 rain days
• Tilarán29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 16 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 16 rain days
• Tortuguero30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 22 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 22 rain days
• Turrialba30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 13 rain days
• Uvita30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 15 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 15 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Virgen de los Ángeles

  2 Aug

  Pilgrimage to Cartago; roads closed overnight.

• Mother's Day

  15 Aug

  Restaurants full.

• Virgin of Los Ángeles pilgrimage and holiday

  1–2 August · San José

  Walkers fill the road east; buses disrupted on 2 August.

Crowds · Costa Rica

Medium

Prices · Costa Rica

Medium

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Costa Rica, side by side.

• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

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Rated best or good this month

• Golfito

  Best months: Dec–Apr, Jun–Sep

• Jacó

  Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season); May–Nov is greener and cheaper with afternoon rain

• Parismina

  Best months: Mar–Sep (turtle nesting season)

• Tortuguero

  Best months: Jul–Oct for green turtles; Feb–Apr and Sep–Oct are the relatively drier windows