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Trip Ideas
- The Best of Costa Rica
- Costa Rica’s Top Spots for WIldlife
- Costa Rica’s Most Beautiful Beaches
- Costa Rica’s Best Beaches for Wildlife
- Best Surfing Beaches in Costa Rica
- Costa Rica’s Unique Retreats & Resorts
- Surf’s Up in Costa Rica
- Off-The-Beaten-Path Eco-Adventures
- Costa Rica Family-Friendly Adventures
- Adrenaline Rush
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Costa Rica has two distinct seasons: dry season (December–April) and wet season (May–November). Although regional distinctions exist, rainy season is typified by brief afternoon showers or downpours. As the season progresses, more sustained rains occur, often lasting for days. Prices are usually lower in rainy season, and it is easier to find vacant rooms in popular destinations. The Caribbean and Osa Peninsula can be rainy year-round. Dry season is usually sunny.
Peak-season rates usually apply for Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter, when many accommodations and car rentals are booked months in advance.
My favorite time to visit is May through early June, when crowds have departed and the first rains have greened up the scenery.
© Christopher P. Baker from Moon Costa Rica, 8th Edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.