Costa Rica · Month comparison
August vs July
July ranks #1 overall vs August at #5. Humpback whales arrive off the Pacific coast and sea turtles begin nesting at Tortuguero.
August
#5 of 12 months
Best match
Green season in full swing — whale watching continues, turtles peak at Tortuguero, and the jungle is impossibly lush.
- ↑Humpback whale watching at its best: August is peak whale month on the Pacific south coast, with high probability of sightings from Uvita and Drake Bay
- ↑Tortuguero sea turtle nesting peaks in August — green turtles are nesting in the highest numbers, and leatherback and hawksbill turtles are also present
July
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Humpback whales arrive off the Pacific coast and sea turtles begin nesting at Tortuguero.
- ↑Humpback whale watching season opens off the Pacific south coast (Marino Ballena National Park, Drake Bay) — the July–October migration of humpbacks from Antarctica is one of the world's great wildlife spectacles, viewable on day boats
- ↑Green turtle nesting begins at Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast — guided night beach walks to watch turtles lay eggs are among the most extraordinary wildlife experiences in Central America
| Factor | August | July |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 4 | 5 |
| Value score | 8 | 8 |
| Crowd score | 8 | 8 |
| Events score | 8 | 9 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 25°C | 25°C |
| Monthly rain | 241mm | 211mm |
| Daily sunshine | 5hrs | 5.3hrs |
August trade-offs
- ↓241mm of rain — the heaviest green-season month alongside June; Pacific beaches are wet by afternoon and the landscape is vibrantly tropical in a way that limits sunbathing
- ↓Lowest sunshine hours of the year (5.0 daily): if a beach holiday with clear skies is the goal, August is genuinely the wrong month on the Pacific
- ↓Some roads to remote beaches (particularly Osa Peninsula) can become difficult in heavy rain; a 4WD vehicle is advisable for exploring off the main routes
July trade-offs
- ↓Pacific rainfall continues at 211mm: the morning-clear, afternoon-wet pattern holds, and planning activities for early morning is essential
- ↓Tortuguero turtle tours require advance booking through licensed operators — only a limited number of visitors allowed on the beach each night; reserve weeks ahead
- ↓Still low season pricing which means infrastructure is quieter; some upscale lodges and tour operators work at reduced capacity
Scores compare months within Costa Rica. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →