Costa Rica · Month comparison
February vs July
July ranks #1 overall vs February at #6. Humpback whales arrive off the Pacific coast and sea turtles begin nesting at Tortuguero.
February
#6 of 12 months
Strong option
The driest month on the Pacific — and the Monteverde Music Festival makes the cloud forest worth the trip.
- ↑February is statistically Costa Rica's driest month on the Pacific coast: 5mm is virtually nothing, and Guanacaste's beaches are as reliably sunny as anywhere in the Americas
- ↑Monteverde Music Festival (mid-February) brings classical and world-music performances to one of the country's most atmospheric settings — cloud forest by day, concerts by night
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 | February | July |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 10 | 5 |
| Value score | 2 | 8 |
| Crowd score | 2 | 8 |
| Events score | 7 | 9 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 26°C | 25°C |
| Monthly rain | 5mm | 211mm |
| Daily sunshine | 8.2hrs | 5.3hrs |
February trade-offs
- ↓The most expensive month of the year alongside December: hotels in Tamarindo, Manuel Antonio, and Arenal area require significant budgets and advance booking
- ↓Main tourist sites are at capacity — the hanging bridges at Monteverde and the Manuel Antonio beach trail can feel crowded by mid-morning
- ↓Pacific surf is at its calmest (good for swimming, poor for surfers); if you came to surf, the green season is your better bet
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 →