Costa Rica · Costa Rica
March
Hot, dry Pacific coast with spring break arrivals — excellent conditions but prices stay high.
Strong option
#9 of 12 months
There are better months for Costa Rica — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
27°C
Low
17°C
Rain
13mm
Sun
7.8hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How March scores in Costa Rica
Weather
Outstanding
Value
Below average
Crowds
Below average
Events
Good
Atmosphere
Very good
What you gain in March
- ↑Pacific coast conditions remain excellent through March: minimal rainfall, warm temperatures, and calm enough seas for snorkelling at Caño Island and Isla del Caño
- ↑Spring break (US and European) brings energy to beach towns; Tamarindo and Santa Teresa have a lively atmosphere without being overwhelmed
- ↑Manuel Antonio National Park is spectacular in March — the wildlife (white-faced monkeys, sloths, scarlet macaws) is easier to photograph in the lower vegetation of dry season
What you sacrifice
- ↓Prices remain near-peak through mid-March; spring break weeks push accommodation in beach towns to high-season levels
- ↓Temperatures hit their hottest of the dry season — 27°C with growing humidity as the transition approaches; beach afternoons can feel intense
- ↓End of March signals the first rains arriving on the Pacific; some years the green season arrives early and April showers begin in the final days of March
How March compares to July (best month)
| Factor | March | July ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 9 | 5 |
| Value | 3 | 8 |
| Crowds | 3 | 8 |
March in other destinations
Lisbon (16.6°C)Barcelona (15.8°C)Tokyo (13.8°C)Bali (30.8°C)Santorini (14.6°C)Paris (11.5°C)New York (9.7°C)Marrakech (22.3°C)Amsterdam (9.2°C)Maldives (30.8°C)Rome (15°C)Bangkok (34.3°C)Istanbul (11.6°C)Vienna (10.3°C)Seoul (9.6°C)Dubrovnik (13.9°C)Rio de Janeiro (29.7°C)Kyoto (14.3°C)Phuket (33°C)Cape Town (25.4°C)Prague (10°C)Amalfi Coast (15°C)Mexico City (26°C)Medellín (28°C)Fiji (30°C)London (12°C)Sydney (25°C)Iceland (4°C)Tulum (30°C)Dubai (29°C)Singapore (32°C)Hoi An (28°C)Chiang Mai (34.5°C)Miami (26.7°C)Florence (14.8°C)Queenstown (19.5°C)Madrid (15°C)Porto (17°C)Edinburgh (9°C)Copenhagen (7°C)Budapest (11°C)Kraków (9°C)Tbilisi (13°C)Palawan (31°C)Hanoi (22°C)Osaka (14°C)Goa (34°C)Cusco (19°C)Buenos Aires (27°C)Mykonos (15°C)Zanzibar (32°C)Sri Lanka (32°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Costa Rica, not across destinations. Methodology →