Costa Rica · Costa Rica
November
The transition month — Pacific rains ease significantly and the dry season approach brings improving conditions.
Strong option
#8 of 12 months
There are better months for Costa Rica — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
25°C
Low
17°C
Rain
145mm
Sun
5.8hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How November scores in Costa Rica
Weather
Good
Value
Very good
Crowds
Very good
Events
Above average
Atmosphere
Good
What you gain in November
- ↑Pacific rainfall drops sharply from 300mm to 145mm as the dry season approaches — sunny mornings are increasingly reliable and beach conditions improve through the month
- ↑Prices remain below peak while conditions are meaningfully improving: November is Costa Rica's underrated sweet spot for travellers willing to accept some rain in exchange for affordability and space
- ↑National parks are nearly empty by high-season standards; Corcovado and Manuel Antonio trails are quiet, wildlife viewing is uncrowded, and the forest is still lush from green season rains
What you sacrifice
- ↓First half of November can still bring significant rain — the transition doesn't happen uniformly and some years November remains wet through to its last week
- ↓Caribbean coast transitions back toward its rainy season in November, ending the mini-dry window of September–October; timing a dual-coast trip around this requires planning
- ↓Not a month with compelling specific events; the wildlife spectacles of whale watching and turtle nesting have wound down, and the December festive energy hasn't yet arrived
How November compares to July (best month)
| Factor | November | July ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 6 | 5 |
| Value | 7 | 8 |
| Crowds | 7 | 8 |
November in other destinations
Lisbon (16.8°C)Barcelona (16.5°C)Tokyo (16.6°C)Bali (30.8°C)Santorini (17.5°C)Paris (10.5°C)New York (11°C)Marrakech (21.3°C)Amsterdam (9.2°C)Maldives (30°C)Rome (15.5°C)Bangkok (30.2°C)Istanbul (13.8°C)Vienna (7.8°C)Seoul (10.4°C)Dubrovnik (15.4°C)Rio de Janeiro (28.8°C)Kyoto (16.9°C)Phuket (31.7°C)Cape Town (23.7°C)Prague (7°C)Amalfi Coast (16°C)Mexico City (22°C)Medellín (27°C)Fiji (29°C)London (11°C)Sydney (24°C)Iceland (4°C)Tulum (29°C)Dubai (29°C)Singapore (31°C)Hoi An (27°C)Chiang Mai (29°C)Miami (27.2°C)Florence (13.6°C)Queenstown (18.5°C)Madrid (13°C)Porto (17°C)Edinburgh (9°C)Copenhagen (8°C)Budapest (9°C)Kraków (6°C)Tbilisi (11°C)Palawan (30°C)Hanoi (25°C)Osaka (16°C)Goa (32°C)Cusco (21°C)Buenos Aires (26°C)Mykonos (17°C)Zanzibar (30°C)Sri Lanka (30°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Costa Rica, not across destinations. Methodology →