Costa Rica in December: what to expect

December is the month the Pacific dry season returns. After the wet September and October, the trade winds push back and the north Pacific (Guanacaste, Nicoya) and the Central Valley settle into sunny mornings, clear afternoons and little rain. Daytime highs on the beaches sit around 30–33 °C, nights 22–24 °C; San José and the Central Valley are spring-like at roughly 18–26 °C.

The south Pacific (Manuel Antonio, Uvita, Osa) dries out more slowly — early December can still bring showers, and the parent country data rates the south Pacific as only "ok" for the month, so keep a rain layer for the first days there. Arenal and La Fortuna rain in any month; mornings are the clearest window for the volcano.

The Caribbean is the exception. Puerto Viejo, Cahuita and Tortuguero are in their wettest period from November to January, so if your trip is Caribbean-focused, December is the wrong month — September and October are the dry ones there.

Because Costa Rica sits close to the equator, daylight barely changes: sunrise near 6am, sunset near 5:30pm, and darkness falls fast. Plan drives and activities for the morning.

December splits cleanly in two. From 1 to about 20 December, the Pacific is dry but the Christmas rush has not arrived: beaches are busy at weekends with Costa Rican families but hotels still have rooms and rates are medium. This is the best-value window of the high season.

From roughly 20 December to the first days of January, the country fills up. Costa Rican school holidays, Christmas and New Year bring domestic travellers to the beaches, and North American and European visitors arrive for the winter break. Guanacaste, Manuel Antonio and La Fortuna sell out; rental cars become scarce and expensive; the Liberia and San José airports are at their busiest.

Practical consequences: book flights and lodges two to four months ahead for the peak fortnight, reserve a rental car or shuttle seats at the same time, and expect the biggest price jump at beach hotels rather than in San José. If you are flexible, travelling in the first half of the month gives you the same dry weather for noticeably less money.

The month's biggest fixed date is 1 December, the Abolition of the Army (Día de la Abolición del Ejército), a national holiday that closes banks and public offices and is marked by parades and civic events, especially in San José.

The other December fixture is cultural rather than official: the Festival de la Luz, a large evening parade of illuminated floats through central San José, traditionally held in mid-December. Confirm the exact date locally each year, as it moves.

Christmas itself is a family holiday. The main celebration is on 24 December (Nochebuena), with a late dinner and fireworks at midnight; 25 December is quiet, with many shops and restaurants closed. New Year's Eve brings fireworks in San José and the beach towns, and 1 January is a public holiday.

Note that the peak holiday period is domestic as well as international: buses between San José and the beaches are heavily booked, and some smaller hotels and tour operators close for a few days around 25 December and 1 January.

Guanacaste and the north Pacific are the safest bet: Liberia, Tamarindo, Nosara and Santa Teresa are dry and hot, with the strongest sun of the year. Book early for the peak fortnight.

The Central Valley works well as a first or last stop — San José for the airport and museums, and San Pedro de Montes de Oca for a student neighbourhood with cheaper food and lodging. Poás and Irazú volcanoes and the coffee towns are day trips from here, best done in the morning before cloud builds.

La Fortuna and Arenal are worth three nights for the volcano, hot springs and hanging bridges, but treat the cone as a bonus: mornings are the clearest window, and rain is possible any day in December.

The south Pacific (Manuel Antonio, Uvita, Dominical) is good late in the month once the rains have fully stopped; early December can still be showery. Corcovado and the Osa are reachable but check lodge opening dates and park access before committing.

Skip the Caribbean for a beach holiday this month — Puerto Viejo and Tortuguero are at their wettest — unless you specifically want Tortuguero's canals and are prepared for rain.

Pack for heat and sun on the Pacific and for cool, wet conditions in the mountains and the Caribbean — the same trip can cover both. A light rain shell earns its place even in the dry season, and a fleece is needed for Monteverde, Poás and San José evenings.

Sun protection matters more than you expect near the equator: high-factor sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a rash guard for the beach. Bring insect repellent for the Caribbean and for lowland rainforest, and quick-dry clothing for boat and hiking days.

For the peak weeks, carry printed or offline copies of bookings — confirmations, car voucher, park tickets — because mobile data can be patchy on the coast. Cash in colones helps at small sodas and for park entrances; cards are widely accepted in hotels and larger restaurants.

November is the shoulder: rains ease on the Pacific, prices and crowds are lower, but the Caribbean turns wet. It is a good compromise if you want dry-ish weather without peak rates.

January is the heart of the dry season and the most reliable month for the Pacific and Guanacaste, with high prices and crowds continuing after New Year. February is similar — dry, clear and busy, with good wildlife watching and car rentals booking out early.

October is the opposite extreme: heavy Pacific rain and possible landslides, with the Caribbean at its driest. If you are locked into a wet-season date, switch coasts rather than cancel.