Costa Rica in March: what to expect

March sits at the end of the dry season and is the most dependable month for sun on the Pacific side. Guanacaste and the north Pacific — Liberia, Tamarindo, Nosara, Santa Teresa — run hot and clear, with brown hills, strong afternoon wind in exposed spots and almost no rain. The central and south Pacific (Manuel Antonio, Uvita, Dominical) is similarly dry, though humidity climbs as you go south.

The Central Valley and the mountains are the pleasant exception: San José, Heredia, Cartago and the Poás and Irazú volcanoes sit around 18–26 °C, spring-like by day and cool at night. Monteverde is windier, mistier and cooler — a fleece earns its place. La Fortuna and Arenal are warm and green, but the volcano cone is often in cloud; mornings give the clearest views.

The Caribbean is the reverse of the Pacific pattern and March is one of its driest months, which makes Puerto Viejo, Cahuita and Tortuguero a good pick if you want beach time without the Pacific heat. Figures below are 2026 estimates for planning, not forecasts.

March is peak season. North American spring breaks, Costa Rican school holidays and the tail of the northern winter all land in the same weeks, so the beach towns of Guanacaste and Manuel Antonio fill up and the classic loop — Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio — is at its busiest. If Semana Santa (Easter week) falls in late March, expect a second wave of domestic travel: beaches packed, some alcohol restrictions Thursday and Friday in certain cantons, and reduced bus services (check the year's dates).

Prices follow the crowds. Lodges, rental cars and domestic flights are at their highest rates, and the best places sell out two to four months ahead. Book the car first — automatic 4x4s are the scarcest item — then lock in Arenal and Manuel Antonio accommodation. Shoulder-season bargains start in May, when the green season arrives with sunny mornings and afternoon rain.

March is a quiet month for fixed national festivals — the big events sit in the surrounding months. The main variable is Easter: Semana Santa can fall in late March or April, and when it does, the whole country moves to the beach for the week. Confirm the year's dates before you book, because it changes both crowds and transport.

Elsewhere, the coffee harvest in the Central Valley and the traditional oxcart parades of the coffee towns are winding down, and Guanacaste's rodeo and fiesta season builds towards the Annexation of Guanacaste holiday on 25 July. Check local municipal calendars for the exact dates of any small fair you want to catch.

Base your trip on the Pacific and the centre. A first-timer's three-base loop works well: Arenal / La Fortuna for three nights, then the Pacific at Manuel Antonio or in Guanacaste for four, plus Monteverde or the Caribbean for three. Drive or take shuttles by day and allow three to five hours per leg.

Guanacaste gives the most reliable sun and the easiest beach-and-resort setup, with Liberia as the gateway airport. The central and south Pacific suits wildlife — Manuel Antonio, Uvita and, further out, Corcovado and the Osa. The Central Valley is the place for cities, coffee and volcanoes: San José, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Alajuela, Cartago and Heredia. If you want a different coastline, the Caribbean at Puerto Viejo and Tortuguero is at its driest in March.

Pack for heat and sun on the coast and for cool, damp air in the mountains. Light, quick-drying clothes, a wide-brim hat, high-factor sunscreen and insect repellent cover most of the trip. Add a light rain shell for La Fortuna and Monteverde, and a fleece for the Central Valley evenings and the high volcanoes.

Bring reef-safe sunscreen if you plan to snorkel, and a refillable water bottle — tap water is generally treated and drinkable in most of the country, but check locally in remote areas. A small daypack, a dry bag for boat transfers to Tortuguero, and a power bank round out the list.

March is the last full month of the classic dry season. February is similar but slightly cooler and equally busy; April stays dry and gets hotter in Guanacaste, with Easter crowds if the holiday falls late. May flips the switch: the green season starts, prices drop, and you trade guaranteed sun for sunny mornings and afternoon storms.

If you are flexible, the trade-off is simple — pay peak prices in March for the most reliable weather, or wait until May for lower rates and quieter beaches.