Costa Rica in May: what to expect

May is the hinge month. The dry season ends and the green season begins, but it does not switch overnight: expect bright mornings, building cloud after lunch and a heavy shower or thunderstorm in the late afternoon, then a clear evening. Mornings are the part of the day to protect — book hikes, volcano views and beach time before about 13:00.

The Pacific side splits. Guanacaste and the north Pacific (Liberia, Tamarindo, Nosara, Santa Teresa) stay hot and comparatively dry, with rain arriving later in the month. The central and south Pacific (Manuel Antonio, Uvita, Osa) turns wet sooner and stays wetter. The Central Valley and the mountains around San José, Poás and Irazú are mild and spring-like, with afternoon showers. Arenal and La Fortuna can rain in any month; the cone is clearest early. The Caribbean coast runs on the opposite calendar and May is still a reasonable window there.

Temperatures do not change much from April: hot on the coasts, mild in the highlands. Humidity rises, which is what makes the heat feel heavier than the numbers suggest.

May is one of the cheapest and quietest months of the year. The North American winter crowd has gone, school holidays have not started, and hotels that were full at Easter drop to green-season rates. You can often book the same rooms two to four weeks out rather than months ahead, and rental cars and shuttles are easier to find.

The trade-off is service: some small hotels, tour operators and restaurants in beach towns close for part of the low season, and a few run reduced hours. Popular sites stay open but may have fewer guides available. If a specific tour or lodge matters to you, confirm it is operating before you build an itinerary around it.

Prices are lowest on the Pacific coast, where the rain is heaviest, and highest in Guanacaste, which stays drier and keeps more of its high-season demand.

May is a light month for festivals. The main fixed date is 1 May, Labour Day, a public holiday: banks and government offices close, some buses run reduced schedules, and long-weekend traffic builds on the routes out of San José. It is a domestic travel weekend rather than a visitor event.

Beyond that, look for local rather than national happenings: town fairs, football fixtures and church feast days vary by canton and are usually announced only a few weeks ahead. Turtle nesting on the Caribbean coast at Tortuguero builds through the northern summer, but the main season is later — May is early for it (check with operators).

Build the trip around mornings and around the drier zones. Guanacaste is the safest bet for beach weather: Liberia is the gateway, and the coast from Tamarindo to Santa Teresa stays hot with rain that usually passes quickly. Inland, the Arenal area around La Fortuna works well if you accept cloud on the volcano and use the early hours for hikes and the afternoons for hot springs.

The Central Valley is a good wet-weather base: San José and San Pedro de Montes de Oca for city days, markets and museums, with Poás, Irazú and the coffee country as morning trips. Monteverde is cool, windy and misty — fine if you pack for it and go early.

If the Pacific forecast looks bad, switch sides. The Caribbean around Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Cahuita is still in a comparatively dry window in May, and Tortuguero is reachable by boat and road. The south Pacific — Manuel Antonio, Uvita, Corcovado — is the wettest option this month; it still works, but plan short morning activities and keep a wet-weather backup.

Pack for two climates in one day: hot, humid coast and cool, wet highlands. Quick-dry clothing beats cotton, and a light rain shell you can carry in a daypack matters more than an umbrella in the wind. Footwear should handle mud — trails in the green season are slick, and sandals are not enough for volcano or rainforest walks.

Add insect repellent (mosquitoes are more active in the wet season), a dry bag or zip pouches for electronics, and a refillable water bottle. Sunscreen still matters: mornings are bright even when rain is coming. If you are heading to Monteverde or the highlands, bring a fleece.

April is the last dry, hot month and the busiest of the shoulder season — better weather, higher prices. June deepens the green season: more afternoon rain, still low prices, and turtle nesting starting at Tortuguero. July brings the veranillo, a short dry spell in some years, plus mid-year school holidays that lift crowds and prices.

If your dates are flexible and sun matters most, aim for March or April. If value matters most, May and June are the cheapest comfortable window on the Pacific.