Best Time to Visit Montezuma, Costa Rica: Dry Season vs Green Season, Month by Month
By JC Aguirre, licensed guideUpdated 5 min read
Short answer
Montezuma is warm all year (24 to 33 °C). The dry season, December to April, brings sunny days, dusty roads and the most visitors. The green season, May to November, brings sunny mornings, afternoon showers, full waterfalls and far fewer people, with September and October the wettest months. For most travelers the sweet spots are January to March for guaranteed sun and May to July or November for green forest and quiet trails.
- Dry season
- December – April
- Green season
- May – November (wettest Sept–Oct)
- Temperature
- 24–33 °C (75–91 °F) year-round; sea ≈28 °C
- Busiest
- Christmas–New Year, Easter week, February–March
- Quietest
- September – October
There is no bad month to visit Montezuma, but there are different months, and knowing the difference saves you from packing for the wrong trip. The southern Nicoya Peninsula has the classic Pacific climate of Costa Rica: a dry season with almost no rain and a green season with wet afternoons, both of them hot. Here is what that means on the ground, month by month, from someone who guides here in all twelve.
Dry season: December to April
From mid-December the rain stops almost completely. Days are bright, the sea is calm in the mornings, and by February the dry forest drops its leaves, which makes the hills look golden and makes birdwatching easier. March and April are the hottest months, with the yellow cortez and pink roble trees flowering along the roads. This is also when the northern migrant birds are here and when the night skies are clearest.
The trade-offs: it is high season. Christmas to New Year and Easter week (Semana Santa) are the busiest days of the year, hotels and shuttles fill up, and prices are at their peak. The roads are dusty and the smaller waterfalls slow to a trickle by April. Book tours and transfers well ahead if you are coming between December and March.
Green season: May to November
The first rains in May transform the peninsula within two weeks. The forest turns deep green, rivers run clear again, mushrooms appear on the trails and the frogs come out at night. The typical green-season day is sunny until early afternoon, a shower of one to two hours, and a clear, cooler evening. Our tours start early precisely to use the best part of the day.
September and October are the wettest months, when some rain days last all afternoon and a few businesses close for holidays. In exchange you get the greenest landscape of the year, the fullest Montezuma waterfall, humpback whales passing through the gulf, and trails you share with nobody. November is a local favorite: the rain tapers off, everything is still green and the high-season crowds have not arrived.
Month by month in Montezuma
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| Month | Weather | Crowds | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Dry, sunny, breezy | High | Migrant birds, calm sea, clear nights |
| February | Dry, sunny | High | Leafless dry forest, easiest wildlife viewing |
| March | Dry, hottest | High (Easter varies) | Flowering trees, hummingbirds, long beach days |
| April | Dry, hot, first clouds late month | Medium–high | Last dry-season weeks, Easter week very busy |
| May | First rains, afternoon showers | Low | Forest turns green, frogs return, mushrooms |
| June | Sunny mornings, showers | Low | Rivers clear, nesting birds, manakins displaying |
| July | Short drier spell mid-month | Medium (holidays) | Good all-round month, whales begin |
| August | Sunny mornings, showers | Medium | Lush forest, waterfall full, whales |
| September | Wettest, some full rain days | Lowest | Quietest trails, whales, lowest prices |
| October | Wettest | Lowest | Greenest month; some businesses close |
| November | Rain tapering off | Low–medium | Green and quiet, migrants arriving, best value |
| December | Dry from mid-month | High from 20 Dec | Holiday season starts, sunny days return |
Best time by what you want to do
- Guaranteed sun and beach days: January to March.
- Birdwatching: December to March for migrants and visibility; any month is productive at dawn.
- Frogs and night hikes: May to November, especially the hour after a shower. See our night hike guide.
- Waterfalls and rivers: June to November.
- Fewest people, lowest prices: September and October, with November close behind.
- Families on school holidays: late June to July has a short drier spell and a friendly mix of locals and visitors.
What to pack for each season
Dry season: sunblock, a hat, light clothes and something for breezy evenings in January. Green season: a light rain jacket or poncho, quick-dry clothes, closed shoes for muddy trails and a dry bag for your phone. Both seasons: a refillable water bottle (Montezuma's water is potable), insect repellent and binoculars if you have them. Whatever month you choose, book early for December to March and tell us your dates; we will confirm within 24 hours by WhatsApp or email.
Questions we get asked
Frequently asked questions
Experience it
Tours mentioned in this post
Bird Lover's Morning
Sunrise over the Nicoya Gulf and some of Costa Rica's most beautiful birds.
If you love birds, you've come to the right place. Take a morning to see some of Costa Rica's most beautiful birds and let the guide do the hard work.
- Montezuma/Cabuya
- 5:30am-8:30am
Nocturno Night Journey
Montezuma comes alive at night.
A guided night hike through the forest around Montezuma, when nocturnal animals wake up and the sounds of the wild amplify.
- Forest trail a few minutes from Montezuma
- Starts around sunset and lasts about 2 hours
Curu Nature Escape
Animals, nature and more on a half day journey to Curu Wildlife Refuge.
Animals, nature, and more on this half day journey to Curu Wildlife Refuge. Learn about the nature that surrounds you in this unique ecosystem.
- Curu Wildlife Refuge
- 7:30am-1pm