May is one of the best times to travel to Costa Rica, yet one of the months with the fewest visitors. While it is the official start of the rainy season across much of the country, the weather does not change like the switch of a light. In fact, the weather is still usually nice for most of the day and the rains we do receive are usually overnight or in the late afternoon and start to breathe life back into the fauna. To top it all off, there are fewer people, more hotel availability, and some of the best prices of the year!
May is the beginning of the rainy season or the green season over most of Costa Rica. But this does not mean it rains continuously or even often. In the affected parts of the country, the usual pattern is rain in late afternoon or overnight. This leaves the majority of the day rain-free. The little added moisture makes the fauna lush and green making. Here is what to expect regionally:
Northwest Pacific Costa Rica is still in the dry season during May. Temperatures usually reach the low 90s. Rainfall does occur, but usually overnight or in the form of a passing shower in the late afternoon.
The Central Pacific coast is another nice place to visit in May. Temperatures usually are in the upper 80s to low 90s. Rains can occur in the late afternoon, but not every day. The majority of rain will happen overnight.
The South Pacific is starting to feel the effects of the rainy season in May. Temperatures will be in the upper 80s to low 90s. Rains will begin to happen almost daily in the late afternoon but usually last for less than an hour. The majority of rain will fall overnight.
The Caribbean side also begins to feel the effects of the rainy season in May. Temperatures stay high in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Rains can happen here at any time but generally pass by quickly. Again, most rain will occur overnight.
The Central Valley is still nice in May. Daytime temperatures usually are in the upper 70s to low 80s. Rains can occur but usually do so in the late afternoon or evening.
May is the beginning of the green season which means lower prices and fewer tourists. This is a great time to get value for your money, especially with the early booking deals - and we have some good ones! The better hotels that offer the best deals still reserve solid well in advance but there is more availability at the average hotels.
When should I book for May? This is a tricky question as it depends on what you want out of your trip. There are many honeymooners in May as it is Wedding Season, so often the most luxurious or romantic hotels are booked months in advance. The 3-4 star hotels with the best deals typically run their best deals up to a few months in advance, so that is the best time to book such hotels. However, you can often book up to a couple of weeks in advance, though promos are usually not offered in that period. Many budget-friendly hotels never sell out so, if you are booking a budget trip, you could even wing it.
May is a great time to travel and save money, especially with the early booking bonuses that some hotels offer to promote bookings. Green season pricing will be in effect. Early Booking Deals can increase your savings as well.
We have special programs with many hotels for free night deals such as 3 nights for the price of 2 or 4 nights for the price of 3. Planned carefully, you could book a trip such as our Tropical Daydreams vacation, taking advantage of 3 free nights in only a 10-night span! Of course, we would have to change the La Fortuna hotel to a different one that we have a 3 for 2 promo with but this is just one example out of many that we can offer you in May! Contact us today to see how we can make your May vacation not only amazing but also very affordable!
May 1 - Dia de los Trabajadores – Labor Day with parades and Presidential “State of the Union Address” to Congress and the people. Cricket matches in Puerto Limon.
May 2 - Fiesta Pattronale Desamparados – street fairs with music, dancing, food, and bullfighting (w/o bloodshed).
May 15 - Fiestas Pattronales Marcos Tarrazu, Coronado – street fair with music, dancing, food, and bullfighting (w/o bloodshed).
I am often asked, "When is the best time to travel to Costa Rica?" And my response is always, "It depends". It depends on what you are interested in and what you want to experience as we are not all the same. With that said, May is absolutely my personal favorite time to travel in Costa Rica. there are no crowds, there is far more hotel availability and available selections, it is very affordable, and it's absolutely gorgeous. There is just enough rain at this time of the year to keep everything lush and beautiful.
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