This Costa Rican paradise is one of the most underrated summer destinations

Costa Rica is one of the most popular destinations in Central America, with more than 2.9 million travelers in 2025 and nearly a million in the first three months of 2026—a record-breaking first-quarter high. 

Most of the crowds are visiting during the dry season, when there’s less rainfall. But the most underrated time to visit is “green season,” which generally runs from May to November. Average rainfall tends to be higher during these months, but there are many advantages to visiting then, not least among them fewer crowds and lower prices. And there are plenty of ways to get around the weather.

I’ve traveled to Costa Rica regularly for nearly 20 years and I can attest to the magic of this underrated season, particularly in Guanacaste. Stretching from the Pacific Ocean to Lake Arenal and from the Nicaragua border to the Nicoya Peninsula, Guanacaste is part of the North Pacific climate region, the driest in the country. Guanacaste can be uncomfortably hot with average daytime temperatures sometimes surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit. But the green season brings cooling rains, making it more pleasant to enjoy some of my favorite activities, such as hiking and spotting some of Costa Rica’s incredible wildlife.

(Why a horseback tour of Arenal reveals a different side to Costa Rica's volcanic region)

Here’s how to explore Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province during the green season. 

Weather during Guanacaste’s green season

The green season tends to bring the heaviest rainfall of the year for the area, with an average of 76 inches annually, according to data collected by the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional de Costa Rica (IMN). But rain typically doesn’t last all day; there’s plenty of sunshine during green season too. 

Rains decrease in July and August, which Costa Ricans call veranillo, or “little summer” in Spanish, explains Dennis Abarca, a Guanacaste native and an outdoor guide and manager at Pura Vida Ride, an adventure tour operator in Guanacaste. 

Microclimates also mean rainfall varies by location. The North Pacific climate region contains three distinct microclimates: the mountains, the low-lying Tempisque zone, and the peninsula areas of Santa Elena and Nicoya. According to IMN meteorologists, that means areas in Guanacaste experience different weather conditions. This could be sunny mornings and afternoon showers on the coast, and heavy showers further inland or at higher elevations.

(How to stay in a Costa Rican jungle overnight)

"Weather patterns across Guanacaste are influenced by several atmospheric factors, including prevailing winds, topography, and moisture originating from the Pacific Ocean," a representative from Costa Rica's National Meteorological Institute explains. "In general, the province's lower-elevation areas tend to be drier because mountain ranges force moisture-laden air upward, causing much of the rainfall to occur over higher-elevation terrain. As a result, rainfall distribution can vary significantly across the province, with mountainous areas typically receiving more precipitation than coastal and lowland regions." 

Why green season is the best time to visit Guanacaste

“It’s one of the most beautiful times of the year. The landscapes are greener, the temperatures are cooler, the air feels fresh, and there are fewer crowds,” says Carlos Cesar Solano Conejo, who grew up in the region and runs Casa Donna Rosa Bed & Breakfast in Nuevo Arenal with his husband, Werner Spörri. “Travelers get a more relaxed, authentic experience.” 

One of the best things to do during the green season is to hike along the coast, when rain brings the landscape to life with verdant views and some of the best sunsets, Abarca adds. It’s a treat for animal lovers too, when a variety of birds breed, and turtles come ashore in the mass nesting called arribada, “arrival” in Spanish. 

Prices also tend to be much lower, with hotels, rental car companies, and tour operators offering big discounts.

(What you should know before booking a trip to Costa Rica)

"The Green Season is also one of the most rewarding times to visit Costa Rica," says Adalberto Rodriguez, Market Coordinator for the United States and Canada Costa Rican Tourism Institute. "The country's landscapes are at their most vibrant, waterfalls are at their fullest, and visitors have the opportunity to experience unique natural phenomena and abundant wildlife."

Best Guanacaste towns to visit 

Best mix of Costa Rican culture and nature: Bagaces

Rural Bagaces is located north of Palo Verde National Park, in the heart of Guanacaste, about a 30-minute drive from Liberia Airport. 

The town is surrounded by ranches and has plenty of sodas, casual restaurants serving typical Costa Rican cuisine, such as gallo pinto, a dish of rice and black beans, and olla de carne, a beef stew. Small shops sell cowboy hats and handicrafts, such as pottery and carved wooden masks—all hallmarks of traditional Tico (Costa Rican) culture.

Complementing the cultural experience in town are waterfalls and wetlands, home to wildlife including monkeys and crocodiles, that visitors might glimpse on a Palo Verde boat tour.

Best budget-friendly surf town: Samara

Guanacaste is known for its 400-mile-long “Gold Coast.” Samara’s wide beach, walkable town, and affordable accommodations and casual open-air eateries make it a good base for travelers on a budget. Families will feel comfortable with generally calm waters—ideal for beginner surfers. I took my first lesson in Samara and have returned many times. With a paved road and no river crossings, it’s an easy two-hour drive from Liberia Airport.

Best beaches 

Best for a blissful beach day: Playa Carrillo   

With turquoise water, powdery sand, and vendors selling fresh coconuts under swaying palm trees, Playa Carrillo cast its spell on me during a months-long stay on the Nicoya Peninsula. It’s located less than 10 minutes by car from Samara—far enough to escape the action, but close enough to have a convenient home base. Note that Playa Carillo’s serenity applies to weekdays. It can get busy on weekends.

Best for turtle watching: Playa Ostional

Located on the Nicoya Peninsula, Playa Ostional is one of the few places in the world where olive ridley turtles amble ashore en masse to lay their eggs—and they do so during the green season in Guanacaste. The arribada generally occurs once a month, but September and October may be the best time, when the largest numbers of turtles—sometimes in the thousands—tend to nest.

Best for a surf session: Playa Avellanas

Playa Avellanas offers several consistent surf breaks, generally without nearby Tamarindo’s crowds. The bumpy dirt road to this crescent-shaped beach sets a rustic, laid-back scene for catching waves or strolling the wooden boardwalk through mangroves backdropped by golden sunsets. Surfers should choose breaks suited to their skill level and respect locals in the lineup. Experienced surfers may want to head to “Little Hawaii,” located at the northern end of the beach. Beginners and intermediate surfers will appreciate the long, smooth ride at “El Parqueo,” a beach break near the main parking area. Beach bars offer respites for refueling, while Tamarindo offers livelier options. 

Best hikes

Best for out-of-this-world landscapes: Rincón de la Vieja National Park 

Want to see waterfalls, trek through forests, and walk amid volcanic vents? Rincón de la Vieja National Park is the place. This adventure is less than an hour by car from Liberia Airport and under two hours from the Papagayo Peninsula. The circular Las Pailas Trail winds through geothermal landscapes and multiple forest ecosystems, for a chance to see bubbling mud pots and wildlife, including monkeys and toucans—all in just over two miles.

Best for forest bathing: La Reserva Bosque Nuboso Santa Elena

Located on the southeastern edge of Guanacaste, La Reserva Bosque Nuboso Santa Elena is an idyllic setting for forest bathing, the mindful practice of tuning into your senses while spending time in nature. In the green season, the sound of rainfall and the scent of the flowering plants add to the benefits of the forest bathing experience. It’s also when visitors have an excellent chance to spot the resplendent quetzal, the bright green and red bird with ribbon-like tailfeathers.

Best for a coastal hike: Las Catalinas

When I lived in Potrero, I often spent a day in Las Catalinas. I’d hike in the morning, then take a dip at Playa Dantita beach in the afternoon before grabbing a sunset dinner at one of the beachfront restaurants. While many of Costa Rica’s trails traverse jungles and volcanic landscapes, Las Catalinas takes hikers and bikers on more than 26 miles through the tropical dry forest. It’s especially lovely in the green season, when temperatures tend to be comfortable, and the foliage is at its peak. Miradores (lookouts) along the trails open to views of the bay, and active wildlife, including fearless iguanas and nesting birds, sometimes hang out along the trails.  

Where to stay

For the surfers: Olas Verdes

The only thing standing between Olas Verdes’ guests and the popular surf spot Playa Guiones is a peaceful walk down a jungle path. This boutique all-suites hotel, located on the edge of the Ostional-Nosara Wildlife Refuge, features two pools and 17 rooms spread across four buildings. All offer kitchenettes, outdoor seating, cheerful orange-and-blue-hued decor, and large windows that frame the native forest.

With surfboard rentals, daily yoga classes, complimentary bikes, and guided walks through the refuge, guests have everything for a quintessential Costa Rica experience. Stays include complimentary airport transfers and breakfast made with local ingredients. Olas Verdes can arrange off-site adventures too—like a visit to Playa Ostional to witness the arribada.

For a digital detox: Rio Perdido Hotel & Thermal River 

Located on the edge of a preserved dwarf forest with its namesake river running through the heart of the property, Rio Perdido Hotel is immersed in nature. The 38 bungalows are nearly camouflaged by foliage, and the minimalist interiors—accented with handcrafted furniture, wooden walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, and volcanic rock tiles—bring the outdoors in. All offer private terraces—some with outdoor showers. The TV-free Center Bungalows let guests enjoy the serenity, while the West Bungalows come with TVs cleverly tucked out of sight.

Rio Perdido provides gear and an extensive menu of device-free, on-site activities, including outdoor yoga, birdwatching, hiking, biking, ziplining, and tubing. But perhaps the most popular activity is simply soaking or meditating in the thermal river, just steps from the bungalows and naturally heated by the area’s active volcanoes. I visited Rio Perdido in the green season, and my only complaint? I had to leave.