Central America & Caribbean

Costa Rica in April

Easter week is the domestic travel peak of the year: beaches packed, buses full. After it, the season exhales and first rains green the Pacific hills.

GoodHot, first storms late month, highs near 90F (32C)

Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica — Costa RicaPhoto: Bernard Gagnon, CC0

The straight answer

April is a good month to visit Costa Rica. Easter week is the domestic travel peak of the year: beaches packed, buses full. After it, the season exhales and first rains green the Pacific hills.

Weather: Hot, first storms late month, highs near 90F (32C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What April is like in Costa Rica

April is hot, with highs near 90F (32C), and the first storms usually arrive late in the month. Easter week, Semana Santa, is the biggest domestic travel week of the year: beaches are packed, buses are full, and alcohol sales are restricted in some areas on the holiest days. After Easter, the country exhales.

It suits travelers who can avoid Easter week and want dry season weather at the tail end. It is a weak pick for anyone whose only dates are Semana Santa. If you can wait a few weeks, May brings sunny mornings, fewer crowds, and much lower prices.

Make the most of April

What is especially good about Costa Rica this month.

Quetzal viewing in the cloud forest

Quetzal nesting season is in full swing, giving you a real shot at the country's most famous bird.

Quiet weeks after Easter

Once Semana Santa ends, beaches and lodges calm down quickly.

The first green

Late April storms begin to green the Pacific hills after months of dry season.

What to pack for April

Breathable clothing
Sunscreen and a hat
A light rain jacket for late-month showers
Binoculars for quetzals and other birds

Our timing tip

Book the week after Easter rather than Easter week itself for dry weather at calmer, cheaper rates.

Book Costa Rica for April.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Costa Rica
Opens a hotel search for Costa Rica in April, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for April
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Costa Rica
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
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Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Costa Rica
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Costa Rica for April. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in April

Quetzal nesting season

Roughly March through June in the cloud forests

The best window to see the resplendent quetzal in Monteverde and the highlands near San Gerardo de Dota, with guides tracking active nests.

Things to do in Costa Rica

Full guide

Arenal and La Fortuna

The classic volcano base: lava-field hikes, waterfall swims, and hot springs for the afternoon rain slot. The perfect cone hides in clouds some days in any season.

Tickets and tours →

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Hanging bridges through the canopy and a real shot at the resplendent quetzal, especially in nesting season. Bring layers; the cloud forest is genuinely cool and wet.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Manuel Antonio National Park

The greatest-hits park: sloths and capuchins over postcard beaches. Closed Tuesdays, capacity-capped, and best booked ahead with a licensed guide at opening time.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Tortuguero's canals

A roadless Caribbean 'Amazon in miniature' reached by boat or small plane, famous for green sea turtle nesting from roughly July through October.

Tickets and tours →

The Osa Peninsula and Corcovado

The wildest corner of the country, with scarlet macaws overhead and tapirs on the beach. Guided entry only; the dry months are far easier logistically.

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Surf towns of the Pacific

Tamarindo and Nosara for learner-friendly consistency, Santa Teresa for the boho scene. Waves run all year, with green-season swells often the biggest.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Travel in May, June, or November: green-season shoulder months deliver most of the dry season's mornings with a fraction of its crowds and prices.
Book the capacity-capped parks, Manuel Antonio above all, for the first entry slot of the morning: wildlife is most active, heat is lowest, and the tour waves land later.
Skip the two national holiday crushes if you can: Christmas through New Year's and Semana Santa fill beaches, buses, and lodges with the whole country on vacation at once.
Trade one famous stop for its quieter twin: Rincon de la Vieja instead of Arenal, the Nicoya surf towns instead of Manuel Antonio, San Gerardo de Dota instead of Monteverde.

Know before you go

Costa Rica does not close seasonally as a country, but September and October on the Pacific side are the exception zone: some small lodges and tour operators pause, remote dirt roads can become impassable, and the Monteverde area's famous reserves and businesses take some maintenance downtime in the deepest low season.
Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesdays and caps daily entries; Corcovado requires a licensed guide and advance permits year-round. Book both before you build days around them.
The Caribbean coast runs on the opposite weather calendar: its sunniest, calmest stretch is September and October, which keeps Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo very much open when the Pacific is at its wettest.
Semana Santa, the week before Easter, is the national vacation week: alcohol sales restrictions apply in some areas on the holiest days, transport is packed, and coastal lodging sells out far ahead.

Costa Rica in April, quick answers

Is April a good time to visit Costa Rica?

April is a good month to visit Costa Rica. Easter week is the domestic travel peak of the year: beaches packed, buses full. After it, the season exhales and first rains green the Pacific hills.

What is the weather like in Costa Rica in April?

Hot, first storms late month, highs near 90F (32C).

Is Costa Rica crowded in April?

Costa Rica is busy in April, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.

What is happening in Costa Rica in April?

Quetzal nesting season (roughly march through june in the cloud forests).