Central America & Caribbean

Costa Rica in March

Late dry season heat, especially in Guanacaste. Spring break adds a wave; Semana Santa in some years falls late month and fills everything.

BestHot and dry, highs near 90F (32C)

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

The straight answer

March is one of the best months of the year to visit Costa Rica. Late dry season heat, especially in Guanacaste. Spring break adds a wave; Semana Santa in some years falls late month and fills everything.

Weather: Hot and dry, highs near 90F (32C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What March is like in Costa Rica

March is hot and dry, with highs near 90F (32C) and Guanacaste at its warmest. The landscape turns brown on the Pacific side, but beaches and volcano views are reliable. Spring break adds a wave of families, and in some years Semana Santa, the week before Easter, falls late in the month and fills everything.

It suits spring break families and anyone who wants guaranteed dry weather. It is a weaker pick for heat-sensitive travelers or anyone hoping for green scenery. If Semana Santa lands in your dates, book very early or shift to early May for calm and lower prices.

Make the most of March

What is especially good about Costa Rica this month.

Quetzal nesting season begins

From roughly March, the resplendent quetzal nests in the cloud forests, and guides in Monteverde and San Gerardo de Dota track active nests.

Last weeks of northern whales

Humpbacks from the north usually linger along the south Pacific coast into March.

Cooler mountain escapes

When the coast gets hot, the cloud forest and the Central Valley coffee farms offer cooler air.

What to pack for March

Light, breathable clothing for the heat
Strong sunscreen and a hat
A light fleece for the cloud forest
Electrolyte packets for hot hiking days

Our timing tip

Check when Easter falls before you book; if Semana Santa is in late March, reserve beach lodging months ahead.

Book Costa Rica for March.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Costa Rica
Opens a hotel search for Costa Rica in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for March
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.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Costa Rica
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Costa Rica for March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in March

Humpback whale seasons

Roughly December through March and again July through October, strongest in the south Pacific

Two hemispheres' worth of humpbacks use the same warm coast, making Uvita and the Marino Ballena area a nearly year-round whale destination.

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.

Envision Festival

Late February or early March, near Uvita

A well-known international music-and-arts gathering on the south Pacific coast that fills area lodging for the week.

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.

Tickets and tours →

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 March, quick answers

Is March a good time to visit Costa Rica?

What is the weather like in Costa Rica in March?

Hot and dry, highs near 90F (32C).

Is Costa Rica crowded in March?

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

What is happening in Costa Rica in March?

Humpback whale seasons (roughly december through march and again july through october, strongest in the south pacific); Quetzal nesting season (roughly march through june in the cloud forests); Envision Festival (late february or early march, near uvita).