Central America & Caribbean

Costa Rica in November

The other insider month: rains taper, everything is emerald, and peak pricing has not begun. Late November is superb almost everywhere.

BestDrying out, highs near 86F (30C), green at maximum

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

The straight answer

November is one of the best months of the year to visit Costa Rica. The other insider month: rains taper, everything is emerald, and peak pricing has not begun. Late November is superb almost everywhere.

Weather: Drying out, highs near 86F (30C), green at maximum
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What November is like in Costa Rica

November is the other insider month. The rains taper through the month, highs sit near 86F (30C), and the whole country is emerald green. Roads dry out, rivers are still full, and peak pricing has not started yet. Late November is superb almost everywhere, from Arenal to the Pacific beaches.

It suits families, couples, and homeschool families who want lush scenery, active wildlife, and shoulder prices. It is less ideal for anyone locked into the first week, which can still be wet on the Pacific. If you want guaranteed dry weather, wait for February, but you will pay more.

Make the most of November

What is especially good about Costa Rica this month.

Emerald landscapes

After months of rain, the forests, volcanoes, and valleys are at their greenest. It is the best time for photos.

Waterfalls at full flow

The falls near La Fortuna run strong after the rains, and swimming holes are full.

Shoulder prices before the rush

Lodges and tours still charge green-season rates until the December holiday surge.

What to pack for November

A light rain jacket for early-month showers
Quick-dry hiking clothes
Sunscreen for the drier second half
Insect repellent

Our timing tip

Pick the second half of November for the driest days before the December price jump.

Book Costa Rica for November.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Costa Rica
Opens a hotel search for Costa Rica in November, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for November
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 November. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

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.