Costa Rica Weather in August

August carries on where July left off. The Pacific side’s little summer, the “veranillo”, often holds through the month, families are still traveling, and the whales and turtles are here.

The country is small, but the weather changes a lot from one region to the next. Here is how August usually looks where most of our travelers go.

Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula

The veranillo continues, with less rain than June. The olive ridley arribadas at Ostional are in their best season, though the dates cannot be known in advance.

Central Pacific: Manuel Antonio and Jacó

Mornings are usually clear and the rain comes in the afternoon.

The South Pacific: Uvita and the Osa Peninsula

Southern humpback whales are here, off Uvita, Dominical, Drake Bay and the Osa Peninsula.

Arenal and the Northern Plains

Arenal is on the Caribbean side of the mountains and can see rain any day of the year, and that rain is why it is so green. The hot springs are perfect whatever the sky does.

Monteverde

The mountains are cooler and can be misty at any time of year. Bring a light jacket for the cloud forest.

The Caribbean Coast

August is the end of the Caribbean’s wetter stretch, which runs from May. Green turtles are nesting at Tortuguero, and visits are with a guide only.

August is a great month for whales and turtles, and we know where and when to find them. Our team has lived here and built trips by hand since 2004, so we know which regions pair well, how long the drives really take and which hotels are worth it. Tell us what you love and we will design your Costa Rica around it.

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Holidays and Busy Weeks

15 August is Mother’s Day in Costa Rica and a public holiday. 2 August and 31 August, Afro-Costa Rican Day, are holidays too, though not paid days off.

What to Pack for August

A light rain jacket, light clothes, sunscreen and a hat, and a warmer layer for the mountains.