Costa Rica Weather in November: Region by Region

The rain eases through November as we move toward summer on the Pacific side, and the first northern humpbacks return late in the month. Thanksgiving week has become very popular (Thanksgiving is 26 November in 2026 and 25 November in 2027), so book ahead.

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

Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula

November is the last month of Guanacaste’s second rainy period and the turn toward the dry season. The olive ridley arribadas at Ostional are in their best season to November.

Central Pacific: Manuel Antonio and Jacó

A transition month, with the rain easing as the dry season approaches.

The South Pacific: Uvita and the Osa Peninsula

The southern humpbacks can stay into November, as the park service counts them, and the northern humpbacks start arriving on the Pacific coast in late November.

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

The Caribbean goes the other way: November starts its wettest stretch, which runs to January, when cold fronts from the north are most likely. If the Caribbean is your priority, February to March and September to October suit it better.

Thanksgiving week fills early, so the sooner we start, the more choice you have. 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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