Dry season (ending)
Costa Rica weather in April
Mostly yes. April is the hottest month on the Pacific and the last month of dry season. The first rains start showing up in the south late in the month.
By Aaron Bailey
Daytime highs
58–96°F
14–36°C depending on altitude
Driest
Tamarindo
0.7 in (18 mm) of rain
Wettest
Tortuguero National Park
9.9 in (251 mm) of rain
What April is like
April is when dry season runs out of steam. Guanacaste (Tamarindo, Nosara, Sámara, Liberia) is at its hottest, with highs in the mid-90s°F and landscapes that are brown and parched. The Central Pacific and the south (Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Uvita) start getting afternoon storms toward the end of the month as the rains move in from the south.
It's a good month for inland trips. The Central Valley is warm and pleasant, and La Fortuna and Monteverde are still relatively dry. Prices start to soften after Easter.
In April, average daytime highs in Costa Rica range from 58°F (14°C) at Irazú Volcano National Park to 96°F (36°C) at Guanacaste Airport (LIR). Rainfall ranges from about 0.7 in (18 mm) at Tamarindo to 9.9 in (251 mm) at Tortuguero National Park.
Crowds and prices
Busy if Semana Santa falls in April, then noticeably quieter after. April 11 (Juan Santamaría Day) is a national holiday.
Happening in April
- Semana Santa often falls in April, so check the dates.
- April 11 is Juan Santamaría Day, a public holiday.
- The surf starts picking up on the Pacific as the south swells arrive.
Towns and airports in April
Long-term monthly averages, driest first.
| Destination | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamarindo | 95°F / 35°C | 75°F / 24°C | 0.7 in / 18 mm |
| Guanacaste Airport (LIR) | 96°F / 36°C | 74°F / 23°C | 0.8 in / 20 mm |
| Nosara | 95°F / 35°C | 74°F / 23°C | 0.9 in / 23 mm |
| Samara | 94°F / 34°C | 74°F / 23°C | 0.9 in / 23 mm |
| Santa Teresa | 93°F / 34°C | 75°F / 24°C | 1.2 in / 30 mm |
| San José Airport (SJO) | 82°F / 28°C | 64°F / 18°C | 1.8 in / 46 mm |
| San José | 79°F / 26°C | 62°F / 17°C | 2 in / 51 mm |
| Jaco | 91°F / 33°C | 75°F / 24°C | 2.4 in / 61 mm |
| Monteverde | 73°F / 23°C | 59°F / 15°C | 2.6 in / 66 mm |
| La Fortuna | 85°F / 29°C | 68°F / 20°C | 4.3 in / 109 mm |
| Manuel Antonio | 90°F / 32°C | 74°F / 23°C | 4.5 in / 114 mm |
| Uvita | 90°F / 32°C | 74°F / 23°C | 5.9 in / 150 mm |
| Dominical | 88°F / 31°C | 75°F / 24°C | 6.1 in / 155 mm |
| Puerto Viejo | 86°F / 30°C | 73°F / 23°C | 7.1 in / 180 mm |
National parks in April
Long-term monthly averages, driest first.
| Destination | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rincón de la Vieja National Park | 95°F / 35°C | 75°F / 24°C | 1 in / 25 mm |
| Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve | 73°F / 23°C | 59°F / 15°C | 2.6 in / 66 mm |
| Cahuita National Park | 85°F / 29°C | 76°F / 24°C | 2.6 in / 66 mm |
| Irazú Volcano National Park | 58°F / 14°C | 41°F / 5°C | 3.5 in / 89 mm |
| Arenal Volcano National Park | 85°F / 29°C | 68°F / 20°C | 4.3 in / 109 mm |
| Manuel Antonio National Park | 90°F / 32°C | 74°F / 23°C | 4.5 in / 114 mm |
| Poás Volcano National Park | 64°F / 18°C | 48°F / 9°C | 4.5 in / 114 mm |
| Corcovado National Park | 89°F / 32°C | 72°F / 22°C | 5.2 in / 132 mm |
| Marino Ballena National Park | 90°F / 32°C | 74°F / 23°C | 5.9 in / 150 mm |
| Tortuguero National Park | 87°F / 31°C | 75°F / 24°C | 9.9 in / 251 mm |
Check your own itinerary
Add each stop on your trip and see the April weather, rainfall, and what to pack for each one.
Open the April weather plannerApril in Costa Rica: quick answers
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