Green season (veranillo)

Costa Rica weather in July

Often, yes. July is a strange in-between month: the veranillo dry spell can make the Pacific feel like dry season again, and whale season starts in Uvita. The Caribbean coast is wetter than usual.

By Aaron Bailey

Daytime highs

54–91°F

12–33°C depending on altitude

Driest

Tamarindo

5.1 in (130 mm) of rain

Wettest

Tortuguero National Park

24.6 in (625 mm) of rain

What July is like

July is one of the better green-season months on the Pacific. The veranillo, a brief dry spell in the middle of rainy season, means many days feel like dry season again, especially in Guanacaste. Rain still happens, but less often than in June or August.

The Caribbean is the exception. July is one of its own wet months, so Puerto Viejo and Tortuguero can be soggy. Tortuguero is still worth it for the turtles, though: green sea turtle nesting season starts in July.

In July, average daytime highs in Costa Rica range from 54°F (12°C) at Irazú Volcano National Park to 91°F (33°C) at Tamarindo. Rainfall ranges from about 5.1 in (130 mm) at Tamarindo to 24.6 in (625 mm) at Tortuguero National Park.

Crowds and prices

Busier than the rest of green season because of North American and European summer holidays. Book family-sized rentals early.

Happening in July

Southern-hemisphere humpback whales arrive in Uvita and Marino Ballena (July–October), the bigger of the two whale seasons.
Green sea turtle nesting season starts at Tortuguero (July–October).
July 25 is Guanacaste Day, a national holiday with rodeos and fiestas in Liberia and around the province.

Towns and airports in July

Long-term monthly averages, driest first.

Destination	High	Low	Rain	Conditions
Tamarindo	91°F / 33°C	75°F / 24°C	5.1 in / 130 mm	Green season
Samara	90°F / 32°C	74°F / 23°C	5.5 in / 140 mm	Green season
Guanacaste Airport (LIR)	91°F / 33°C	74°F / 23°C	5.9 in / 150 mm	Green season
Nosara	91°F / 33°C	74°F / 23°C	5.9 in / 150 mm	Green season
Santa Teresa	88°F / 31°C	74°F / 23°C	7.1 in / 180 mm	Green season
San José Airport (SJO)	78°F / 26°C	64°F / 18°C	8.1 in / 206 mm	Wet
San José	76°F / 24°C	62°F / 17°C	8.1 in / 206 mm	Wet
Jaco	88°F / 31°C	74°F / 23°C	9.8 in / 249 mm	Wet
Monteverde	70°F / 21°C	61°F / 16°C	10.6 in / 269 mm	Wet
Puerto Viejo	86°F / 30°C	74°F / 23°C	11.8 in / 300 mm	Wet
Manuel Antonio	88°F / 31°C	74°F / 23°C	12.6 in / 320 mm	Wet
La Fortuna	83°F / 28°C	69°F / 21°C	13 in / 330 mm	Very wet
Uvita	88°F / 31°C	74°F / 23°C	13.4 in / 340 mm	Very wet
Dominical	86°F / 30°C	73°F / 23°C	14.5 in / 368 mm	Very wet

National parks in July

Long-term monthly averages, driest first.

Destination	High	Low	Rain	Conditions
Rincón de la Vieja National Park	90°F / 32°C	74°F / 23°C	5.6 in / 142 mm	Green season
Irazú Volcano National Park	54°F / 12°C	43°F / 6°C	9.1 in / 231 mm	Wet
Poás Volcano National Park	61°F / 16°C	48°F / 9°C	10.2 in / 259 mm	Wet
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve	70°F / 21°C	61°F / 16°C	10.6 in / 269 mm	Wet
Corcovado National Park	85°F / 29°C	72°F / 22°C	10.8 in / 274 mm	Wet
Manuel Antonio National Park	88°F / 31°C	74°F / 23°C	12.6 in / 320 mm	Wet
Arenal Volcano National Park	83°F / 28°C	69°F / 21°C	13 in / 330 mm	Very wet
Marino Ballena National Park	88°F / 31°C	74°F / 23°C	13.4 in / 340 mm	Very wet
Cahuita National Park	85°F / 29°C	75°F / 24°C	19.3 in / 490 mm	Very wet
Tortuguero National Park	86°F / 30°C	75°F / 24°C	24.6 in / 625 mm	Very wet

Check your own itinerary

Add each stop on your trip and see the July weather, rainfall, and what to pack for each one.

Open the July weather planner

July in Costa Rica: quick answers

Is July a good time to visit Costa Rica?

Often, yes. July is a strange in-between month: the veranillo dry spell can make the Pacific feel like dry season again, and whale season starts in Uvita. The Caribbean coast is wetter than usual.

Does it rain in Costa Rica in July?

It depends on where you are. In July, average daytime highs in Costa Rica range from 54°F (12°C) at Irazú Volcano National Park to 91°F (33°C) at Tamarindo. Rainfall ranges from about 5.1 in (130 mm) at Tamarindo to 24.6 in (625 mm) at Tortuguero National Park.

Where is the best weather in Costa Rica in July?

The driest places in July are Tamarindo, Samara, and Rincón de la Vieja National Park, each averaging 5.6 inches of rain or less for the month. The wettest are Tortuguero National Park, Cahuita National Park, and Dominical.

How hot is Costa Rica in July?

The hottest spot is Tamarindo, averaging highs of 91°F (33°C). San José in the Central Valley averages 76°F (24°C). The volcano summits and cloud forest are much cooler, with Irazú Volcano National Park averaging 54°F (12°C). Nights are cooler everywhere, especially at altitude.

Planning a July trip?

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