Green season (peak rain on the Pacific)

Costa Rica weather in October

Only for the Caribbean, or if you're comfortable with real rain. October is the wettest month across most of the Pacific, while the Caribbean coast is at its best.

By Aaron Bailey

Daytime highs

54–88°F

12–31°C depending on altitude

Driest

Cahuita National Park

5.2 in (132 mm) of rain

Wettest

Corcovado National Park

24.7 in (627 mm) of rain

What October is like

October is the wettest month for most of the Pacific coast. Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Uvita, and the Osa Peninsula get 20+ inches of rain in an average October. Roads flood, river crossings become impassable, day trips get cancelled, and some businesses close for maintenance.

The Caribbean is the escape hatch. Puerto Viejo and Cahuita are relatively dry and sunny, and Limón celebrates its carnival. If your dates are fixed in October, build the trip around the Caribbean and the Central Valley, and treat the Pacific as optional.

In October, average daytime highs in Costa Rica range from 54°F (12°C) at Irazú Volcano National Park to 88°F (31°C) at Puerto Viejo. Rainfall ranges from about 5.2 in (132 mm) at Cahuita National Park to 24.7 in (627 mm) at Corcovado National Park.

Crowds and prices

Very quiet and cheap, except around the Caribbean carnival.

Happening in October

The Carnaval de Limón is held around October 12.
Whale season in Uvita winds down in mid-October.
The last weeks of turtle nesting at Tortuguero.

Towns and airports in October

Long-term monthly averages, driest first.

Destination	High	Low	Rain	Conditions
Puerto Viejo	88°F / 31°C	73°F / 23°C	5.5 in / 140 mm	Green season
Tamarindo	87°F / 31°C	74°F / 23°C	10.2 in / 259 mm	Wet
Nosara	87°F / 31°C	73°F / 23°C	10.2 in / 259 mm	Wet
Samara	86°F / 30°C	73°F / 23°C	10.2 in / 259 mm	Wet
Guanacaste Airport (LIR)	87°F / 31°C	73°F / 23°C	10.6 in / 269 mm	Wet
Monteverde	71°F / 22°C	61°F / 16°C	10.6 in / 269 mm	Wet
La Fortuna	83°F / 28°C	69°F / 21°C	11.4 in / 290 mm	Wet
San José	76°F / 24°C	62°F / 17°C	11.5 in / 292 mm	Wet
San José Airport (SJO)	78°F / 26°C	64°F / 18°C	11.8 in / 300 mm	Wet
Santa Teresa	86°F / 30°C	73°F / 23°C	12.6 in / 320 mm	Wet
Jaco	86°F / 30°C	73°F / 23°C	17.7 in / 450 mm	Very wet
Manuel Antonio	86°F / 30°C	73°F / 23°C	20.5 in / 521 mm	Very wet
Uvita	86°F / 30°C	73°F / 23°C	21.3 in / 541 mm	Very wet
Dominical	84°F / 29°C	72°F / 22°C	23.6 in / 599 mm	Very wet

National parks in October

Long-term monthly averages, driest first.

Destination	High	Low	Rain	Conditions
Cahuita National Park	86°F / 30°C	75°F / 24°C	5.2 in / 132 mm	Green season
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve	71°F / 22°C	61°F / 16°C	10.6 in / 269 mm	Wet
Arenal Volcano National Park	83°F / 28°C	69°F / 21°C	11.4 in / 290 mm	Wet
Rincón de la Vieja National Park	87°F / 31°C	73°F / 23°C	13.8 in / 351 mm	Very wet
Tortuguero National Park	87°F / 31°C	73°F / 23°C	14.2 in / 361 mm	Very wet
Poás Volcano National Park	61°F / 16°C	48°F / 9°C	14.7 in / 373 mm	Very wet
Irazú Volcano National Park	54°F / 12°C	42°F / 6°C	14.7 in / 373 mm	Very wet
Manuel Antonio National Park	86°F / 30°C	73°F / 23°C	20.5 in / 521 mm	Very wet
Marino Ballena National Park	86°F / 30°C	73°F / 23°C	21.3 in / 541 mm	Very wet
Corcovado National Park	84°F / 29°C	72°F / 22°C	24.7 in / 627 mm	Very wet

Check your own itinerary

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

Open the October weather planner

October in Costa Rica: quick answers

Is October a good time to visit Costa Rica?

Only for the Caribbean, or if you're comfortable with real rain. October is the wettest month across most of the Pacific, while the Caribbean coast is at its best.

Does it rain in Costa Rica in October?

It depends on where you are. In October, average daytime highs in Costa Rica range from 54°F (12°C) at Irazú Volcano National Park to 88°F (31°C) at Puerto Viejo. Rainfall ranges from about 5.2 in (132 mm) at Cahuita National Park to 24.7 in (627 mm) at Corcovado National Park.

Where is the best weather in Costa Rica in October?

The driest places in October are Cahuita National Park, Puerto Viejo, and Tamarindo, each averaging 10.2 inches of rain or less for the month. The wettest are Corcovado National Park, Dominical, and Uvita.

How hot is Costa Rica in October?

The hottest spot is Puerto Viejo, averaging highs of 88°F (31°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 October trip?

I'll build your route around October's weather: which coast to favor, where to stay, and how to get between stops.

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