Costa Rica
Costa Rica in December
🌦️ Shoulder (showers)Pleasant, a little humid and some showers.
Why December scores 9.2What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.1
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (23.7°C highs / 16.5°C lows)
- ✓Humid (dew point 17.5°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~81 mm rain)
- Air quality9.5
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~8 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | Jan | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.2 Excellent | 9.6 Excellent |
| Season | 🌦️ Shoulder (showers) | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 24° / 17° | 24° / 16° |
| Rain | 81 mm | 37 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 18° | dew pt 17° |
| PM2.5 | 8 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore Costa RicaEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyA Central American country known for rainforests, volcanoes, wildlife, two coastlines and eco-tourism.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
Fiestas de PalmaresDate variesUsually January
A large festival with concerts, bullfighting and a horse parade.
Why go: Very crowded and loud.
Where: Palmares, Alajuela
Día del BoyeroDate variesUsually the second Sunday of March
A parade of painted oxcarts honouring the country's ox drivers.
Why go: Close to San José.
Where: San Antonio de Escazú
Green sea turtle nestingDate variesUsually July to October
Green turtles come ashore to lay eggs at night.
Why go: Night beach visits are only allowed with licensed guides.
Where: Tortuguero
Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna
A conical volcano with hot springs, hiking trails and waterfalls.
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Misty forest reserves with hanging bridges and quetzals.
Manuel Antonio National Park
A small park with beaches, monkeys and sloths.
💡 Arrive early, as daily visitor numbers are limited.
Tortuguero National Park
A canal-laced Caribbean park known for sea turtle nesting.
💡 Green turtle nesting is mainly in the second half of the year.
Corcovado National Park
Remote rainforest on the Osa Peninsula with very rich wildlife.
💡 Visits require a certified guide.
Marino Ballena National Park
A marine park near Uvita where humpback whales visit.
💡 Whale watching has two seasons, from both hemispheres.
Gallo pinto
Rice and beans fried together, the classic breakfast.
Casado
A set plate of rice, beans, salad, plantain and meat or fish.
💡 Sodas (small local restaurants)
Chifrijo
Rice, beans, fried pork and pico de gallo, a bar snack.
Ceviche
Fish marinated in lime with onions and coriander.
Salsa Lizano
A mild, tangy brown sauce served with many dishes.
Costa Rican coffee
Beans from regions such as Tarrazú.
💡 Supermarkets and coffee shops
Sarchí oxcart crafts
Painted oxcart souvenirs from the town of Sarchí.
💡 Sarchí and craft shops
Boruca masks
Hand-carved masks by the Boruca Indigenous community.
💡 Craft shops and galleries
Salsa Lizano
Bottles of the national sauce.
💡 Supermarkets