ahl721

Hi,
My husband and I want to go to Costa Rica but can only go in early May. It will be the beginning of rainy season then - Would you go then or choose somewhere different? Please help!!!
thanks so much!!

sandyc

Don't hesitate. You'll likely get one short rain shower a day at that time. Go and have fun!

Sandy

sandy_b

I went one year in May and it didn't rain the entire 2 weeks I was there! I went another time in Oct and it rained everyday, all day . . . so, I don't think there's really any way to tell.

It has been my experience in traveling to Latin America that it does rain a little every day, rainy season or not. That just makes a good excuse to stop and have a beer.

Buen viaje from another Sandy,
Sandy (in Denton)

guanacaste

great time to go,the rains turn the country green.
in guanacaste there is little rain anyway!

Melissa5

We visited beautiful Costa Rica in June 2005 and were very glad we went during the rainy season. Speaking with a local we learned that Costa Rica is a deeper and more beautiful shade of green in the rainy season. Also, while it often rained for a couple hours in the afternoon, by then we were tired from our active mornings, and mornings were always sunny. so by the afternoon we were ready to rest anyway. And the weather cleared up in time for late afternoon shopping/dinner.

Also my southern California young adult kids were fascinated by one thunder and lightening storm which was quite dramatic on the way to Arenal...it was one of their favorite and most memorable experiences. They had rarely seen lightening and whenever it happened in Costa Rica they thought it was beautiful. It never rained for a whole day. We never had to cancel any outings because of rain.

Just make sure you plan your major activities for morning. Also start long drives early.

Enjoy.

ronjrich

Without a doubt... go. The rainy season is a beautiful time to visit with lush landscape, partial sun most days and fewer people. I have been several times during the rainy season and while you certainly may ghet washed out (anything is possible), you will most likely have beautiful mornings with an hour or two of some of the most intense rain you have ever seen in the afternoon, and then a couple more hours of sunshine. The rain, as others have said, can often be a highlight of the trip. Have fun.

shillmac

Ditto to the "go" advice!

We spend a month every year during the rainy season, usually during part of June and most of July--all over the country. There have been weeks at a time, as Sandy mentioned, with no rain at all. There have been times when some rain would have been a tremendous blessing!

Honestly, I can remember very few really hard downpours that lasted more than 45 minutes, and just a few days of rainy-ness off and on all day. Most of the time it is sunny in the a.m. and cloudy in the p.m. I know it can rain like heck for days at a time, but in many many visits and long periods of time, that has never been our experience. (Knocking on wood as I speak!) Go and enjoy yourselves! Early May is right up against the dry season, and the transition takes awhile anyway.

Liban

I'm with the rest here.

Go, go, go!!

Sometimes it's amazing how the rain falls for a short period (heavily) and stops on a dimein the Carribbean and Central America, I've experienced the same in Brazil.

Anyways, I enjoyed my time in Costa Rica, though I was there in Feb-March (rained maybe once or twice while there)

tully

I've gone 3 years in a row in late May, if it was bad I would've changed my dates! Definitely go - a great time of the year.