Hi,

I am supposed to leave for CR on Tuesday (4/10/2007), and according to accuweather.com, it looks like it will be raining the entire time we'll be down there. I have spent months planning this trip, and I don't want to be stuck in a hotel room the entire time because of bad weather. Is anyone down there right now? What is the weather really like? When "rain" is reported, is it tropical showers throughout the day, or is it raining all day and all night? We are using miles for our flights, so if I have to, I can pull the cord on this trip and try again another time.

Also, our current plan is to drive from SJO to Mal Pais on our first day. If it's raining, how long should I expect to be in the car? I am fully prepared for a 5 or 6 hour bumpy ride, but I don't know what to expect if the roads are wet. Please don't lecture me on what a terrible idea driving is going to be. I am leaving my two young kids behind on this trip, and I am not going to risk flying in one of those tiny planes (I'm a big chicken!).

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!

Funny, you're too big of a chicken to risk flying in a small plane but you've got no problem braving the Costa Rican roads / drivers? Haha. I actually enjoy driving in CR, it can be a lot of fun.

Anyway, I'd take the accuweather report w/ a grain of salt. Nearly every time we've traveled to CR (all in the "green" season) the weather reports we looked at before the trip have called for rain the ENTIRE time, and each time it's been beautiful. Sure, there was the occasional short tropical shower, or downpours at night...but after all, it IS a rainforest.

Don't let 'em spoil your trip. After all, a rainy day in CR beats a sunny day back home! Play in the rain if needed.

I wouldn't really bother much with weather reports. Every trip to CR I've taken the weather reports always make it look like monsoon season there and yet have only gone thru a couple brief showers. If you cancel, you will find the same doom & gloom weather reports awaiting you when you go to reschedule. I'd stop looking at the weather and start packing for your trip.

Thanks for the quick responses! I am really looking forward to the drive through the country. I realize I am going to a "rainforest," so I should expect to get wet. That said, if it's really storming with no breaks, that wouldn't be much fun with the activities we have planned. Anyone living in CR right now that can report on weather? Are we talking typical tropical showers, or The Perfect Storm?!

Typical showers for this time of year, so no problems. You might want to check out http://www.imn.ac.cr/pronosticos/index.html
which is the weather forecasting from Costa Rica for various regions. For the coming week, Nicoya region forecast is for p/c skies with isolated showers. Typical for this time of year. Even when rain is predicted, it's generally a brief albeit heavy rainshower in the late afternoon. Just enough to cool things off and green it up. Have a great trip and don't forget the sunscreen. You'll definitely need it! Lisa in Manuel Antonio

Perfect! Thanks so much for the info.

Hi Lisa!

SF_Kara,
As others have said, those weather maps predict gloom and doom regularly! I always try to remember that if there is a 40% chance of rain, that means it probably will NOT rain!
We spend a month to six weeks every year in late June, through July, and sometimes into the first week of August. Even in the "rainy season", we've not seen all that much rain. September and October, different story--except on the Caribbean side, where it tends to be a little drier during those particular months. . .

Have a great time and don't forget to post when you return! You're leaving in just a few hours!

I am back in Costa Rica, in san Jose today was just very small showers, I here on the radio that most of the rain is located in Atlantic beaches , South Pacific and some in the Central Pacific...this time of the year as TICOS said ...Nobodys knows when is going to be rain...