We are making our first trip to Costa Rica in October 2005. I've been reading that it is the rainy season. We are flexible and can go anytime in October. Would it be better to travel the end of October?? Also, any areas to avoid during the rainy season? This trip is more for relaxation and sight seeing. Any information is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Robb & Anabel ([email protected])

Don't worry about the weather, there is really no bad time to visit CR. It usually rains in late PM or evening and rarely upsets your plans, and its the warm, showery kind, often most welcome! It does rain more on the east coast while the Nicoya Pen is a bit drier. Good luck and have fun!

Congratulations! You picked the absolutely best month to visit Arenal Volcano. According to the locals, it is visible more in October than at any other time. I have been there five times, once (last December) it was socked in by clouds during the entire visit. The other four times (all in October) the view was perfectly clear!

And sometimes the rainy season lives up to its' name ... current article about slides & flooding in Quepos >>> http://www.amcostarica.com/

It depends what part of the country you are visiting. Guanacaste is the driest area and you should expect more rain in Osa.

In June, it would start to rain around 2-3 PM everyday; hence we would do all of our activities in the morning.

The locals told me that there is more rain from October-December.

Have a great trip.

In June it rained every afternoon after about 1:00 or 2:00 pm. Therefore as someone else mentioned we got up as early as we could, were active all morning until after lunch, then planned shopping and eating and relaxing for rainy afternoons.

Beautiful country, very green and gorgeous in the rainy season! My favorite areas were Monteverde and ARenal. Also loved our night (not long enough) at La Finca Que Ama, which was a convenient stop between Manuel Antonio and Monteverde. (Manuel antonio was my least favorite place, though I did love the Hotel Si Como NO.)

We just returned from 12 days in CR and for the last six it rained pretty much all day, every day. Deadly flooding in Quepos. Locals blamed it on Hurricane Tina. And now Hurricane Stan has apparently spawned some more dangerous weather.

Gerryskid: Would like to hear more aout your trip. Am planning to leave sometime in Oct (maybe the 25th) and stay for a month. Have been postponing my trip due to fears that the hurricanes have affected weather in CR as well and made rainy season even rainer. (Hey, Guatemala and El Salavador aint that far away..)
Tell me more... I am intending to visit turtle research stations, so that means Tortugeuro, the Osa, and Playa Grande. Thank you...