jessy123

we are flying into san jose on sunday...says rain all week ((
Monday we are heading to Arenal but can't get a forecast on it..hoping we get some ok weather, it's lousy here in ny

Jessie_

Costarica.com has a great weather site and you can get a 15 day forecast as well.

Sorry, I blew it your way (from Ohio)

kthyrn

Just returned from an awesome trip to CR-- the weather was a little different in each place we traveled so it really depends on where you will be. San Jose is in the central valley and temps/weather is very different from other areas. It was the most moderate weather we encountered during our whole trip. Arenal is north in the cloud forest area and was rainy/foggy/misty for 2 of the 3 days we were there. Temps were ~50-60's-- not too bad but with the dampness you will feel cool. If you go to the coast/beach it is much hotter and humid (80's), but no rain/mist. Where will your travels take you??

Barbarian

Anyone who tries to predict the weather in Costa Rica simply doesn't have a clue. Here's the reason: It is a very small country between two huge oceans. There is nothing to stop weather patterns from blowing in across the isthmus and blowing on out the other side.

This means that it can be raining one minute and sunny and beautiful five minutes later. It also means that it can be raining in one place and be sunny and beautiful five kilometers down the road.

Here is an example: December is the rainiest month of the year in the city of Alajuela. Eleven kilometers away is the city of Heredia, where December is the driest month of the year.

Another example? I live in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. We have not seen rain in more than a month (except a short shower one night). Just on the other side of the mountains there have been tremendously devastating rains that have resulted in major flooding and catastrophe.

Costa Rica is a land of mini-climatic zones and a wide variety of altitudes. Questions about the weather here are simply meaningless. But the chances are tremendous that no matter when you come, "rainy" season or "dry" season, you will experience absolutely gorgeous weather most of the time with an occasional tropical shower thrown in to cool things off a bit.

Pura vida.

jessy123

thank you very much for your replies!
Our travels will take us to San Jose, then Arenal volcano, then Tamarindo beaches. Good to know it might be 50's/60's because originally we thought beach gear. Looks like we should bring pants, light sweater, windbreaker as well. Thank u again!

kthyrn

Yes, the key is to bring different types of clothes-- shorts, pants, things that will allow you to layer, and definitely rain gear. It will still be much better than NY I'm sure!!

mush

Jessy123: I would not trust any weather report.
Our guide in Costa Rica mentioned, correctly, that anyone predicting the weather in Costa Rica is either a first timer or a fool. When we were out there last month, it rained on and off for a week: and what rain! Just when we had resigned ourselves for a rainy vacation, the weather turned and we rarely saw rain for the next couple of weeks.