Hi. I am leaving for Costa Rica next week for the first time. I just checked the weather and it's showing rain and clouds for the first 8 days we are there. Wondering if anyone can tell me if this means no sun at all or if the weather passes quickly and there might be a chance for some sunshine? Thank you!

It always does that. I've learned to ignore it. The days usually cloud up around noon, and it sometimes rains in the afternoon (more likely May-November during the Green Season). Doubt you'll have to worry about it much right now--UNLESS you are traveling to the Caribbean lowlands where it is rainier now and in January than at other times of the year.

Thank you for your response! We are going to Papagayo Coast, Arenal and Manuel Antonio.

Great locations, all of them. Have a very good time, and tell us all about it when you return! The weather will no doubt be lovely while you are there. No worries.

what would you recommend in terms of clothing in the next few weeks? do we need to bring anything warmer than a fleece and raincoat?

In Costa Rica? I've never taken a fleece or a raincoat in gadzillions of trips. I guess we pack and travel differently than most, but we just take the same old stuff we wear here in Oklahoma in the summer. Shorts, T-shirts, sandals. I take one pair of zip-off Columbia pants (great for carrying valuable around in the leg pockets), a lightweight jacket (which I wear on the plane), couple of long sleeved lightweight knit shirts, regular tennis shoes for hiking. Contrary to most, one of my "staples" is my capri jeans. They're lightweight, and I wear them in cooler climates (mountains). I know they wouldn't dry quickly if they got soaked, but we never seem to encounter that much rain--and travel there mostly in the rainy season. Go figure! Others would tell you to take all kinds of special quick dry stuff. I'm sure that is better, but as I said, we've never had a problem with our regular "stuff". Good luck!

thanks....helps a lot. my raincoat is like a lightweight windbreaker, so that sounds like it would be good to have.

I always have a rainjacket. I have been on very few trips to CR where I haven't needed something to protect me from the rain at least once even if only to protect my camera from heavy clouds. In 15 years of traveling down there I have worn that jacket a lot of times. I have a nice light rainjacket that packs into a little bag that I hook onto my pants or fanny pack etc. Just going through the La Paz waterfalls on a sunny morning I used it. Whether to have a fleece or not depends on where you are going. There have been times when I have been very glad to have one and I do bring a lightweight one if I am going to be in the mountains. Monteverde, San Gerardo de Dota...I have needed it.

Cold fronts do go through and even Arenal and San Jose can get pretty chilly. I have at least 2 sweatshirts that I bought down there because I didn't think I would need anything warm. I would bring at least a sweater. I have been lucky in Arenal and not needed anything warm but ran into people at another lodge who were there right after we left and they were very cold because of a cold front.

You should be plenty warm while in the coastal areas. Arenal is the only place you might need anything to cuddle up in if it should be rainy.

Have a wonderful trip! Everything will still be beautiful and green.

We are going to be in Punta Islita, San Jose area (Xandari hotel) and Bosque del Cabo. I am thinking that a raincoat/windbreaker, lightweight fleece and long sleeve t shirt will suffice. Do you agree?

Xandari would be the only place you could possibly need a little extra cover. I would bring a light sweater or even just a long or 3/4 sleeved jersey shirt that would give you a little extra cover. You won't need a fleece there. If you have a light rainjacket that could double as a wind breaker you should have more than enough. Most of the time it will be warm enough to be without one but there are those cold fronts that do go through. When I was staying at Peace lodge a little further up the mountain I was glad to have a 3/4 sleeve shirt. My rain jacket came in handy to protect me from the heavy mist that some of the waterfalls had. Like most places (even home) you can't predict exactly. Averages are taken from several years of higher and lower so I just prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Who knows, you could even end up having a heat wave. For sure you will be quite warm at the other places.