When to go
 

When is the better time visiting Monteverde and Arenal? Mid July or mid-Nov?

My suggestion would be July!

I'm going to say mid-July too, because July and August are referred to as 'little summer' in CR.

Dec-Apr: Summer, March being the hottest. December is the transition with perfect weather in Dec. and Jan. generally.
May-June: Spring/Fall, with cooler temps, plenty of sun, but not as hot. Sporadic rain, but not usually heavy.
July-Aug: "Little Summer". Generally nice, cooler temps than 'summer'. Some rain but you can easily leave with a tan.
Sept.-Oct: Winter, although temps rarely go below 80 at the beach. Oct. is the wettest month.

The average rainfall in Monteverde for July over the past 30 years is about double the average rainfall in November in La Fortuna de Arenal it's historically been almost three times as wet in July.

That said I've seen as many as three days in a row of clear skies in La Fortuna in July.

The Veranillo de San Juan (little summer) really only applies to the northern reaches of the central Pacific coast and the Nicoya Peninsula where the decrease in precipitation compared to June and September/October is pronounced.

Another consideration may be cost. the High season is expanding in Costa Rica. A decade ago it didn't start until the week after Christmas. It's slowly crept back to the beginning of December. Just in the past year I've noticed a few properties pushing high season prices all the way back to include Thanksgiving.

Thanks for all your advice. I'm most concerned about the rain because my partner and I are not in excellent health and fitness condition The rain will make our forest walk difficult. Is it correct to say that we'll be better off going mid-July than mid-Nov?

How bad is the rain in October? does it rain every afternoon for an hour or so? is that the extent of it? Or will it rain straight through all day? Or does it just depends? Any personal experiences out there about October in Costa rica and the weather?

Have been in September, not in October. You know, in the rainy season it doesn't always rain every day. I have been in the central valley when there were just cloudy days, but no rain. I hope you hear from someone who has spent time there in October, but I can almost promise you that October will mean more frequent rains, perhaps a little heavier (perhaps not), but still likely to remain nice and clear in the mornings. And yes, of course, it all depends. . .El Nino makes a huge difference in Costa Rica from year to year. Of course, occasionally there are days (and not necessarily in October) when you just get socked in with rain--San Jose, for example, last week. The Caribbean coast a couple of weeks earlier. By the way, the Caribbean coast usually has its driest months in September-October. This would be a great time to visit over there!

Is the rain in Monteverde and Arenal supposed to subside a little in Nov? I'd like to go in July, but what if I can't catch the "little summer"? Will Nov be safer? For the younger and energetic folks, the rain may not be a concern. But it's definitely a major concern to me and my friend.

November is near the end of the rainy season, so it is safe to say that it will have tapered off a bit by then, but Arenal and Monteverde are a bit different in that it rains there most days anyway. As I stated earlier, we had good luck 2 times at Arenal in July (not much rain--only a little in the afternoon). Monteverde is a different story--it is in the cloud forest and the climate is constantly damp and rainy (altitude is important!).

Climate: Monteverde residents refer to three seasons: dry, wet, and misty. The misty season (mid-November through February) is actually the first half of the dry season and is characterized by wind-driven clouds that bathe the forest, and frequently the community, in mists as they are blown across the ridgetop from the Atlantic side of the country. A poncho is definitely recommended during this portion of the year, while an umbrella should do fine for the afternoon rains that typically fall from May through November. Sweaters will handle the evening chill on almost any night of the year. Daytime temperatures vary with cloud cover and wind conditions, so layers are the best suggestion, but on a calm, sunny day shorts and shirt sleeves would be suitable.

lachat: I copied this for you from a Monteverde website. Hope it is helpful.

http://costa-rica-guide.com/Weather/WeatherMap.html

ALSO, you may find this website helpful. It appears on the site that Monteverde experiences a little less rain in July and also in November. But who knows? I may not be reading the picture correctly. You give it a try!

shillmac, thanks a million for your help. i'll check the website. thanks.