Our personal favorite month to visit Costa Rica In August. On the Tico calendar, it is “winter,” yet for North Americans and Europeans, a tropical beach is the epitome of mid-summer. If you need assistance creating a schedule that makes the most of the morning sun and surf in August as well as the afternoon and evening rains that calm things off and green up the tropical greenery, please let us know. We gladly accept a few brief storms in exchange for avoiding the inflated costs and throngs of people during the high travel seasons of Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, and Spring Break. Everything you need to know when traveling to Costa Rica In August.
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1. What is the weather like in Costa Rica In August?
The weather is usually better in August and July than it is in the months before and following. Although the rainy season is in full swing, there often is a break in the precipitation between July and August, notably in Guanacaste. If you’re lucky, on a trip to northwest Costa Rica, you won’t even need your umbrella. Costa Ricans refer to this brief dry season as vanilla.
The Caribbean, which is one of our favorite places to travel to in August, is edging closer to the bright weather that characterizes a typical September.
Everywhere throughout Costa Rica In August, the majority of the rain occurs in the late afternoon or nighttime. A layer of warm, moist air rises throughout the day as the intense August heat absorbs moisture from the sea and the canopy of the rain forest. The expansion and cooling of the rising air cause the water to condense out and create clouds. The air can contain even less water later in the day as temperatures drop, and part of it eventually falls as rain.
With highs of 84 to 90 °F (29-32 °C) and overnight averages of 69 to 77 °F (21-25 °C), the rains are frequent enough to help cool things up a little on the beaches and in the lowlands. This time of year, the central valley often experiences temperatures between 75 and 85 °F (24 and 29 °C), cooling off further at night.
2. Why should we go to Costa Rica In August
August brings occasional rain showers throughout most of Costa Rica. However, this does not diminish your pleasure in visiting this lovely nation at this time of year. You get the best chance to see Costa Rica at your own leisure because the weather is still pleasant in some areas and there are fewer tourists. Here are some benefits of traveling to Costa Rica In August.
- August is considered to be the off-season for tourists in Costa Rica. As a result, major tourist areas like Manuel Antonio National Park, Arenal, and Tortuguero see fewer visitors. When visiting the country at this time of year, you can take your time and explore these locations at your own leisure. The availability of hotels is also not an issue this month.
- Low-season specials Go to Costa Rica in August for a cost-effective vacation. Take advantage of low-season specials that can save you up to 50% on hotel accommodations. Additionally, this month offers lower prices for international flights.
- While occasional rain is frequent in Costa Rica in August, places along its northern Pacific coast and the Caribbean tend to have more pleasant weather. Explore these places’ hidden gems while you have the chance.
- Tropical wildlife: In Costa Rica, August is turtle breeding season. Visit Tortuguero to witness the egg-laying behavior of these shy reptiles. You can also embark on a canoe cruise or a night stroll to look for wildlife while you’re there.
- Have a good time at the festival The Virgen de Los Angeles festival, one of Costa Rica’s largest yearly celebrations takes place in Cartago on August 2. Thousands of people travel to the city on this day as a form of pilgrimage. It is an absolutely magnificent display.
However, you had better have advance preparation and reservations for the trip to Costa Rica In August. Vacations during Costa Rica’s “green season” (rainy season) are becoming more and more popular, and August 2022 appears to be fairly crowded. August is a wonderful choice if you like the freedom of traveling without a set plan or reservations, although we advise making reservations in advance for the more popular eco-lodges and beach regions.
4. Costa Rica In August’s top tourist destinations
- According to conventional knowledge, when visiting Costa Rica during the green season, you should stick to the regions that see the least amount of seasonal variation. A large portion of Guanacaste Province, particularly the Nicoya Peninsula, experiences year-round tropical dry weather. Consequently, there are few places where the temperature varies more than a few degrees.
- Consider visiting the nearby city of Cartago if you are traveling to Costa Rica at the beginning of August and intend to spend more than a day or two exploring the nation’s capital, San José. August 2nd is The Virgin of Los Angeles Day, which is Costa Rica’s third-largest religious holiday after Christmas and Easter.
- Additionally, you want to think about going to the country’s Caribbean region in August. This is also the time of year when the popular community of Puerto Viejo, which is close to the Panamanian border, experiences its own mini-dry season.
- In Tortuguero National Park, thousands of sea turtles deposit their eggs on the beach throughout the month of August during turtle nesting season.
- Manuel Antonio, Uvita, and the Central Valley are Costa Rica’s next best August vacation spots (San Jose, Poas Volcano). Even while August brings more rain to each of these areas than earlier months, mornings are frequently clear and sunny.
- The South Pacific (Drake Bay, Corcovado) and mountains (Monteverde, Arenal, Chirripó) are the rainiest regions in Costa Rica in August. In contrast to other regions of the nation, where it is still possible to see bright afternoons in August, the South Pacific and mountains are almost always covered in heavy daily rain.
- Moreover, In Costa Rica In August is an excellent time to search for hotels. It’s the low season, often known as the “green season,” meaning hotels all throughout the nation will have lower rates and more availability. In August, hotel prices are frequently 20 to 30 percent less expensive than they are in the peak season.
5. Costa Rica In August: Holidays and Festivals
- August 2rd: Romeria a la Virgen de Los Angeles
The most significant religious event in Costa Rica is the “Pilgrimage of the Virgin of the Angels.” To reach the Basilica de Los Angeles church in Cartago, more than a million romeros (also known as pilgrims) walk on foot, often for days at a period. They honor the Virgin of Los Angeles, also known as La Negrita (“The Little Black Girl”), a diminutive black statue of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, there. A little indigenous girl suddenly found the statue in the wilderness around 1635.
- Mother’s Day is observed in Costa Rica on August 15.
One of the most significant holidays in Costa Rica is El Da de la Madre, or “Mother’s Day.” The day is off for everyone at work, and moms are given gifts, serenades, and special lunches.
- August 30th is Entrada de Los Santos.
In this march in San Ramon, there are around twenty saint statues that have been transported from other cities. Live music and authentic Costa Rican cuisine are featured at the event.
- The last day in August is Afro-Caribbean Culture Day.
Costa Rica’s Afro-Caribbean history is celebrated at this procession in Limon. There are performances, cultural events, mouthwatering Caribbean cuisine, and more.
6. What should we bring to Costa Rica In August:
Pack a variety of clothing if you’re uncertain about what to wear in Costa Rica In August. No matter where you go in August, there will inevitably be some rain, although usually only in the late afternoon. Pack accordingly to the changing weather. Carry a raincoat and quick-drying clothing for rainy days, lightweight, breathable clothing for the day, and a warm fleece or sweater for the evening. Don’t forget to bring some sunscreen and bug spray if you intend to spend time at the beach or in the woods.
While August brings rain to the majority of Costa Rica, there are still many areas with relatively dry weather. The Caribbean coast and the province of Guanacaste are excellent locations to travel to during this month of the year. August is a fantastic month for tourists on a budget to visit Costa Rica because it is a low-season month. Hotel rooms are less expensive and less congested in popular tourist locations.
