Costa Rica’s geographical location and topographical distribution
Costa Rica is located in Central America between the Atlantic and the Pacific. It is bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, Panama to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west . The name Costa Rica is Spanish and means “rich coast”. The Latin American country is particularly rich in natural diversity. It is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. From lush rainforests to active volcanoes to breathtaking beaches on the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific coast, everything is here.
Topographically, Costa Rica can be divided into five large areas . The Valle Central with the capital San José makes up one of these large areas. The landscape of the province of San José of the same name is shaped by the volcanic mountain ranges of the Cordilleras, which extend from the Cordillera Central to the Cordillera de Talamanca. The Cordilleras themselves form one of the five large areas due to their altitude, the large number of still active volcanoes and other climatic conditions. The Caribbean coast is in the east of Costa Rica and the Pacific coast in the west . The latter is topographically separated between northwest and west. In the northwest is the dry Guanacaste peninsula that can be viewed as a separate open space. A larger city in western Costa Rica is the port city of Puntarenas. On the Google Maps map you can see the exact location of the five metropolitan areas of Costa Rica.
Dry and rainy season in Costa Rica and the weather
According to CACHEDHEALTH, the dry season in Costa Rica extends from December to April. In spring it does not rain as often and the humidity is more bearable than during the rainy season. Since it rains more on average in the south of the country and on the central Pacific coast, the dry season sets in here one to two months later. However, it ends here as early as April. In the central north of Costa Rica, east of the great mountain range, there is the least rainfall during the dry season. In the north of the Pacific coast it can get up to 40 degrees during the dry season. On the Atlantic coast, on the other hand, there is an equatorial climate all year round. This brings showers in every season of the year, from which the months of February, March and April are rather spared during the dry season. These months are therefore best for a beach holiday on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The main travel time for a Costa Rica vacation is usually between December and February. This time of year is Costa Rica’s school vacation and the beaches are more crowded than usual.
The rainy season in Costa Rica lasts from May to November . During this time of year there are showers almost every day. But that shouldn’t put you off. The rains usually start at noon and go back a few hours later. This is particularly noticeable in the highlands. The mornings are mostly sunny and warm. Around 2 p.m., gray clouds form in the sky and heavy rain falls. After about two to three hours of precipitation, the sun comes out again. More rain falls on the Atlantic coast than in other parts of the country during the rainy season. Relatively dry months during the rainy season are the months of August, September and October on the Atlantic coast. In terms of the country as a whole, September and October are on average the rainiest months during the rainy season. Therefore, the trips during this period are cheaper and the vacation spots are less crowded. Despite the rainfalls that could disturb one or the other on vacation, this time of the year has a very special incentive. It produces lush vegetation. That is why many speak of the green rainy season in Costa Rica. If you want to explore the species-rich rainforest, the rainy season is the best time to travel to Costa Rica.
Practical tips for your trip to Costa Rica during the dry or rainy season
Due to climate change, dry and rainy seasons are mixing more and more in Costa Rica . There are more and more sunny days without rain showers during the rainy season and rainy days during the dry season. So I recommend you to be equipped with a rain jacket and bathing suits at any time of the year . You should also take sturdy shoes and sandals / flip flops with you. The weather can change from sunny to rainy or vice versa at any time of the year. If too many showers fall and the water cannot completely seep into the ground, some roads turn into muddy areas . Sometimes smaller or larger streams arise, so that some towns do not have an off-road vehicle during the rainy days are not attainable at all. Before you start your trip, you should inform yourself on the Internet about the weather forecast for your travel time. If rain is announced, you should bring rubber boots or other waterproof footwear as well as a rain jacket and warm clothes for the night. Furthermore, it is advisable, especially when vacationing in San José and the surrounding area, to plan your outdoor activities for the mornings. The noon rain showers result in wet and muddy streets in parts of the city, which do not make certain activities more pleasant.
