Already in Costa Rica? Your On-the-Ground Travel Guide

Whats On in September?

• Peak Green Season (Pacific Side): September is one of the rainiest months of the year on the Pacific coast. Afternoon downpours are the norm and can run longer and heavier than earlier in the season, sometimes lasting into the evening. Mornings are still your best bet for outdoor plans.
• Hurricane Season at Its Height: September falls in the peak of Caribbean hurricane season. Costa Rica rarely takes a direct hit, but the odds of a tropical system bringing extra rain or unsettled weather are higher than usual.
• Best Surf of the Year: September brings some of the biggest swells of the year, with Tamarindo, Nosara, Santa Teresa, Dominical, and Pavones all firing.
• Whale Watching in Uvita: Humpback whale migration season runs July through October, so September is still prime time to spot mothers and calves off Marino Ballena National Park.
• Sea Turtle Nesting Peaks in Tortuguero: Green sea turtles nest nightly from August into late September, making this one of the best windows of the year to see them come ashore.
• Caribbean Coast Stays Sunny: While the Pacific gets soaked, the Caribbean has amazing weather (as long as there isn’t any tropical storms). Here you can expect warm, sunny, low-rain days.
• Quietest Month for Tourism: September is the low point of the year for visitor numbers. Expect the best hotel and tour discounts of the year, along with the chance that some smaller properties close temporarily for the season.
• Independence Day (September 15): A national holiday with parades, concerts, and traditional dances across the country. Schools and many businesses close for the day, and festivities kick off the evening before.