Costa Rica in March
March is one of the best months of the year to visit Costa Rica. Late dry season heat, especially in Guanacaste. Spring break adds a wave; Semana Santa in some years falls late month and fills everything.
Weather
Hot and dry, highs near 90F (32C)
Crowds
Prices
What's on in March
Roughly December through March and again July through October, strongest in the south Pacific
Humpback whale seasons. Two hemispheres' worth of humpbacks use the same warm coast, making Uvita and the Marino Ballena area a nearly year-round whale destination.
Roughly March through June in the cloud forests
Quetzal nesting season. The best window to see the resplendent quetzal in Monteverde and the highlands near San Gerardo de Dota, with guides tracking active nests.
Late February or early March, near Uvita
Envision Festival. A well-known international music-and-arts gathering on the south Pacific coast that fills area lodging for the week.
Things to do in Costa Rica
- 1
Arenal and La Fortuna. The classic volcano base: lava-field hikes, waterfall swims, and hot springs for the afternoon rain slot. The perfect cone hides in clouds some days in any season.
- 2
Monteverde Cloud Forest. Hanging bridges through the canopy and a real shot at the resplendent quetzal, especially in nesting season. Bring layers; the cloud forest is genuinely cool and wet. official site ↗
- 3
Manuel Antonio National Park. The greatest-hits park: sloths and capuchins over postcard beaches. Closed Tuesdays, capacity-capped, and best booked ahead with a licensed guide at opening time. official site ↗
- 4
Tortuguero's canals. A roadless Caribbean 'Amazon in miniature' reached by boat or small plane, famous for green sea turtle nesting from roughly July through October.
- 5
The Osa Peninsula and Corcovado. The wildest corner of the country, with scarlet macaws overhead and tapirs on the beach. Guided entry only; the dry months are far easier logistically.
- 6
Surf towns of the Pacific. Tamarindo and Nosara for learner-friendly consistency, Santa Teresa for the boho scene. Waves run all year, with green-season swells often the biggest.
- 7
Whale watching at Marino Ballena. Humpbacks visit on two calendars: roughly December through March from the north, and July through October from the southern hemisphere, one of the longest whale seasons anywhere.
- 8
A coffee farm in the highlands. The Central Valley's farm tours turn a rainy afternoon into the best cup of the trip. Harvest generally runs in the drier months, varying by altitude.
Beat the crowds
- →Travel in May, June, or November: green-season shoulder months deliver most of the dry season's mornings with a fraction of its crowds and prices.
- →Book the capacity-capped parks, Manuel Antonio above all, for the first entry slot of the morning: wildlife is most active, heat is lowest, and the tour waves land later.
- →Skip the two national holiday crushes if you can: Christmas through New Year's and Semana Santa fill beaches, buses, and lodges with the whole country on vacation at once.
Know before you go
- !Costa Rica does not close seasonally as a country, but September and October on the Pacific side are the exception zone: some small lodges and tour operators pause, remote dirt roads can become impassable, and the Monteverde area's famous reserves and businesses take some maintenance downtime in the deepest low season.
- !Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesdays and caps daily entries; Corcovado requires a licensed guide and advance permits year-round. Book both before you build days around them.
- !The Caribbean coast runs on the opposite weather calendar: its sunniest, calmest stretch is September and October, which keeps Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo very much open when the Pacific is at its wettest.
Costa Rica in March: quick answers
Is March a good time to visit Costa Rica?
March is one of the best months of the year to visit Costa Rica. Late dry season heat, especially in Guanacaste. Spring break adds a wave; Semana Santa in some years falls late month and fills everything.
What is the weather like in Costa Rica in March?
Hot and dry, highs near 90F (32C).
Is Costa Rica crowded in March?
Costa Rica is busy in March, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.
What is happening in Costa Rica in March?
Humpback whale seasons (roughly december through march and again july through october, strongest in the south pacific); Quetzal nesting season (roughly march through june in the cloud forests); Envision Festival (late february or early march, near uvita).