Tag: tamarindo weather

June 30,2026

Costa Rica Weather Guide 2026: What El Niño Could Mean for Tamarindo Travelers

If you’re looking to understand Costa Rica average weather by month, the first thing to know is that a weather forecast here isn’t like a weather forecast back home. Whether you’ve checked one or ten forecasting websites to consult our summer weather, you’ve probably been greeted by a solid wall of rain clouds, but they don’t tell the whole story, especially if you’re considering Tamarindo Costa Rica houses for rent during summer 2026 and trying to decide if it’d be your kind of trip.

 

Tropical forecasts are different because tropical weather is a little sassy. Whereas back home, the weatherperson can predict that rain is likely at exactly 3:22 p.m., here, the forecast is basically saying “it could rain any time,” but it’s notsaying, “it’s going to rain all the time.” In fact, depending on the day, the month, and your specific destination, it could be a five-minute shower or a two-hour jaw-dropper. Or the winds could blow in, push out a weather system, and leave the sky a gorgeous, clear blue.

 

So, yes, if you’ve been comparing Costa Rica average weather by month and feeling a little alarmed by the rainy-season graphics, totally fair. But allow us to translate: The weather charts tell you that June, July, and August fall inside Costa Rica’s green season, a.k.a. rainy season. What they won’t show you is the actual texture of a Tamarindo day from June-September, when bright mornings, great surf, a pool time are almost always on the docket. 

 

What’s more, there’s another major factor to consider in 2026: El Niño, a weather pattern that contributes to warmer, drier, sunnier weather along the Pacific coast, including Tamarindo. 

 

Costa Rica Average Weather by Month: The Tamarindo Version

Before we get into how El Niño may shift the usual patterns in 2026, let’s establish the baseline. And by baseline, we mean the practical version, because Costa Rica average weather by month can get very vague very quickly if no one tells you which part of Costa Rica we’re talking about.

 

Because it’s our wheelhouse, we’re mostly talking about Tamarindo and the North Pacific coast, which is generally warmer, sunnier, and drier than much of the country. That said, Costa Rica likes variety. Arenal and the Caribbean coast often play by different rules, Monteverde has its own windy little personality, and the South Pacific can be much wetter than Guanacaste. So, here’s the quick, traveler-friendly version:

 

January

·       This is what we call “summer” in Costa Rica, even though many visitors are arriving from actual winter.

• What to expect: Bright sun, warm days, blue skies, and almost no rain.
• Notable exceptions: Arenal and the Caribbean coast can be much rainier this month, so don’t assume the whole country looks like Tamarindo.

 

February

 

• Guanacaste’s landscapes are more golden by now, because it’s been months without rain and the dry forest is doing its dry-forest thing.
• What to expect: Sunny days, very little rain, and excellent beach weather.
• Notable exceptions: Arenal can still be rainy in February, and it’s almost guaranteed to be raining on the Caribbean coast.

 

March

 

• The sun is high in the sky, the skies are wide open, and the landscapes are all gold now.
• What to expect: Hot, dry, and very sunny in Tamarindo, with some of the most reliable beach weather of the year.
• Notable exceptions: Arenal may still see daily rain than Tamarindo, as will the Caribbean.

 

April

 

• April is still dry season in Tamarindo, although the weather may start hinting that change is coming, with occasional cotton-candy clouds or even a sporadic shower.
• What to expect: Strong sun, hot days, mostly blue skies, and the occasional surprise shower or dramatic thunderstorm, especially later in the month.
• Notable exceptions: Arenal can still be wetter in April, and the Caribbean coast begins moving into one of its rainier periods.

 

May

 

• May is when Costa Rica begins shifting into green season, though Tamarindo can still be pretty forgiving.
• What to expect: Warm, sunny mornings, occasional afternoon showers, and a few big cinematic thunderstorms… or no rain at all for several days, because tropical weather like to keep us humble.
• Notable exceptions: Arenal and the Caribbean often begin moving into a drier stretch, while Monteverde may hold onto some of its drier-season weather.

 

June

 

• By June, green season is officially part of the conversation in Tamarindo.
• What to expect: Sunny mornings, warm beach hours, good surf, pool time, and afternoon or evening showers that may pass quickly or settle in for a bit.
• Notable exceptions: Wetter regions of Costa Rica may see more consistent rain, while Arenal and the Caribbean can be having one of its better-weather moments.

 

July

 

• July keeps the green-season rhythm going, but Tamarindo is still very usable for summer travel, especially for families working around school breaks.
• What to expect: Beach in the morning, lunch in town, pool time later, and clouds that may or may not turn into rain.
• Notable exceptions: Arenal and parts of the Caribbean are typically drier than much of the Pacific side, though Tamarindo still tends to outperform many other Pacific destinations.

 

August

 

• August is usually greener and a little rainier than early green season, but Tamarindo still tends to be drier than many parts of Costa Rica.
• What to expect: Mornings are usually the better bet for beach time, surf lessons, and tours, while afternoons may bring showers.
• Notable exceptions: Arenal and the Caribbean coast may be enjoying stronger weather patterns than the Pacific side, depending on the year.

 

September

 

• September is one of the wetter months in much of Costa Rica, though Guanacaste and Tamarindo often do better than the central and southern Pacific.
• What to expect: Bright mornings are still possible, but rain becomes a more regular part of the day. Flexibility matters.
• Notable exceptions: The Caribbean coast often moves into one of its driest, sunniest periods, and Arenal can also be a strong option.

 

October

 

• October is usually the rainiest month of the year on Costa Rica’s Pacific side, including Tamarindo.
• What to expect: Rain is likely to be part of the trip, though Tamarindo may still be drier than other Pacific destinations. This is not the month to pretend every day will be full sun.
• Notable exceptions: The Caribbean coast and Arenal often enjoy better weather in October, because Costa Rica enjoys making weather charts complicated.

 

November

 

• November is a transition month in Tamarindo, as the rains begin to taper and dry season starts making its way back into the picture.
• What to expect: Early November can still feel wet at times, while late November often looks brighter, sunnier, and more high-season adjacent.
• Notable exceptions: The Caribbean coast and Arenal may begin seeing more rain again, while Monteverde can get windy.

 

December

 

• December is one of Tamarindo’s prettiest months, because dry season begins while the hills are still green from the months before.
• What to expect: Infrequent rain (if any), bright skies, warm beach days, and increasingly reliable sun, especially by mid-month.
• Notable exceptions: Arenal and the Caribbean coast can be rainier in December, and Monteverde may be windy, cooler, and very much doing its own mountain-town thing.

 

The big takeaway is this: dry season is wonderfully reliable, green season is much more forgiving than the forecast makes it look, and Guanacaste delivers better odds than many other parts of the country. 

 

How El Niño Could Influence Tamarindo’s 2026 Weather Patterns

El Niño is a natural climate pattern linked to warmer-than-usual Pacific Ocean temperatures, which in turn create changing weather patterns for us landlubbers. 

 

In Tamarindo, the short version is this: if current forecasts hold, summer 2026 may bring a drier-leaning version of green season. Remember, though, that tropical weather throw a bit of attitude when it feels like it, so nothing is guaranteed. That said, it is likely that El Niño will bring us sunny mornings, longer dry stretches, and more outdoor hours than you’d normally expect from the Costa Rica average weather by month charts. 

 

All this said, if you like the idea of green-season value without the typical green-season weather, this could be a very interesting year. Tamarindo already gets some of Costa Rica’s better Pacific-side weather, and El Niño could make the summer travel window feel more appealing than it usually looks on paper. Better odds, not promises, but definitely enough reason to look again.

 

Where to Stay: Tamarindo, Costa Rica Houses for Rent

Now that you have a better handle on Costa Rica average weather by month – and how it may differ this year – the next question is where you want to be when that weather actually happens. 

 

The right vacation home can truly make a difference to your experience here, no matter the season or weather of the day. Case in point: If the morning is bright and the surf looks good, you want to be able to walk out the door and use it. If clouds build later, you want somewhere comfortable to land. And if a shower rolls through just as the jacuzzi starts to bubble, even better. 

 

Ibis Condo #7

Tamarindo | 2 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | Sleeps 6

Ibis Condo #7 is tailor-made for travelers who want Tamarindo close, but not sitting directly on top of them. You’re just across the street from the beach and a few minutes from downtown, which means morning surf, lunch in town, sunset walks, and spontaneous ice cream runs all stay very much on the table. At the same time, the condo sits just outside the busiest pockets of Tamarindo, which can be a very good thing when the town is in full vacation mode.

 

The real advantage here, especially in a season when the weather may move around a little, is the Langosta Beach Club membership across the street. The pool, ocean-view bar, restaurant, fitness center, Pilates and yoga studio, and a large infinity-edge pool are all close enough that going is never a production. Add a outdoor terrace and BBQ grillback at the condo, and Ibis 7 becomes a smart, easy base for families who want beach access, amenities, and flexibility without needing a full house.

 

>> Book Now <<

 

Ibis Condo #8

Tamarindo | 2 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | Sleeps 6

 

Ibis Condo #8 has the same very useful Tamarindo setup: close to the beach, close to downtown, and close to the Langosta Beach Club, but removed enough from the main noise and congestion to let the day slow down when you need it to. That’s an underrated detail, especially for families. You can be in the middle of Tamarindo’s restaurants, surf, shops, and beach life in minutes, then come back to a condo that feels residential instead of hectic.

 

For a drier-leaning green season, that kind of location is gold. If the morning is sunny, get outside early. Walk to the beach. Take the surf lesson. Let the kids live their best pool life. If the afternoon clouds decide to gather, you’re not stranded or stuck waiting out weather in some crowded common area. You’re back on the terrace, deciding whether to read, snack, nap, shower, or head across to the Beach Club the moment the sky clears.

 

>> Book Now <<

 

Casa Calico

Tamarindo | 4 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | Sleeps 10 to 12

 

Casa Calico is the bigger-family answer, especially if your group needs more room to spread out and wants a private pool of its own. Set in a quiet residential neighborhood just a short walk from the beach, the home gives you Tamarindo without making every moment feel like downtown Tamarindo. There’s a peaceful courtyard for slow mornings, a veranda with outdoor dining for the part of the day when no one wants to go inside, and enough greenery to make the whole place feel tucked into its own little pocket.

 

This one works beautifully for families, reunions, surf trips, and travelers bringing a dog with prior approval, because it behaves like a home-away-from-home. People can wake up at different times. Someone can make coffee. Someone else can head to the beach. The kids can disappear into the pool and reappear only when snacks are mentioned. And if the weather shifts, the veranda, courtyard, private pool, and indoor space give your day options.

 

>> Book Now <<

 

Ready to Plan Your Green Season Getaway?

If summer 2026 has you dreaming of palm trees, wildlife adventures, and sandy footprints, now’s the time to book your Costa Rica escape. From beachfront villas with open-air living spaces to concierge-planned eco-adventures, your trip can be as luxurious as it is meaningful.

 

That just happens to be our concierge, Cris’s, specialty! She’s an expert in travel, relaxation, and tours in Tamarindo, Costa Rica: Digging beneath the surface and reaching beyond the norm, Cris not only makes it her job to know Tamarindo (and its restaurants), but to get to know you, too! She’s like a real-life guidebook who expertly overlays Tamarindo’s most iconic experiences and must-do adventures with your needs, preferences, and plans. What’s more, she’ll work with your budget.

 

It begins with our welcome packet, which you’ll receive after you make a booking. It’ll introduce you to many of our favorite things, so have a look. Start building your wish list. And then, talk to Cris and let the fun begin. It’s part magic, part expertise. Go ahead, pick Cris’s brain! She can’t wait to hear from you!

 

May 24,2019

What to Expect During The 2019 Costa Rica Rainy Season

It’s the end of May and the rainy season is upon us in Tamarindo.  Here’s a heads-up on what to expect during your Tamarindo Green Season vacation.

 

Predictions:

2019 has been a year of the “El Nino” weather pattern here in the equatorial regions. This means that our dry season began early and was extra hot and dry.  According to the El Nino pattern, we were told to expect a not-very-rainy rainy season, and this made everyone who loves Costa Rica’s flora and fauna very sad.  These cyclical fluctuations are part of normal weather fluctuations, but extra harsh dry seasons are difficult times for plants and animals.  They aren’t great for our taxed aquifers either, but humans are able to truck in water in a way that deer and monkeys aren’t.

Luckily for all of us, those predictions are turning out to be misrepresentative of the way the rainy season is starting out!  We’re getting lots of delicious rain, and Guanacaste is green as the garden of Eden.  The temperature has dropped back into the “pleasant” range, and life is good.

Expect:

Afternoon showers

It almost never rains all day, especially not in the first half of the rainy season.  It’s not impossible, but it’s uncommon.  The rainy season mostly consists of sunny days with occasional afternoon showers.  They may be thunderstorms that roll through to cool off hot afternoons, or they may be simply cloud systems that bring rain and then dissolver over the ocean.  Enjoy them!  Tamarindo locals—both native Costa Ricans and implants from other places—love the rainy season.  If you thought you wanted to plan your Costa Rica vacation to avoid the Tamarindo rainy season, think again.  Don’t miss the best, most relaxing time of year.

Humidity

The rainy season is humid—you might as well know it.  Some people like humidity in the air; some people don’t.  It should probably go without saying that rainy times of the year by the ocean have a higher humidity level than say, Las Vegas.  Two days in Tamarindo in the rainy season, and you’re guaranteed to look 10 years younger than you did when you got off the plane.  Your skin loves the humidity even if your brain is unaccustomed to it.  Enjoy it.  Think of it as a free sauna.

The humidity is most noticeable right before the rain starts to fall.  Refreshing afternoon or evening showers bring relief.  If it gets to be too much for you, enjoy the indoor comfort of your air-conditioned Tamarindo vacation rental, or one of the Tamarindo restaurants that offer indoor seating.  Better yet, jump in the pool or the ocean.  You’ll forget about it in a second.

Lots of lush vegetation

In the green season, expect green!  This is the time of year that trees are covered with new leaves, gardens spring back to life, flowers bloom, birds and monkeys are filling their bellies again with their favorite treats…  Nature is absolutely exuberant!  Mountains are green, pastures are green, forests are green, gardens are green—you could color the whole countryside with a palate of shades of green from emerald to lime to pine.  Canopy tours are fun to take at this time of year, mountain hikes, bike rides, horseback trail rides—anything that puts you out in nature under the millions of leaves.  Every breath you take is saturated with pure oxygen they create.

 

More insects

Pack your favorite insect repellent and use it.  Monkeys, hummingbirds, iguanas and the wild deer in the mountains aren’t the only creatures that thrive in the rainy season.  Critters that creep and buzz like it too, so be prepared.  We make sure to keep them out of your Tamarindo vacation rental as best we can, but if an industrious ant or a sneaky spider outwit us, don’t be surprised.  They aren’t dangerous; they’re just pesky and ingenious.  A broom, a shoe, or a can of spray can take care of any of your insect visitors if they are unwelcome.  Make sure to keep insect repellent on or nearby, especially in the mornings and evenings.  Mosquitoes don’t like hot sun, so they shouldn’t be much of a bother while you sunbathe, but they can chew up your toes under the table at dinner if you forget the repellent when you leave the house.  Throw some in your back and just keep it nearby.

Mud

More and more of Tamarindo’s roads are paved, but when the weather gets rainy, it’s fair to expect a little mud.  How much of it you have to drive or step through depends on where your Tamarindo hotel or vacation rental is located.  Mud can be slippery, so walk carefully.

A word to the wise:  For your Tamarindo rainy season vacation, bring a pair of sandals that can get wet.  When we say sandals, we mean something besides your flip-flops—something that straps to the back of your ankle.  Why?  Because of flip flops in the rain or on a wet road/sidewalk flip water, mud and little stones all up the back of your legs while you walk.  We Tamarindo locals might know something about this.  We actually prefer to take our shoes off to walk in the rain, but we know you don’t have jungle feet as we do, so we won’t recommend you do that.  Bring rain-worthy sandals that strap to your feet so that you won’t slip or have to do a load of wash when you get back to your vacation rental.

Refreshing evenings

Evenings after a tropical rain shower are the best thing you will ever experience.  Depending on where you live and what you’re accustomed to, you may find rainy season evenings pleasantly cool.  You may, at most, want a light sweater or a light long-sleeved shirt.  Don’t bother with coats or jackets—it never actually gets cold in Costa Rica at sea level.  In May and June, the sun sets between 6 and 6:30 PM, and by 7:00 PM it is dark.  These long tropical evenings under the stars or under raindrops are the perfect relaxing end to days filled with fun in the sun.

 

Warm ocean water

Rainy season wind patterns create amazingly warm ocean temperatures in Tamarindo.  Breezes generally blow on-shore during the afternoon hours which keeps the sun-warmed surface water close to the beach where we can enjoy it.  Surfers aren’t the biggest fans of on-shore winds, but if you get up early enough or you wait until sunset, a few hours of light off-shores are often your reward.

Mornings are the sunniest part of the day

No matter what else happens during the day, mornings are generally the sunniest.  This is important to you to know so that you plan your trips and tours accordingly.  Take your Tamarindo surf lessons, your canopy tours, your snorkeling trips, your ATV tours, or whatever else our concierge helps you plan during the morning if at all possible.  Leave the afternoon for relaxing, listening to the rain, sipping a cocktail, or taking a nap.

Lower prices

Because the first half of the rainy season coincides with summer in the northern hemisphere, more vacationers choose destinations closer to home, and Tamarindo experiences its lower tourist season.  Less demand creates, in some cases, lower prices.  You won’t find this price fluctuation in stores or restaurants, but you may find it in hotels and vacation rentals, in car rental agencies, and in some tour companies.  Boutiques offer sales and restaurants are more likely to offer low-season specials, especially to guests who pay in cash.  Don’t be concerned about cash—you don’t need to go to the bank for colones.  Tamarindo businesses are all more than happy for dollars and in fact, you will be surprised by how many of them lists prices in American dollars.

 

Electricity flickers

This can happen at any time of year for a variety of reasons or for no reason at all, but for sure during Tamarindo’s rainy season, don’t panic if the lights go off.  Storms are one of the things that can cause power outages.  When the electricity goes, the wifi goes with it but don’t worry—when one comes back, the other will follow.  Nowadays, power outages of longer than 30 minutes are rare.  They aren’t impossible, but they are unlikely.  If the lights go off for no apparent reason, just remember this is part of everyday life in the jungle and everything is going to be fine.  If you can see that your vacation rental is the only house to have lost power, you might want to contact us or whichever company is responsible for the home.  If you can see that other homes near yours have also lost power, the best thing you can do is hang tight and enjoy the ride.  Property managers can pull a lot of strings, but power company issues are bigger than we are.  Chances are we’re in the dark too, and the lights will be back by the time you find your phone.

Beautiful sunsets

Have you heard that the rainy season has the most beautiful sunsets?  It’s true.  The clouds act like screens or prisms the reflect or refract the light of the sun as it sinks below them on the horizon.  Dry season sunsets are beautiful too, but they’re a simple firey ball sinking into the sea.  Rainy season sunsets can be performance pieces that go on and on until night has completely fallen.

 

A Word to the Wise:  Rinse out your salty stuff

We’re ending this What to Expect post with a tip:  rinse out your salty beach stuff with fresh water when you get out of the ocean.  Why?  Because salt holds moisture, and if you hang your salty bathing suit up to dry in the rainy season…it won’t.  You will be putting on a clammy wet bathing suit tomorrow.  Guaranteed.  The salt in the cloth will pull water from the humid air, and your salty stuff will never dry.  If you hang it in the sun and it dries there, it will pull in moisture from the air during the night and feel sticky when you go to put it on.  It takes just a moment to rinse the salt out of your bathing suit before you drape it over the shower or a patio chair or to dry, and you’ll have a much more pleasant experience of putting it back on in the morning.

We have all kinds of rainy season tips and advice.  Contact us to get in on the best of Tamarindo’s green season, 2019!