Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica During Green Season
November is a great month to travel to Costa Rica as the rain season comes to a close, albeit slow end, the country shines resplendent yet still lacks the crowds which will start arriving at the end of the month. The peak tourist season in Costa Rica runs from about Thanksgiving, and lasts all the way to Spring Break. Visit Costa Rica RIGHT NOW and you could score yourself a dream vacation: you’ll get the lusciousness of the green season with the savings and quietness of the low season. The best of both worlds!
Although Costa Rica, as a whole, enjoys much drier days in November, there are some regions which are particularly rewarding. Planning a last-minute adventure vacation to Costa Rica?
Here are the best places to visit RIGHT NOW!
Tamarindo Green Season
Tamarindo, in the north-western Nicoya Peninsula, will be enjoying its first month of the geen season in November. This is also the beginning of leatherback nesting season on Playa Grande, adding to the allure of this incredibly beautiful region.
With its humble beginnings as a sleepy fishing hamlet, the town of Tamarindo has managed to retain its laid-back charm, even though its popularity and infrastructure continue to grow and improve. A great base for all the activities for which the region is so renowned, Tamarindo offers amazing options for outdoor adventures, from horse-riding to surfing, diving, snorkeling and plenty of hiking. Nearby, you can visit the Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge, a superb 953 acre protected maze of stunning wilderness, home to three spectacular beaches, of which Playa Grande is one. There are at least four different types of turtles which can be seen here (Leatherback, Pacific Green, Olive-Ridley and Hawksbill) and, during the November nesting month, up to 200 in one night alone!
Caribbean Coast Green Season
The Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is still enjoying its mini-summer right now and, thanks to the La Nina (which has just replaced El Nino), November 2016 is set to be a particularly dry month in this region. Caribbean adventure vacations are superb at any time of year and especially RIGHT NOW in green season, when the rest of the country is still shaking off the excess rains.
The best part of Costa Rica’s eastern half is that it’s always much quieter than the more visited western half. If you’re an adventure-seeker who wants to feel like you have the place to yourself, A Costa Rica Caribbean vacation is an excellent option. What is there to do here?
Everything!!
Almost 50 miles of stunning beaches await you on the southern end of the coast, and the chilled out town of Puerto Viejo is a great base if you want to enjoy a week of stellar swimming and surfing. Check out Cahuita for snorkeling (there are some phenomenal reefs to explore) and enjoy this most distinctive side of the country. Down here, Costa Rica feels more like a Caribbean island rather than a Central American country, and the southern influence extends into the cuisine and the welcoming locals. Animal lovers can visit the Sloth Sanctuary and Jaguar Rescue Centre near Puerto Viejo, and everyone ought to tackle a hike to nearby overflowing waterfalls.
Tips for Traveling to Costa Rica in November
Skip a self-drive holiday – November may be much drier than October yet you can still expect plenty of washed out section of roads. A self-drive vacation, an absolutely brilliant way to explore the country during the height of the dry season, is not recommended in November.
Pack for rain – The unpredictability of November is legendary yet, by and large, you can expect it to experience at least one downpour a day. Luckily, it does tend to rain at about the same time every day, so after the first couple of days you’ll be an expert at planning your daily itinerary with ease.
Enjoy the cooler temps – If you’ve traveled to Costa Rica at the height of summer you’ll know the kind of seriously sweltering temps you can experience. This is what makes November even more enticing. The cooler temps (it can be downright cold up at altitude!) makes this an ideal month for active vacations.
Include visits to waterfalls – We will always recommend you include a visit to a few of the country’s best waterfalls, and in November the spotlight should be on them even more so. After the rains, all of Costa Rica’s waterfalls are bursting at the seams and at their most visual best.
The later…the better – Rains will continue to dramatically taper off as the month progresses, so if you want an even drier vacation we suggest you delay your travels by a week or two. But remember…by mid-December tourist crowds will start arriving, so if you want to enjoy this spectacular place devoid of tourists NOW really is a great time to visit.
Want to book a last-minute Costa Rica vacation right now? Then contact us and let us plan an unforgettable adventure vacation in one of the world’s most exciting destinations.