In August, mist slides through the treetops of Monteverde before breakfast, and the smell of wet earth and fresh coffee drifts along the road out of Santa Elena. Ferns and orchids are most saturated, hummingbirds crowd the feeders, and the afternoon rain drums on tin roofs while the cafés fill with people holding warm cups. August brings the cloud forest’s green season, a time to wander slowly beneath the dripping canopy, take night hikes, and enjoy leisurely lunches.
What is the weather like in Monteverde in August?
August in Monteverde is mild, damp and misty, with cool air at altitude and rain on most days. Day to day, July through September feels like hardly any change in the cool air, even as the rain keeps building.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|
| July | 75.7 | 65.8 | 17.1 |
| August | 75.9 | 65.7 | 19.3 |
| September | 75.3 | 65.4 | 24.8 |
Most days, the morning hours tend to be the finest stretch. In August, mornings bring cool, crisp air, a hushed forest, busy birds, and frequently clearer views ahead of the thickening clouds.
Afternoons are when the rain tends to arrive, sometimes as a short shower and sometimes as a steady gray drizzle that settles in for the evening. Rain here is as much mist and drizzle as downpour, and some days pass with only a few drops.
Perched at a high elevation, Monteverde comes across as cooler and breezier than the coast, and no matter the month, an evening there calls for a light jacket. Dress in layers: a T-shirt for the climb, a fleece for the café, a real rain jacket for the afternoon. Views from the ridges can disappear into cloud, so treat any panorama as a bonus, not a promise.
The light is soft and silvery under the cloud, kind to photographs of moss and flowers but dim inside the forest. Days last about twelve and a half hours in mid-August, enough for a full morning outing and a relaxed afternoon.
What to do in Monteverde in August
The big date of the month is August 2, when hundreds of thousands of Costa Ricans walk on pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Cartago. It happens far from Monteverde, in Cartago, where the Virgin is known affectionately as La Negrita. Then on August 15, Mother’s Day is a national holiday, and restaurants in Santa Elena fill with long family lunches.
Everything else in August is about the forest in its wettest, greenest mood. Moss thickens on every branch, bromeliads hold water, and mushrooms and tiny frogs show up along the paths. Morning is for walking, the middle of the day for a covered activity, and the evening for something warm to eat.
Cloud forest walks
Most people come to this area for the paths at the quieter Santa Elena Reserve and in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. Paths wind past giant strangler figs, tree ferns and dripping epiphytes, with mist moving between the trunks. The Curi-Cancha reserve is another option, known for its gentler terrain and good bird-watching.
Start early, when the air is cool and animals are most active. Birds, hummingbirds, coatis and sometimes monkeys or a sloth are chances, not guarantees, and a guided walk helps a lot, since guides spot what your eyes slide past. Wear waterproof shoes with grip, because the paths turn muddy. Check each reserve’s official website before your visit.
Hanging bridges and canopy
Around Santa Elena, more than one privately run reserve hangs suspension bridges among the treetops, letting you stroll up in the canopy amid bromeliads and orchids. Fog can wrap around you mid-bridge, which makes it atmospheric even when the view is limited. Zip lines and a canopy tour add speed for those who want it.
Go in the morning, before the afternoon rain makes the platforms slick and the cloud closes in. These outings suit families with older children and anyone who prefers the forest from above. Ask each operator how weather may affect your outing.
Night walks, coffee and cheese
After dark, the forest turns into another place. Guided night walks with a flashlight reveal sleeping birds, stick insects, glowing fungi, tree frogs and sometimes a kinkajou or a sleepy sloth. Wet August nights are good for frogs and insects, though you see only what happens to show up.
For rainy hours, head under a roof. In the Santa Elena area, tours of coffee farms trace the bean from plant to cup, tastings of chocolate and sugarcane reveal how local sweets are made, and the cheese factory earns its classic status with ice cream and fresh cheese. The frog exhibit and butterfly garden are good indoor-ish choices when the sky is gray.
Eat the way local people do, with no fuss: in the morning, gallo pinto, that is rice and black beans, comes with eggs, or choose a casado, which brings rice, beans, plantain, salad and a protein on one plate. A hot cup of Monteverde coffee tastes better when it is misty outside, and rainy evenings suit soups and stews.
A two-day itinerary for Monteverde in August
Day 1 is for the forest itself. Arrive at a reserve early, when the mist is lifting and the trails are quiet, and take a guided walk if you can. Walk until late morning, then have a casado at a family-run soda in Santa Elena, the small town where most of the cafés and shops are.
In the afternoon, when the rain usually comes, move indoors. A coffee or chocolate tour keeps you dry and gives you something to taste, and the hummingbird gardens near the reserve entrances are lovely under a gray sky. Round out the evening with dinner in town and a guided night walk if you still have energy.
Day 2 is for the treetops. Head to the hanging bridges first thing, while the air is clear, and add a canopy zip line if you like speed. Finish by late morning, with the bridges behind you and the rain still hours away.
Lunch is a good moment for the cheese factory and its ice cream, followed by the frog exhibit or the butterfly garden as a rain card. If the weather stays dry, wander the craft shops and galleries of Santa Elena. Spend the last evening at a café with a hot drink and the sound of rain on the roof.
Is Monteverde busy in August?
Monteverde is moderately busy in August, with a steady flow of travelers rather than a rush. It is the green season, so many people stay away because of the rain, and the trails and cafés feel calmer than in the dry months.
The exceptions are the holiday moments. Around August 15, Mother’s Day, Costa Rican families take short trips, and rooms and restaurant tables in Santa Elena fill faster. The pilgrimage weekend around August 2 can also bring more Costa Rican travelers on the roads. Foreign visitors tend to come in quieter pulses between these dates.
As a habit, book rooms early for the weeks around the holiday and a little later for the quieter stretches. Check availability directly for rental cars and guided activities before your trip. For the reserves, look at each park’s official page, because reservation rules and entry limits can change.
Arriving a bit early for dinner keeps things easy, and many places close earlier in the evening than visitors expect, since this is a quiet mountain town.
What to pack for Monteverde in August
Pack for damp, cool days that can swing between mist and sun. Layers and waterproof gear matter more than anything else.
- A real rain jacket, because the afternoon drizzle can last for hours.
- Waterproof shoes with good grip for muddy trails and slick bridges.
- A fleece or light jacket for cool evenings, even in summer.
- Quick-dry clothes, since nothing dries fast in the damp air.
- A small day pack cover or dry bag to protect a camera and phone.
- A flashlight or headlamp for night walks, if your tour does not provide one.
- Sunscreen and a hat for the clearer mornings.
Good to know before you go
The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2, ‘Exercise increased caution,’ due to crime; it says petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica and that violent crime also affects tourists, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault.
In August, the main thing to plan around is the rain. Do your outdoor activities in the morning, keep the afternoon flexible, and expect that cloud can hide views on any given day. Leave arrival and departure days free of tight connections.
Mother’s Day on August 15 is a national holiday, so expect a busier feel in town. Santa Elena has small shops and cafés that keep their own hours, and the town is easy to walk once you arrive.
Monteverde in August vs July and September
Moving the trip to July gives you a slightly drier feel, with fewer rainy days and more chances of a clear morning. It is also a busier time for family vacations, so rooms can be harder to find and trails more crowded. The forest is still green and dripping, but the pattern of sun in the morning and rain later is a touch less certain to break.
September is the wettest of the three, with rain on most days and heavier spells. The crowds thin out and the town feels very quiet, which suits travelers who want empty trails and do not mind gray skies. Some outings can be cut short by weather, so keep your plans loose.
If you want the best chance of dry mornings and do not mind more visitors, choose July. If you want a quiet, moody forest and can accept more rain, choose September. August sits between them, with the August 2 pilgrimage and Mother’s Day on the 15th adding a local rhythm that the other months lack.
Is August a good time to visit Monteverde?
Absolutely, August suits visitors drawn to lush, foggy scenery and untroubled by wet weather. It rewards early risers, patient bird-watchers and anyone happy with a rain jacket and a hot cup of coffee.
It is a poor fit for anyone who wants guaranteed views, long dry afternoons or a beach-style vacation. If your trip depends on a clear panorama from a ridge, choose a drier month instead.
On arrival, book your morning forest walk first, since that is when the weather is most cooperative, then fill the afternoons around it. Keep a rain plan of coffee, chocolate, cheese and frogs ready, and enjoy the evenings in town. What makes August in Monteverde its own is the forest at full saturation: moss heavy on every branch, mist threading the trees, and the sound of water dripping from leaves long after the rain has stopped.
Sources
- Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 10.3009N 84.8248W, checked October 8, 2026
- sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked October 8, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Advisory, issued April 1, 2026 (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/costa-rica-travel-advisory.html), read via the State Department open data API on October 8, 2026
To plan your stay
- Things to Do in Monteverde: Cloud Forest Walks, Hanging Bridges, Night Walks and Day Trips
- Where to Stay in Monteverde: Santa Elena, Cerro Plano, Forest Lodges and How to Choose
- Monteverde Cloud Forest: Quetzals, Trails, Weather and How to Visit
- Best Time to Visit Monteverde: Dry Season, Green Season, Weather by Month and Holiday Crowds