Skip to content

Uvita in June: Green Season Weather, Marino Ballena and Nauyaca Waterfalls

Early on a June morning in Uvita, the hills behind town are a deep, wet green, the air smells of warm earth, and the first light lands on a beach that has not yet seen a single footprint. By midafternoon the clouds stack up over the ridge and the first drops rattle on tin roofs. This is the start of the green season on the southern Pacific coast, a time of quiet beaches, loud birds and mornings made for being outside, for travelers who accept a daily shower in exchange for lush scenery and more room.

The sandbar of Marino Ballena near Uvita in the green season
The sandbar of Marino Ballena near Uvita in the green season · Illustration

What is the weather like in Uvita in June?

Uvita in June brings heat, heavy moisture and lush color, and while mornings stay clear, rain tends to show up later in the day. The table puts it next to the months on either side.

Month Average high (°F) Average low (°F) Rain days Sea (°F)
May 81.9 73.8 29.7 87.7
June 81.5 73.5 29.4 85.8
July 81.0 72.9 30.8 85.3

The numbers say that nearly every day of the month records at least a little rain, but that is not the same as a gray, soaked vacation. The usual rhythm is a bright, steamy morning, clouds building around lunchtime, and a downpour or a steady shower in the afternoon that may last an hour or two, or settle in for the evening. Some days it rains harder and longer, and the whole sky turns the color of slate.

That rhythm sets the day. Walks, beach time and wildlife outings belong to the morning, when the light is clean and the heat is still manageable. Afternoons are for a long lunch, a hammock, a café or a swim before the clouds close in. Evenings stay warm enough for short sleeves and sandals, though a light rain jacket earns its place in the daypack.

Daylight lasts just past twelve hours, so days feel long and steady, and because this is near the equator, the sun goes down early in the evening all year. After a shower the forest steams, the river runs brown and full, and the light turns soft and golden for a short while before dusk.

Can you swim in Uvita in June?

The Pacific feels closer to a lukewarm bath than a refreshing plunge, but swim only when local conditions are safe.

The beaches of Uvita and Marino Ballena National Park are wide and open, with sand that stretches for a long way at low tide. Waves vary with the swell and the tide, and some days bring a gentle shore break while others bring a stronger surf.

Rip currents, which are very dangerous, cause the deaths of a number of U.S. tourists each year, and lifeguards or warnings about hazardous conditions are absent at most beaches. Therefore, check with your hotel or a surf school about that day’s water conditions, obey any flags you see, always swim with a buddy, stay within arm’s reach of your kids, and think of the shore as somewhere to wade, float or play.

Mornings are usually the best time for the water, before the afternoon clouds and the stronger winds that sometimes come with them. Good swimmers will enjoy the warm sea, snorkelers may find the clearest views on calmer days near the rocky points, and beginner surfers can look north toward Dominical, where the waves are more reliable. Bring a rash guard or a thin shirt, since the sun is strong even through light cloud, and a dry bag for your phone and keys.

What to do in Uvita in June

June has no big festival to organize a trip around here. What the month offers is the landscape itself: rain-fed waterfalls, quiet beaches, birds in the canopy and a slower pace in town. The best plans put the outdoors in the morning and leave the afternoons loose.

Food fits the weather too. At a small neighborhood spot known as a soda, you can order a casado, the traditional dish with rice, beans, plantains and salad plus fish, chicken or beef to pick from, while fresh fruit in a bowl or a chilled coconut really satisfies you once a hot morning is over.

Fresh fish from the coast is the specialty to look for, grilled or in ceviche. As soon as a downpour has folks dashing for cover, gallo pinto, that breakfast combo of rice and beans, alongside a cup of coffee brewed close by, gives you a great reason to linger.

Marino Ballena National Park

The park is what draws most travelers to Uvita. At low tide, that beach shapes a sandbar resembling a whale’s tail, a long curved finger of sand stretching into the ocean where a slow stroll beckons with water on either side. Behind it, forest runs down nearly to the shore, and birds call from the trees while pelicans glide low over the waves.

Plan around the tide, since the sandbar shows best at low tide, and arrive in the morning when the light is soft and the air is cooler. Since rules and fees may shift, check the park’s official page prior to heading out.

The park suits families, photographers and anyone who likes an easy, scenic walk. Bring water, shade and sunscreen, since there is little cover on the sand, and leave the beach before the afternoon clouds if you do not want to be caught in a downpour. Be careful in the water here, because the same currents that shape the sandbar can pull swimmers away from shore.

Nauyaca waterfalls

Inland from Uvita, up in the green hills where the road rises away from the coast and the air turns cooler, the Nauyaca waterfalls make an easy day trip. In June the rains feed the river, so the falls tend to be full, loud and muddy brown, and the mist can reach you well before you see the water.

Go early, since the morning is clearer and the afternoon showers are more likely to catch you on the trail. The walk or ride in is part of the experience, passing pasture, forest and small farms.

The visit suits people who like fresh air and scenery, and less so those who want a lazy beach day. Wear shoes with grip, since the ground is slick in the green season, and bring a rain jacket.

Dominical and its surf beach

Dominical lies a short drive north of Uvita and has a livelier, more traveler-oriented feel, with surf shops, small restaurants and a beach known for its waves. Even if you do not surf, it makes a good place to watch the surfers, browse the shops and have lunch with a view of the sea.

The waves here are stronger than those on the quiet Uvita beaches, so swimmers should be cautious and follow local advice. Beginners who want a lesson can look for a local school, and everyone else can enjoy the beach from the sand. Afternoon rain turns the beach into a gray and moody scene that photographers often enjoy.

A two-day itinerary for Uvita in June

Day 1 is for the coast. Start early at Marino Ballena National Park, timing your visit for low tide so you can walk out along the sandbar in the clear morning light. Walk the sandbar, then head back to town by late morning, before the clouds build.

Have lunch at a soda in town, with a casado or a plate of fresh fish, and take the hottest part of the day slowly, in a hammock or a café. In the afternoon, when the rain usually arrives, stay under cover and wait it out. If the sky clears, walk along the beach near town and watch the light turn gold before sunset, and finish with dinner at a small restaurant serving grilled fish.

Day 2 is for the hills and the surf. Leave early for the Nauyaca waterfalls, since the morning is the clearest part of the day and the trail is easier before the rain. Take your time at the falls, then come back down toward the coast for a late lunch.

In the afternoon, drive north to Dominical for a look at the surf and a stroll through the shops, with a cold drink on the beach. If the weather turns, the rain card is simple: shelter in a café or a restaurant, order something hot, and let the shower pass. Return to Uvita for a quiet evening and an early night.

Is Uvita busy in June?

No, June is a quiet month in Uvita, one of the calmer stretches of the year on the southern Pacific coast, since the green season keeps many travelers away.

The beaches are rarely crowded, the trails are peaceful and restaurants usually have tables available. Rooms are easier to find than in the dry months, and rental cars are less of a scramble. That said, small towns have a limited number of places to stay, so a good habit is to book early if your dates fall on a holiday week or a weekend with a local event, and to book later for midweek stays in an ordinary week.

A few places do fill up even in a slow month, such as the better-known lodges, guided tours and any outing with limited spots. If you have your heart set on a particular tour, a wildlife walk or a specific hotel, reserve it ahead of time and keep the rest flexible.

For the park and the waterfalls, rules and reservations can change, so check the official page for each before you go and book anything that requires it. Otherwise, June rewards a loose plan, with fixed commitments in the morning and open afternoons.

What to pack for Uvita in June

Pack for heat, humidity and a daily shower, with light clothes that dry fast and a few items to protect you from the sun and the rain.

  • A light rain jacket or poncho, for the afternoon showers that arrive on most days.
  • Quick-dry shirts and shorts, since humid clothes take a long time to dry.
  • Sunscreen and a hat, because the sun is strong even through thin cloud.
  • Sandals plus shoes with good grip, for muddy trails and slick rocks near the waterfalls.
  • A dry bag, to keep your phone and documents safe in a downpour.
  • Insect repellent, for forest walks and evenings near the river.

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.

June is the start of the green season on the Pacific side, so plan outdoor activities for the morning and keep the afternoons flexible. Rip currents are a real hazard on many Pacific beaches, and most beaches have no lifeguards, so swim carefully and follow local guidance.

Uvita in June vs May and July

Moving the trip a month earlier brings a sea that is slightly warmer and weather that is a touch drier, with the green season just getting under way. The difference is small, and May feels much like June, with the same pattern of clear mornings and afternoon showers. The land is a little less lush and the rivers a little lower, which can help on waterfall trips.

Moving a month later brings more rain, a slightly cooler sea and a deeper green. July tends to have more wet days, with showers that can set in earlier and last longer, so morning plans matter even more. The beaches stay quiet, and rooms remain easy to find, which suits travelers who like solitude and dramatic skies.

If you want the warmest sea and the best chance of dry mornings, lean toward May. If you want the greenest landscape and the fewest people, June or July will both work, with July asking for a little more flexibility. June sits in the middle, a good balance for travelers who want the green season without committing to the wettest stretch.

Is June a good time to visit Uvita?

Sure, June suits travelers who enjoy lush hills, warm seas and uncrowded sands, and who do not mind planning around a daily rain shower.

It suits nature lovers, photographers, families with flexible plans and anyone who prefers an empty beach to a busy one. It is less ideal for travelers who need guaranteed sun all day, who want a lively festival calendar or who dislike humidity. If you fall in that group, a drier month will be easier.

On arrival, plan the morning outing first, whether that is the park at low tide or the waterfalls, and let the rest of the schedule fall around it. Book that outing before anything else, then fill the afternoons with lunch, a hammock and a swim when the sky allows. What makes June special in Uvita is the contrast, a clear, bright morning on a nearly empty sandbar followed by an afternoon of rain drumming on the leaves, and then the steam rising from the forest as the light turns gold.

Sources
  • Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 9.1561N 83.7347W, checked October 8, 2026
  • Open-Meteo Marine API, average 2015-2024, 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 Information, Safety and security (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/CostaRica.html), 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

Nearby places

Where to go, and when — with the homework done. Warm guides built on thirty-year climate data, official crowd numbers and honest verdicts.