Costa Rica in December: Festival de la Luz, Dry-Season Beaches and Where to Go

On an early December evening in San Jose, crowds line the avenues for the Festival de la Luz, and floats covered in lights glide past while children sit on their parents’ shoulders. In the highlands the air smells of coffee and of tamales being unwrapped for Christmas, and on the Pacific coast the hills are turning from green to gold. December is when Costa Rica swings into its festive season and its sunnier months, and the choice of coast matters more than ever.

Green hills and a volcano in Costa Rica in the dry season · Illustration

What is the weather like in Costa Rica in December?

December is the start of the dry season on the northern Pacific coast and in the Central Valley, with hot, sunny beach days and cool, breezy highland evenings, while the Caribbean side and the central Pacific around Manuel Antonio stay wet. The volcanic mountain spine splits the weather in half, so spots an hour apart may seem like separate nations.

Place	Region	Average high (°F)	Average low (°F)	Rain (in)	Rain days	Sea (°F)
Tamarindo	North Pacific coast	86.1	75.3	0.58	1.4	83.2
Manuel Antonio	Central Pacific coast	79.6	70.4	18.59	25.7	84.4
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca	Caribbean coast	79.3	71.2	14.42	18.5	83.4
San Jose	Central Valley	74.6	62.6	6.42	11.8	No coast
Monteverde	Cloud forest highlands	74.8	63.9	2.22	5.0	No coast

Tamarindo is the picture of the dry season. Days are hot and almost rainless, nights stay warm enough for dinner outside in a T-shirt, and the sea is bathwater-warm. Manuel Antonio, only a few hours south by road, is a different story. December there still brings rain on most days, often in heavy bursts, so the jungle is lush and dripping even as the north turns dry.

The Caribbean coast around Puerto Viejo is also wet, but its showers tend to come and go between sunny spells, and the sea is warm. San Jose sits in a pleasant middle: sunny mornings, some cloud and showers on a good share of days, and evenings cool enough for a light jacket. In December, Monteverde sees less rain than San Jose, yet the cloud forest still brings mist and wind, and after dark it turns noticeably colder.

Where to go in Costa Rica in December

The northern Pacific coast: Tamarindo and Guanacaste

This is the classic December beach trip. The sky is mostly blue, the grass along the roads turns tawny, and the surf towns around Tamarindo fill with people eating fresh fish tacos and watching sunsets from the sand. Surfing lessons, snorkeling trips and sunset sails are the usual pastimes.

It suits anyone who wants guaranteed beach time with little rain to plan around. Keep in mind that most beaches have no lifeguards, and genuine danger from rip currents exists on many Pacific shores, so before swimming ask locals about conditions and never go into the water alone.

The central Pacific: Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio is the place for wildlife, with forest trails behind white-sand coves where you may spot capuchin monkeys, sloths, iguanas and toucans. In December the vegetation is still deep green because the rain lingers here longer than farther north, so the forest is at its lushest and the beaches can be moody.

Plan mornings for the park and trails, when animals tend to be most active and the sky is often clearer, and leave afternoons flexible for showers. Most visitors end up spotting wildlife on a guided walk. This coast suits nature lovers who do not mind getting wet more than sunbathers.

The Caribbean coast: Puerto Viejo and the south

The Caribbean side is slower and more Afro-Caribbean in flavor, with dark-sand beaches, reggae drifting from bars and coconut-rich rice and beans on menus. It is reached by a longer drive than the Pacific beaches and rewards you with a laid-back, bicycle-and-hammock rhythm in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.

Rain falls here throughout the year on its own calendar, so December is no guarantee of dry weather, but showers often pass quickly and the sea stays warm. Surfers know the big waves near town, which means swimmers should be careful and check conditions locally. Bring a flexible attitude and a rain jacket.

The highlands: San Jose and Monteverde

San Jose is where December’s festivities are most concentrated. Between the lights, the markets and the museums around the center, it is worth a day or two before heading to the coast, especially if you want to see the parades. The Central Valley is also coffee country, and December is a harvest-time month on the farms.

Monteverde offers cloud-forest hikes, hanging bridges and night walks where you may see frogs, insects and sometimes sleeping birds. It is cool and often windy at this time of year, and the mist can hide the view for hours, so treat any clear panorama as a bonus rather than a promise.

What to do in Costa Rica in December

The month is built around Christmas, and the country celebrates with lights, music, parades and plenty of food. Most of the big events are in and around San Jose, but you will find decorations and festive meals in towns everywhere.

Festival de la Luz and the Christmas season

Early and mid-December bring Christmas lights and posadas, the neighborhood gatherings with songs and treats, and the Festival de la Luz, a night parade of illuminated floats through San Jose. Bands, dancers and families fill the streets, and the mood is cheerful and crowded in the best way.

Watch from a spot along the route well before the floats arrive, and dress warmly, because the capital cools quickly after dark. Keep a close eye on your belongings in the crowd, since petty crime is common across the country. Afterward, street food and a hot drink are an easy way to end the evening.

The Tope and the Zapote festival

On December 26 the Tope, a horse parade, takes over San Jose with riders in their finest outfits and crowds cheering from the sidewalks. It is a favorite with local families and gives a taste of Costa Rica’s rural, cowboy traditions in the middle of the capital.

From Christmas to New Year’s the Zapote festival runs with rides, food stalls, music and a carnival atmosphere. Expect fried snacks, sweets and lively evenings. It is a very local affair and a good way to join the holiday spirit, so go with an appetite and an easy schedule.

Eating your way through the month

A staple of everyday eating, the classic casado unites rice, black beans, plantain, salad and a choice of protein, and gallo pinto, a morning regular, mixes rice and beans sautéed with onion and sweet pepper, plated with eggs and sour cream. In December you will also find tamales, traditionally made for Christmas, and sweet drinks on festive menus. Eat a casado at a small neighborhood restaurant, called a soda, for the most local meal of your trip.

Is Costa Rica busy in December?

Yes, December is the start of the high season, and the busiest stretch comes around Christmas and New Year’s, when the beaches and the best hotels fill with American travelers on holiday and Costa Rican families on vacation. Book flights, rooms and rental cars early, especially for the last two weeks of the month.

The most popular places are the northern Pacific beaches, the central Pacific around Manuel Antonio and the capital during festivals. Tamarindo and its neighbors are especially lively because the weather is so reliable, and restaurants fill at sunset. Cloud-forest destinations such as Monteverde also draw crowds on holiday weekends.

The quieter choices are the Caribbean coast, where the rain keeps some visitors away and the pace stays unhurried, and the smaller towns away from the main routes. Early December, before the holiday rush, is calmer almost everywhere. Early mornings at parks and trails are also reliably more peaceful than midday, wherever you are.

What to pack for Costa Rica in December

Packing depends on where you are headed. For the northern Pacific beaches, think light clothing, sun protection and a swimsuit. For the Caribbean and central Pacific, add rain gear and quick-drying fabrics. For San Jose and Monteverde, pack layers, because evenings are cool and the cloud forest can be windy and damp.

You can leave the adapter at home, because both the plugs and the voltage are the same as back in the States. A small daypack that you can keep in front of you in crowds is useful during festivals, and a dry bag is handy for boat trips and rainy afternoons.

Lightweight, breathable clothes for the beach and for hot days in Guanacaste.
A light rain jacket or poncho, essential for the Caribbean, Manuel Antonio and any highland hike.
A fleece or sweater for cool evenings in San Jose and Monteverde.
For muddy trails through the forest, bring walking shoes that are sturdy or trail sandals that grip well.
Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses for the strong sun on the Pacific coast.
Insect repellent for evenings in the forest and along the coast.

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.

The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2, exercise increased caution, because of crime, and says petty theft is common throughout the country while violent crime also affects tourists. Before you leave, look at the advisory for the areas you intend to see. At the beach, most shores have no lifeguards and rip currents are very dangerous, so swim cautiously and ask locals where it is safe.

Is December a good time to visit Costa Rica?

Yes, December is one of the best times to visit, especially for the northern Pacific coast and the Central Valley, where the dry season begins and the days are sunny. The month also brings a festive atmosphere that you will not find at other times of the year, and the forests are still green after the rainy season.

Compared with November, December is generally brighter and more settled on the Pacific side, as the afternoon downpours of the green season fade and the crowds start to gather. Compared with January, it feels a little greener and less parched, and the landscapes still hold some of the lushness of the rains. January is deeper into the dry season and busier in the heart of the high season.

The Caribbean coast and the area around Manuel Antonio remain wet, so travelers who hope for steady sunshine should favor Guanacaste or plan a mix of regions. Those who love rain-fed jungle, wildlife and fewer people will still find good days on the central Pacific and Caribbean. What sets December apart is the combination: beaches turning golden, a capital glowing with floats and lights, a horse parade on the day after Christmas and a carnival at Zapote that lasts until the new year.

Sources

Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 9.9281N 84.0907W, checked October 8, 2026
Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 10.3009N 84.8248W, checked October 8, 2026
Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 10.2993N 85.8371W, checked October 8, 2026
Open-Meteo Marine API, average 2015-2024, checked October 8, 2026
Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 9.392N 84.1366W, checked October 8, 2026
Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 9.6558N 82.7541W, 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
U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Information, Entry and exit requirements (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/CostaRica.html), checked October 8, 2026