Early on a December morning in Uvita, the jungle behind the coast is loud with toucans and howler monkeys, and the hills still look drenched in green from the long wet season. Down at the beach the tide drains away and the sandbar curves out into the Pacific like the tail of a whale.
This is a warm, lush month on the southern coast, with the first holiday visitors arriving and the town settling into its busy season. It suits travelers who want beaches, rainforest and wildlife together, and who do not mind a shower now and then.
What is the weather like in Uvita in December?
December in Uvita is hot, humid and still rainy, though the wet season is clearly loosening its grip and the month brings more sun than November. Plan for green hills, steamy mornings and a shower or two on most days.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days | Sea (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 79.9 | 72.3 | 29.2 | 83.0 |
| December | 81.2 | 71.6 | 25.3 | 84.5 |
| January | 82.1 | 71.4 | 18.6 | 85.8 |
Beach walks, park visits and waterfall trips can all fit into a December stay.
Rain days are still the rule rather than the exception this month, and a few of them bring serious, steady rain. You will not be rained out for days on end, but you should treat a dry afternoon as a bonus.
The upside is the scenery: rivers run full, waterfalls are strong and every slope is bright green. Evenings stay warm enough to eat outside in short sleeves, with the sound of frogs and insects as a backdrop.
Dress for heat and wet at once. Light, quickdrying clothes work better than cotton, and a thin rain jacket earns its place in the bag. The sun is strong in the gaps between clouds, so sunscreen and a hat matter even on graylooking mornings.
Can you swim in Uvita in December?
Warm water does not mean easy water. The Pacific here is open ocean, and waves, tides and currents change from one beach and one day to the next.
Rip currents are very dangerous, and most beaches have no lifeguards or warnings about unsafe conditions, so stay out of the water when you are unsure. Nervous swimmers and families with small children will be happier paddling at the edge than venturing out.
The long beach along Marino Ballena National Park is the natural place to spend a swimming day, and at low tide the sandbar is a wonderful place to walk with water on both sides.
Surfers head north to Dominical, where the waves are bigger and the beach is more about boards than swimming.
What to do in Uvita in December
December on this coast is less about one big event and more about the turn of the season. The big holiday festivities happen in San Jose: the Festival de la Luz, a night parade of illuminated floats, lights up the capital in early and mid-December, the Tope horse parade follows on December 26, and the Zapote festival runs from Christmas to New Year’s. In Uvita you feel the season differently, through Christmas lights in shop windows, posadas in the neighborhoods and a town filling with visitors, since December is the start of the high season.
The food fits the mood.
Along this coast the fresh catch is the draw: ceviche, grilled fish with garlic, and fruit shakes made with pineapple, mango or guanabana. After a humid day, a cold coconut from a roadside stand is the simplest pleasure.
Marino Ballena National Park
Behind the sand is a fringe of forest, where you may hear monkeys and spot birds, and offshore the water is a place where dolphins and whales may appear. Sightings are a chance, never a promise.
Go early, when the light is soft, the sand is cooler under your feet and the tide pattern is easier to read. Check the tide before you go, because the walk to the tail depends on it.
Boat trips from the nearby beaches are the usual way to look for marine life, and a guide adds a lot, since they know where to look and how to read the water.
The Nauyaca waterfalls
Start in the morning and plan for the day, since the track gets slippery after rain and the afternoon clouds can bring a downpour. Wear shoes with grip and carry a light rain layer. Rather than assume what is allowed at the pools, look at the signs on site and follow whatever the staff tell you. It is a fine trip for confident walkers and couples, less so for anyone who dislikes mud.
Dominical and its surf beach
A short drive north, Dominical is the area’s surf town, with a long beach, a main street of cafés and board shops, and a relaxed, barefoot feel. The waves here are bigger and more serious than on the park beaches, so it is better to watch from the sand than to swim. Surf schools and board rentals are the standard way in for beginners, and surfers of every level share the breaks.
Late afternoon is lovely, when the heat eases and the light turns amber over the water. Grab a smoothie or a grilled fish plate and watch the sets roll in. Strong currents are common here, so respect the sea and any local advice, and do not go out alone if you are new to it. Local cafés and small restaurants make an easy dinner stop before the drive back.
Smaller pleasures fill the gaps: a slow breakfast of fruit and gallo pinto on a shaded terrace, a walk through the forest edge looking for birds, a swim at the end of a hot morning, or a long dinner under a fan while the rain drums on the roof. The wet-green mood of December rewards slowing down.
A two-day itinerary for Uvita in December
Day 1 belongs to the national park.
Stay for a swim near the shore, keeping to your depth, and watch the forest edge for birds and monkeys. The daylight lasts about eleven and a half hours, so there is plenty of time, but the clouds tend to build after lunch, so do the beach in the morning.
Day 2 is for getting out of town. Head inland early for the Nauyaca waterfalls, since mornings are the best bet for dry trails, and give the trip most of the day. Come back through farmland and stop for fruit or coffee on the way. If the weather turns bad, swap the falls for a long lunch, a market stop and a visit to a craft shop.
In the late afternoon drive north to Dominical for the surf beach, a coffee on the main street and the sunset from the sand. Dinner there can be a relaxed plate of grilled fish or a pizza before heading back to Uvita.
Is Uvita busy in December?
Yes, it is busier than the weeks just before, because December is the start of the high season and the holiday weeks bring both Costa Rican families and visitors from abroad. The town is small, so even a modest rise in arrivals is noticeable at the beach, on the roads and at dinner.
The first half of the month is the calmer stretch, with the season warming up but rooms still easier to find and restaurants not yet full. From the days around Christmas through New Year’s, expect a very different picture: popular lodgings fill, rental cars are in demand and the best restaurant tables go early. Costa Rican families also travel at this time, so beach areas and roadside stops feel lively on weekends and during the festival days celebrated across the country.
As a habit, book early for the holiday weeks, ideally as soon as your dates are fixed, and book later for the quieter days at the start of the month.
What to pack for Uvita in December
- Water shoes or sandals with grip, for slippery trails and rocky shore patches.
- Sunscreen and a hat, as the sun is strong in the breaks between clouds.
- A dry bag, to keep phone and documents safe on boats and wet days.
- Insect repellent, for forest walks and evenings outdoors.
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.
December falls in the greener half of the year here, so roads and trails can be wet, and plans work best when the outdoor part goes in the morning. The holiday weeks bring crowds around Christmas and New Year’s.
Uvita in December vs November and January
Moving the trip a month earlier means more rain and a wetter, quieter coast. November is the wettest of the three, with showers almost every day, and the sea is a touch cooler, though still warm. Rooms are easier to find and the town is calmer, but you give up the festive lift and many of the sunny stretches.
Moving a month later brings clearer skies. January is clearly drier, the sea is warmer and the trails firm up, which makes hiking and boat trips more predictable. The cost is a busier town, as the high season is in full swing and rooms tighten, especially around the holidays.
December sits in the middle. Choose it if you want the green scenery and the Christmas atmosphere with rain that is easing. Shift to January for the best chance of dry days and easy outings, and to November if you want quiet and do not mind getting wet.
Is December a good time to visit Uvita?
Yes, December is a good time to visit Uvita if you want green scenery and Christmas atmosphere and do not mind rain or busy holiday weeks.
On arrival, start with the park beach on the first clear morning, before the clouds build, and sort out any boat or guided trips while the early-month calm lasts. Then let the days fall into a rhythm of early outings, a long midday rest and a late dinner. What stays with you from December here is the contrast: the bright green hills still wet from the rains, the whale-tail sandbar emerging from the tide, and the first holiday lights going up in a small town by the sea.
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