A Year In Monteverde | Best Time to Visit Costa Rica And What to Expect from Each Month

Now Costa Rica's wildlife also gets its "seasons" as we have migrations: birds, butterflies, bugs, and even mammals, you can see the change from month to month. 

And of course, the people. Culture thrives in Monteverde and there is always something happening! Some of these activities are annual, monthly, or seasonal!

Breaking Down Monteverde Month by Month

As a way to organize all these fantastic elements that happen in the small footprint (20.48 sq. mi/53.05 Km2) of Monteverde, we will summarize them in a description of Monteverde month by month. 

First of all, of course, has to be the weather. Although we are showing here some of the numbers from Climate-data.org, the actual climate of Monteverde is unpredictable day to day and there's no "best time to visit" per se. Also, what is considered “great weather” for one activity, might be very different for another. 

As we are located right on the Continental Divide, we are influenced by these two very different oceans and their winds, currents, and temperatures. 

Add in factors like El Nino, La Nina, and, without a doubt, climate change, and all of these stats can be affected. But here is a good sense for the average weather in Monteverde month by month:

N.a. "Santa Elena climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Santa Elena weather averages -Climate-Data.org." En.climate-data.org. n.d. Web. 24 Jun. 2022. <https://en.climate-data.org/north-america/costa-rica/puntarenas/santa-elena-987064/>

Birding Seasons in Monteverde: 

When we talk about the birds of Monteverde, we can say that there are three bird-watching seasons:

In the sunny season (from early November to early March and April), you can find almost 400 resident species and 91 migratory species, including warblers, kites, and hummingbirds from around the Americas.

During the rainy season (from early May to early November), you can find only the resident bird species, though many occupy beautiful, diverse mixed flocks.

And if you’ve come to visit Monteverde to spot the Resplendent Quetzal or the Three-Wattled Bellbird, two of the region’s most iconic targets, your best time to visit may be a bit different.

The breeding season (and greatest viewing) for quetzals is from mid-February through June or July when wild avocado trees and other fruit from plants in the laurel family (Lauraceae) are in bloom.

Meanwhile, one of the world’s largest populations of bellbirds travels to Monteverde for six months of the year, between March and August.

With all of that in mind, let’s get into the months of Monteverde!

January in Monteverde

Weather: January in Monteverde is very windy and a bit chilly. If you check the stats above, you will notice that this month is one of the coolest months of the year.

Travel Industry: When talking about tourism, January is the high season, and you will find hotels and tourist attractions quite full, so it is a good idea to reserve in advance. 

Sunsets are quite dramatic and worth noting all over the country in January

Rainbows are breathtaking, there are plenty of rainbows in the afternoons so our Monteverde Rooftop is a great place to go in the afternoons. 

At a Glance:

February in Monteverde

Weather:  February is still windy and chilly although the winds calm down and the sun is out more often. 

Other animals: Throughout the months of February and March, you will notice an increase in the visibility of the coatimundi groups of females and babies. Female coatimundis are open for courtship and they get closer to human areas that males visit frequently. A great time for wildlife spotting!

Activities: The Monteverde Music Festival also begins in February. This is Monteverde's largest festival of the year, and it is an incredible opportunity to hear Costa Rica's top musical acts all in one spot.

Tourism: In the hospitality industry, February is part of the high season (families with children and teenagers more than party-goers) are beginning to come so reserving in advance is a good idea.

Because of the music festival, hotels tend to sell out, so arrange your reservations as far in advance as possible.

At a Glance:

March in Monteverde

Weather: March is considered the dry season in Monteverde, which means it is the best time to go outside without worrying about rain and experience what’s traditionally considered the  "best weather".

Other Animals: The coatimundi female groups remain visible. 

Tourism: March is part of the peak travel season because of spring break, there are large groups of people in the main attractions and the hotels are pretty full so reserving early is a great idea. 

Sunsets: are clear and pink at this time of year with very few clouds; the light is very impressive. 

At a Glance:

April in Monteverde

Weather: This is the last month of the sunny season and one of the hottest months of the year. April also usually includes Easter week, which is the peak season 

Tourism: April is part of the high season and you will find large tour groups in the main attractions. 

Sunsets: April is a great time to see sunsets and sunrises in the Monteverde Rooftop. 

At a Glance:

May in Monteverde

Weather: Early May is usually dry, although this month is at the beginning of the rainy season. Typically considered shoulder season, this time of year is a great time to plan your vacation.

Insects: Beetles come out at night in this month. We call them “abejones de Mayo”

Tourism: May is already considered a lower season as it starts to rain in the second half of the month. A great time to try that busy tour you’ve been eyeing or get a fantastic reservation!

Sunsets: May is already the rainy season and sunsets are seldom visible. However, the sunset skies are alight with some incredible colors.

At a Glance:

June in Monteverde

Weather: Sunny mornings and some rain in the afternoons. There are a few sunny days in late June (Called the veranillo de San Juan - San John’s little summer)

Insects: Good time to see the Morpho Butterflies!

Tourism: June is a month for families and groups of students. 

Sunsets: Hit and miss on sunsets, but the sunsets that do show up are incredibly beautiful!

At a Glance:

July in Monteverde

Weather: Sunny mornings and some rain in the afternoons, overall good weather.

Insects: Morpho Butterflies are very common at this time.  

Tourism: It is another month for families, and groups of students, and the summer traveling season for the Northern Hemisphere. Not too busy, but you won’t be the only person who thinks to come visit!

Sunsets: Once again, hit or miss on sunsets, but incredibly beautiful when they appear!

At a Glance:

August in Monteverde

Weather: Sunny mornings and some rain in the afternoons. 

Tourism: August is the traveling season for the Northern Hemisphere. You can expect more crowds at the beginning of the month.

Sunsets: Often cloudy and ethereal due to the rain. Can be a bit spooky!

At a Glance:

September in Monteverde

Weather: Scattered showers most days with a bit more rain. September is part of the Caribbean’s sunny months and in some areas of Monteverde, it can be sunny. Just depends on the wind!

Tourism: Traditionally lower this time of year. An excellent time to get to know the real Monteverde and enjoy a relaxing vacation.

Sunsets: September is not the best time to see sunsets. 

Rainbows: Infrequent, but you can always spot one after a daytime shower!

At a Glance:

October in Monteverde

Weather: More scattered showers, with the occasional longer storm due to systems coming off of Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. October is the time of the year when you'd encounter the most rain, but in late October we begin to feel the effect of the trade winds, which signal the start of the dry season.

Tourism: October is a traditionally low season for tourism. Another great time to know the true Monteverde with fewer crowds and noticeable prices drop.

Sunsets: Not the best time to see sunsets. 

Rainbows: Always waiting after a scattered shower 

At a Glance:

November in Monteverde

Weather: Sunny days are very common and the trade winds start to blow, bringing warm weather! Very possible to encounter little rain during this time of year.

Tourism: Begins to pick up towards the end of the month, but early November is one of the hidden gems of Costa Rica. The greenest time of year under the vibrant sun!

Sunsets: Sunsets are visible and beautiful.

Rainbows: We begin to get more mists and light rains, which lead to the most astounding rainbows. 

At a Glance:

December in Monteverde

Weather: Sunny and breezy. In the afternoons there might be a little shower but way less rain than the couple previous months. Warm days, but temperatures get down for cooler evenings!

Tourism: Early December is relatively uncrowded (another hidden gem time to experience Costa Rica). Late December is peak season, with the holidays, you can expect to see more crowds.

Sunsets: Breathtaking sunsets almost every evening.

Rainbows: Beautiful rainbows everywhere you look! This is the peak of the misty months, and the results are awe-inspiring!

At a Glance:

No Matter the Season, You Are Welcome in Costa Rica!

Above, we give you a little taste of the different times of year in Monteverde, but we hope we captured that Monteverde is beautiful all year round: if you're coming to do some very specific wildlife spotting or just discovering the cloud forest, or whether you like sunny and breezy days or scattered showers, lush greenery, and the occasional thunderstorm, the region is always beautiful and it is permanently open for visitors. 

At Ocotea Boutique Hotel we know this very well, and it is a great pleasure to welcome you for your holidays and discover our town’s wonders month to month.