The best time to visit Tamarindo depends on what you want from your trip. Tamarindo, on the Pacific coast of Guanacaste, has two clear seasons: a dry season with long sunny days and a green season with afternoon showers and a lush landscape. This guide explains the Tamarindo weather month by month, when the high season runs and which tours fit each part of the year, so you can plan with realistic expectations.
Short answer: for sunny, dry weather, visit Tamarindo from December to April. For greener landscapes, fewer visitors and the most sea turtle activity, visit from May to November, when showers are common but often fall in the afternoon. Estuary tours run all year, with departure times set by the tide.
Tamarindo weather: dry season and green season
Guanacaste is one of the driest regions of Costa Rica, and Tamarindo is warm all year. Instead of four seasons, the year is divided by rain.
Dry season (roughly December to April)
- Sunny days, clear skies and very little rain.
- Hot afternoons, with breezy days that are common early in the year.
- The tropical dry forest loses many of its leaves, which can make monkeys and birds easier to spot.
- The landscape turns brown and dusty toward March and April.
Green season (roughly May to November)
- Mornings are often bright, and showers usually arrive in the afternoon or evening.
- The forest and the mangroves turn deep green.
- September and October are usually the rainiest months, and some days bring longer rain.
- Many travelers call it the green season rather than the rainy season, because most days still have dry hours.
Best time to visit Tamarindo, month by month
December and January
The dry season begins and the high season is at its busiest, especially during the end-of-year holidays. Skies are usually clear, the estuary is calm and the leatherback season at Playa Grande is under way, although sightings of this species are now rare. Book tours and lodging early.
February to April
These are the driest months. Beach days are long and sunny, and the dry forest is open, which helps when looking for howler monkeys. Easter week (Semana Santa) is one of the busiest weeks of the year, as many Costa Rican families travel to the beach.
May and June
The first rains arrive and the landscape turns green within a few weeks. Visitor numbers drop after Easter, and turtle nesting increases on the beaches of Guanacaste. Smaller arribadas can happen at Ostional from May.
July and August
July often brings a short drier spell, known locally as veranillo, and the mid-year school holidays bring national travelers back to Tamarindo. In August the main arribada season at Ostional begins.
September and October
These are usually the wettest months and the quietest for tourism. They are also the peak of the arribadas at Ostional, and in October the leatherback season begins at Playa Grande. Plan outdoor activities for the morning when you can.
November
A transition month: rain decreases, the landscape is still green and the international high season begins. Our sunset and baby turtle release tour is available from November 12.
High season and low season in Tamarindo
The international high season in Costa Rica runs from November to Easter week, according to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute. Costa Rican travelers add three busy periods of their own: Easter week, the mid-year school holidays in July and the end-of-year holidays. On these dates, shared tours and private boats fill up faster, so booking a few days or weeks ahead is a good idea.
From May to November, except for July, Tamarindo is quieter. Tours often have smaller groups and the beaches feel more relaxed.
Which tours suit each season
- Estuary boat and kayak tours run all year. The departure time follows the high tide, so it changes every day. In the green season the mangroves are at their greenest. The shared boat tour costs $40 per person and lasts 2 hours.
- Turtle tours depend on the nesting seasons. The turtle nesting tour ($60 per person, departure at 5:30 pm) is a night outing to Playa Minas or Playa Jesús. For the Ostional arribada, the main season is August to December, with peaks from September to November. See our guide to the best time to see turtles in Guanacaste.
- Full-day trips work in both seasons. In the dry season, the trails of the Rincón de la Vieja combo tour ($180 per person) are dry and easy to walk. In the green season, waterfalls such as La Leona and Llanos de Cortés usually carry more water. Compare them in our guide to day trips from Tamarindo.
- Horseback riding along the trails and the beach is pleasant all year.
Tips for planning your trip
- In the green season, keep your afternoons flexible and choose morning activities when the schedule allows.
- Pack light clothes, sunblock and repellent all year, and a light rain jacket from May to November. Our guide on what to wear and pack for tours in Tamarindo has a full list.
- Traveling between May and November? Read our guide to tours for the green season.
How booking works
You reserve online with a deposit and pay the balance in cash, in US dollars or colones, on the day of the tour. If you cancel at least 24 hours before departure, the deposit is refunded. If the weather or water conditions make a tour unsafe, we contact you to offer another date or a refund.
Whatever month you choose, Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey can help you plan your days. Book the estuary boat tour, the turtle nesting tour or a full-day trip online, or write to us on WhatsApp with your travel dates and we will suggest the tours that fit them best.
Book these tours
Shared Boat Tour (Mangrove Safari)$40 per personSee tour and book →
Turtle Nesting Tour$60 per personSee tour and book →
Rincón de la Vieja Combo Tour$180 per personSee tour and book →
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Tamarindo?
There is no single best month. For sunny, dry weather choose December to April; for greener landscapes, fewer visitors and more turtle activity choose May to November, keeping in mind that September and October are usually the rainiest months.
When is high season in Tamarindo?
The international high season runs from November to Easter week. Costa Rican travelers also fill Tamarindo during Easter week, the July school holidays and the end-of-year holidays, so it is best to book tours ahead on those dates.
Does it rain all day in Tamarindo during the green season?
Usually not. Mornings are often bright and showers tend to arrive in the afternoon or evening, although some days bring longer rain, especially in September and October.
Is Tamarindo hot all year?
Yes. Tamarindo is warm all year. The dry season brings the strongest sun and breezy days, while clouds and showers make many green-season afternoons feel cooler.
When can I combine dry weather with a turtle tour?
December and January combine the start of the dry season with the leatherback season at Playa Grande and active nesting tours, although leatherback sightings are now rare. Our sunset and baby turtle release tour is available from November 12.
More Tamarindo guides
- Best Tours in Tamarindo: A Local Operator's GuideBest tours in Tamarindo ranked by a local operator: estuary boat, kayak, turtles, horseback and day trips, with the price and length of all 13 tours.
- Things to Do in Tamarindo, Costa RicaThings to do in Tamarindo, Costa Rica: beach and sunset, the mangrove estuary, sea turtles, horseback rides, day trips and town life, with local tips.
- 3 Days in Tamarindo: A Nature ItineraryA 3-day Tamarindo itinerary built around the tides: estuary tour, night turtles in season, a full-day trip inland and a 5-day variant, with prices.
- Tamarindo in the Green Season: Tours That Shine in the RainTamarindo rainy season guide: what the green season is like, the best tours for May to November, what to do when it rains and how weather changes work.
- Tamarindo Tides: Why Our Tour Times Change Every DayHow the Tamarindo tide schedule works, why estuary boat and kayak tours leave with the high tide, and how we confirm your exact tour time after booking.
- How Much Does a Boat Tour in Tamarindo Cost?Tamarindo boat tour price: shared estuary tours from $40, private boats, kayak and combo, typical market ranges, what is included and how deposits work.