Tamarindo in July surprises many visitors. The hills are green after the first months of rain, yet the sun often comes back for days at a time, and the town fills with Costa Rican families on their mid-year holidays. For us, it is one of the liveliest months of the green season on the estuary.
Short answer: July is one of the most pleasant months of the green season in Tamarindo. The veranillo, a drier break of one to a few weeks, often brings sunny mornings and fewer showers, while the forest stays green. It is busier than June or August because of the school holidays and Guanacaste Day on 25 July, so book tours a few days ahead. Estuary tours run every day with the high tide, and olive ridley turtles nest on nearby beaches.
Tamarindo weather in July: the veranillo
The rainy season in Guanacaste usually starts in May, and by late June the dry forest is green again. Then, in many years, the rain pauses. Costa Ricans call this break the veranillo, or little summer, and here it often falls in July.
It can last one week or several, and some years it is short or hardly noticeable. Treat it as a likelihood, not a promise.
A typical July day starts bright and warm. Clouds may build after midday, and when it rains it is usually a short shower in the afternoon or evening. Trails have had some rain but not the heavy downpours of September and October, so July is comfortable for almost every activity. To compare it with other months, see our guide to the best time to visit Tamarindo.
Guanacaste in July: school holidays and Guanacaste Day
July is the busiest month of the green season, for two reasons:
- Mid-year school holidays. Costa Rican schools take a break of about two weeks around early July. The dates are set each year, so check them if you want to avoid or join the busiest days.
- Guanacaste Day, 25 July. The province celebrates the annexation of the Partido de Nicoya to Costa Rica in 1824, with marimba music, folk dances, traditional food and local fiestas. When the holiday falls near a weekend, many national travelers head to the beach.
North American and European summer holidays add more visitors. In practice, our shared tours fill faster than in June or August, and families traveling with grandparents and cousins often book a private boat to stay together.
Tamarindo in July: what our guides see on the estuary
On sunny veranillo mornings, our guides often find American crocodiles stretched out on the mud banks, warming up after the night. Crocodiles live in the estuary all year, but these bright days make them especially easy to spot from the boat.
The mangroves of Las Baulas Marine National Park are deep green. Herons and kingfishers fish along the channels, and iguanas rest on the branches above the water. On the short dry-forest walk, the trees are in full leaf and the howler monkeys have plenty to eat; you usually hear them before you see them.
Turtles in July
- Olive ridley and black turtles nest on the beaches near Tamarindo, and olive ridley activity has been increasing since May. Our night nesting tour visits Playa Minas or Playa Jesús.
- Ostional can have smaller arribadas from May to July, but the main season starts in August. If mass nesting is your goal, look at Tamarindo in August or later.
- Leatherbacks are out of season until October, and sightings are now rare.
- Baby turtle releases depend on the hatching season; our sunset release tour is available from November 12.
The month-by-month picture is in our guide to the best time to see turtles in Guanacaste. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
How the tide and the rain shape a July tour day
Boat and kayak tours leave with the high tide, which arrives a little later each day. That means your departure time moves through your stay, and we confirm it by WhatsApp after you book.
- Morning high tide: the ideal July slot, with soft light, less heat and the lowest chance of rain.
- Afternoon high tide: still a good option in the veranillo. A light shower does not usually stop the tour.
- Storms: with lightning or unsafe conditions, we wait, offer another date or refund your deposit.
Calm veranillo days are the best for paddling, because the incoming tide does part of the work. Our Tamarindo tide schedule guide explains the pattern.
What to pack for Costa Rica in July
- Strong sunblock, a hat and sunglasses: veranillo sun is intense.
- A light rain jacket, in case the dry spell ends early.
- Insect repellent, especially for the mangroves and the night tour.
- Water shoes for the boat and kayak, and dark clothing for turtle watching.
- A reusable water bottle; the humidity makes you thirsty.
Things to do in Tamarindo in July: best tours
- Tamarindo boat tour (shared): $40 per person, 2 hours, minimum 2 people, children 2 and under free. Pickup from Tamarindo or Langosta is included, and the deposit is $15 per person.
- Tamarindo kayak tour (shared): $60 per person, 2 to 2.5 hours, minimum 2 people, with kayak, life jacket and dry bag. Best on calm veranillo days.
- Private boat tour in Tamarindo for up to 10 people: $800 per boat, 2 hours, with a bilingual naturalist guide, coconut water and beers if you like.
- Tamarindo turtle tour: $60 per person, minimum 2 people, pickup in Tamarindo at 5:30 pm.
A 3-day July plan for families
- Day 1: the estuary boat tour on the morning high tide, then an afternoon on the beach.
- Day 2: a free morning or a horseback ride, and the night turtle tour for older children.
- Day 3: the kayak tour if the tide is early, or a rest day if the holiday crowds peak.
For more family ideas, read things to do in Tamarindo with kids. If your dates are flexible, compare with Tamarindo in June.
Planning your trip? Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey will help you fit tours around the holidays and the tides. Book the Tamarindo estuary tour online with the deposit and pay the balance on the tour day, or write to us on WhatsApp with your dates.
Book these tours
Shared Boat Tour (Mangrove Safari)$40 per personSee tour and book →
Shared Kayak Tour$60 per personSee tour and book →
Turtle Nesting Tour$60 per personSee tour and book →
Private Boat Tour · up to 10 people$800 per boatSee tour and book →
Frequently asked questions
Does it rain a lot in Tamarindo in July?
July is part of the green season, but it often brings the veranillo, a drier break of one to a few weeks. Many days have sunny mornings and only a short afternoon shower, although the veranillo is not guaranteed every year.
Is Guanacaste busy in July?
Busier than the rest of the green season. The mid-year school holidays in Costa Rica and the Guanacaste Day holiday on 25 July bring many national families, so book your Tamarindo tours a few days ahead.
Can I do a turtle tour in Tamarindo in July?
Yes. Olive ridley nesting increases from May, and our night turtle tour visits Playa Minas or Playa Jesús. Sightings are never guaranteed; if we do not see turtles, we reschedule for the next night or make it up to you with the estuary tour.
Is July a good month for the Ostional arribada tour?
Smaller arribadas are possible from May to July, but the main season runs from August to December, with the peak from September to November. If the arribada is your priority, a later month is a safer choice.
What should I pack for Costa Rica in July?
For the Tamarindo area: light clothes, strong sunblock, a hat, insect repellent and water shoes, plus a light rain jacket in case the veranillo ends early. For a night turtle tour, add dark clothing.
More Tamarindo guides
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in January: Weather, Crowds, Turtles and ToursTamarindo in January: dry, sunny and windy weather, peak season crowds, nesting turtles, how the tide sets the estuary tour and what to pack.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in February: Dry Skies, Clear Nights and the Best ToursTamarindo in February: one of the driest months, fewer local crowds once schools reopen, turtles, monkeys in the bare dry forest and the tours that fit best.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in March: Heat, Easter Week Crowds and the Best ToursTamarindo in March: hot and very dry, Easter week (Semana Santa) and spring break crowds, nesting iguanas and crocodiles, tides and the best tours to book.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in April: The Hottest Month, Quieter Beaches and Smart ToursTamarindo in April: the hottest end of the dry season, quieter weeks after Easter, first rains, wildlife in the bare forest and tours timed to beat the heat.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in May: First Rains, Green Hills and the Start of Turtle SeasonTamarindo in May: the first rains turn the dry forest green, low season brings quiet tours, olive ridley nesting increases and small Ostional arribadas begin.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in June: Green Season, Fuller Waterfalls and Turtle NightsTamarindo in June: bright mornings and afternoon storms, a lush green estuary, waterfalls filling up, olive ridley nesting and quiet tours before July.