Months to get married in Costa Rica:weather by month.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The months to get married in Costa Rica depend on the region. On the northern Pacific coast of Guanacaste, December to March is the dry season, May to October is the rainy season, and April and November sit in between. No month is a guarantee in either direction. Choose by what you want to protect: dry afternoons, greener landscapes, or an easier venue calendar.
Choose the season first,
then the month.
On Guanacaste’s Pacific coast the dry season runs from December to March and the rainy season from May to October. April and November are transition months.
Those dates come from IMN. Its regional study of the northern Pacific found that about 4% of the year’s rain falls from December to March, about 50% from May to August and about 46% from September to November (1961 to 1990 averages).
The rainy season is not even. There is a first peak in June, a relative pause in July and August that IMN calls the veranillo (or canícula), and a second, larger peak in September and October.
Costa Rica has several climate regions and they do not share one calendar. The table below is for the northern Pacific coast, where we are based. Section 03 covers the regions that behave differently.
Months to get married in Costa Rica, one by one.
Monthly averages from the IMN station at Liberia airport, 2005 to 2025. Averages describe a typical month. They do not forecast your date.
| Month | Season (IMN) | Average rain | Rain days | Average high | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Dry | 1.1 mm | 1 | 35.2 °C | Very little rain on average. Popular with couples, so ask early about venue availability. |
| February | Dry | 0.5 mm | 1 | 36.4 °C | Same pattern as January. Plan shade for the afternoon sun. |
| March | Dry | 4.9 mm | 1 | 37.2 °C | Average highs are among the year’s warmest at this station. Plan shade and water for guests. |
| April | Transition | 46.5 mm | 4 | 37.9 °C | Rain begins to return. Average highs peak for the year at this station. |
| May | Rainy | 192.7 mm | 15 | 37.0 °C | The rains usually settle in during the last third of the month; rain days jump from 4 to 15. |
| June | Rainy | 235.8 mm | 19 | 34.4 °C | First rainfall peak of the year. A short dry spell around San Juan’s day is possible (see below). |
| July | Rainy | 119.6 mm | 13 | 34.8 °C | Rain dips at this station: the veranillo, a relative pause in the rainy season. |
| August | Rainy | 198.1 mm | 18 | 35.3 °C | IMN still places the veranillo in July and August, but rainfall here is already climbing again. |
| September | Rainy | 241.3 mm | 22 | 34.5 °C | Second, larger rainy period begins. Rain was recorded on about 22 days. |
| October | Rainy | 338.7 mm | 23 | 33.6 °C | The highest monthly rainfall in this record, with rain on about 23 days. |
| November | Transition | 154.7 mm | 12 | 33.4 °C | Transition back toward the dry season; the total is less than half of October’s. |
| December | Dry | 12.0 mm | 3 | 34.5 °C | The dry season begins. Rain was recorded on about 3 days. |
Source: IMN, Climatología Aeronáutica 2005-2025 del Aeropuerto Internacional Daniel Oduber, Table 1. Season labels follow the same study: dry December to March, rainy May to October, April and November as transition months. A rain day means rain was recorded that day, not that it rained all day. The station is one point at 30 m above sea level; beaches, hills and the Nicoya peninsula can differ.
- Late June can pause.IMN’s historical record gives a 60% chance of a dry spell called the Veranillo de San Juan in the last two weeks of June, and a 15% chance that it is strong (seven or more dry days in a row). Treat it as a tendency, not a plan. (IMN circular, June 2023)
- Rain tends to arrive in the afternoon.At the Liberia station, showers and storms are reported mainly in the afternoon. If you choose a rainy month, ask what your venue does if weather builds during a late ceremony.
- Dry months can be windy.From January to March, afternoon wind at the station averages above 15 knots (about 28 km/h). Ask how décor, tents and veils are secured.
It also depends
where you marry.
IMN divides Costa Rica into seven climate regions. These three come up often for the places couples ask us about.
Guanacaste and the Nicoya peninsula
Two clear seasons: dry from December to March, rainy from May to October. The table above describes this region. (IMN regional study)
The Arenal area and the north
IMN places this region in the Caribbean rainfall regime: rainy through the year, with a relative decrease. It describes a single rainy period from May to December or January, so the Pacific dry-season dates do not carry over. (IMN regional study)
The Caribbean slope
Two rainy periods separated by relative minimums, in September and October and again in February and March. It is not a dry-season coast in December to March. (IMN regional study)
Central Valley, central and southern Pacific
Not covered here. Ask your venue or planner how their area behaves in the month you are considering.
What to weigh
besides rain.
Practical notes from the figures above and from planning weddings here.
Ask for a rain plan in every month.
Even in the dry months rain is possible: IMN’s Liberia record shows about one rain day a month from January to March. Ask where the ceremony would move and how long the change takes.
Plan for heat and wind.
Average daily highs at the station run from about 33 to 38 °C through the year, with March and April the warmest. Ask about shade, water for guests and how décor is secured in afternoon wind.
Check availability for popular months.
January and February are popular wedding months. Higher demand can affect venue availability and guest accommodation, so confirm both before you settle on a date.
Match the venue to the season.
The dry season suits open-air ceremonies on the Pacific coast. In the rainy months, rainforest lodges and ocean-view venues are options; ask what covered space they have. The landscape is greener in those months. For more, see our guide to planning your Costa Rica wedding and beach wedding venues, or a rainy-day wedding we photographed at Dreams Las Mareas.
Choosing a month for a Costa Rica wedding?
Short answers, with the source behind each one.
When is the dry season on the Guanacaste coast?
IMN describes the dry season on the northern Pacific as December to March, with April and November as transition months. Only about 4% of the year’s rain falls from December to March in its 1961 to 1990 baseline.
Can it still rain between December and March?
It can, but rarely. At the Liberia station the average is about one rain day a month from January to March, and 3 in December. An average is not a forecast, so keep a backup plan.
What is the veranillo?
A relative pause in rain during the rainy season. IMN places it in July and August, and also tracks a shorter Veranillo de San Juan around 23 June. It is a tendency in the record, not something to schedule around.
Are January and February popular wedding months?
Yes, they are popular dates. Demand can affect venue availability and guest accommodation, so ask about both early.
Is the Caribbean side dry in the same months?
No. IMN describes the Caribbean slope as rainy through the year, with relative minimums in September and October and in February and March. The Arenal area falls under a similar rainfall regime.
How do we choose between a dry month and a rainy one?
Decide what you cannot compromise on. Dry months suit open-air plans but bring heat and wind. May to October brings greener landscapes and needs a covered backup. April and November sit between the two.
- Climatología Aeronáutica 2005-2025 del Aeropuerto Internacional Daniel Oduber (Liberia): monthly table, season definitions, wind and afternoon rain.
- Regional climate, Pacífico Norte: seasonal rain shares and the veranillo.
- Regional climate, Zona Norte and Vertiente del Caribe: rainfall regimes outside the Pacific.
- Veranillo de San Juan, June 2023 update: late-June probabilities.
- For a forecast near your date, use IMN’s own forecasts.
Costa Rica wedding photographer · Adri Mendez
Recommended Costa Rica wedding videographer · Lucas Weddings
Written by Adri and Lucas. Weather figures are IMN averages, not forecasts, and describe one station on the northern Pacific coast. Check a current forecast and your venue’s plan for your own date.
Weighing a month
for your wedding?
Tell us where you are thinking of celebrating and which months you are considering. We are happy to talk it through.
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