The best time to visit Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Guanacaste is one of the sunniest, driest corners of Costa Rica - but there's still a right time to come, depending on whether you want wall-to-wall sun, lush green scenery, or the best prices.

Dry season (December to April)

This is the classic beach window: reliable sunshine, low humidity and golden, dry-forest landscapes. Rain is rare, and days are hot and bright from morning to sunset.

It's also peak season. Beaches, tours and hotels are at their busiest and prices are at their highest - especially around Christmas, New Year and Easter week (Semana Santa), when Costa Ricans holiday domestically and the coast fills up. If you want guaranteed sun and don't mind company, book well ahead, particularly for transfers and tours.

Green season (May to November)

Don't let "rainy season" put you off. For much of the green season the pattern is a bright, sunny morning followed by a warm afternoon or evening downpour that clears as fast as it arrives. You can have a full beach day and still watch a thunderstorm roll in over dinner.

The rewards are real: the dry forest turns vivid green, waterfalls run at full strength, wildlife is active, and both crowds and prices drop noticeably. Rio Celeste and the volcano parks are at their most dramatic. September and October are the wettest and quietest months - lovely if you're relaxed about losing the odd afternoon.

Month by month

• December - February - peak sun, peak crowds. Book early, especially over the holidays.
• March - April - hottest and driest. Still busy; Easter week is very busy.
• May - July - green, warm, sunny mornings and excellent value. A sweet spot.
• August - a brief drier spell (the veranillo, or "little summer") in parts of Guanacaste.
• September - October - wettest and quietest. Lush, cheap, and fine if you're flexible.
• November - the rain eases, the landscape is still green, and prices haven't jumped yet. Many locals' favourite month.

What about surf, wildlife and turtles?

• Surf - swell is consistent year-round in Guanacaste, but the green season generally brings bigger, more powerful waves. Beginners often prefer the calmer dry-season conditions.
• Wildlife - the green season is better for birdlife and active animals. In the dry season, animals gather around the remaining water, which can make them easier to spot on a river safari.
• Turtles - the main nesting arribadas at Ostional (near Nosara) generally run in the green season, peaking around September and October.

The verdict

For sun-certain beach days, come December to April and accept the crowds and the prices. For green landscapes, fewer people, better value - and still plenty of sunshine - the green season is a well-kept secret, with May to July and November the standouts.

Either way, Guanacaste's beaches, tours and volcano trips run year-round, and so do we. Roads can be wetter in September and October, which is one more reason to let someone else drive.