As we head into August, glorious rains and their many perks are definitely upon us. And boy, do we love the Costa Rica green season!
Ask anyone who lives or spends significant time in Costa Rica, and you’ll soon learn that the green season – also known as the rainy season or wet season (May-November) – is often a favorite. We know, the guidebooks all seem to indicate that the dry season (December-April) is the best season to visit Costa Rica and that only those travelers who can’t visit during the dry season should choose the rainy season.
We beg to differ. Because the rainy season is better known as the Costa Rica green season. Key word: Green. As in, emerald landscapes and verdant panoramas, vibrant forests and flora abloom with life. This is the season of nature’s abundance and scenic glory, of roaring waterfalls and frothing whitewater rivers.
It’s also host to the best prices of the year and the fewest crowds, not to mention a handful of other perks that have us recommending green season travel over and over and over again.
Perk #1: It’s the Most Beautiful Time of Year
Green, green everywhere! The Costa Rica green season is so named for a reason…
This is one perk that could almost be considered objective: There is no time more beautiful in Costa Rica than after the rains have started. Because the Costa Rica green season unrolls into every shade, hue, and color of green – from the gentlest lime to the deepest beryl. It’s truly a sight to behold.
Granted, the all-sun, all-the-time weather of the dry season has its appeal. But, the strong sun can also be punishing to water-conserving Costa Rica. By contrast, the wet season’s regular showers (which typically last 5-90 minutes a day, see perk #3, below) return Costa Rica’s landscapes to their fertile glory.
All those gorgeous Costa Rica photos you’ve obsessed over online? You know, the ones that feature huge swaths of green forest cozied up to golden sands and blue Pacific? They’re almost surely taken during the green season. The paradise you hold in your mind’s eye is happening right now!
Perk #2: There Are Few Crowds
If you’re the kind of traveler who doesn’t care to share your every experience with a few dozen strangers, then you’ll love the relatively few crowds that the rainy season attracts. (See above, re: wayward advice.)
For seven long and languid months, you have a chance to experience a different side of Costa Rica. A Costa Rica where forest trails are untraveled and beaches are nearly secluded. Where your guides can devote their full attention to your group and everyone seems to have a little more time for a smile, an explanation, and an afternoon cafecito (coffee).
By choosing to travel now, you choose to be one of a few rather than a face in the crowd. We let you choose which one you prefer!
Stay Here: Casa Serena
5 Beds | 5 Baths | 10 Guests
Sparing no luxury and overlooking no touch of comfort, Casa Serena welcomes you to Costa Rica green season travel and labyrinthine indoor-outdoor living for an exclusive selection of just 10 guests.
Here, you’ll experience and relish every exquisite detail of beachfront luxury: With the sand between your toes and the Pacific at your feet, you’ll explore your home-away-from-home. Spend time at the custom infinity pool, which wraps itself around a tree. Indulge in the in-home spa room. Get a workout in at the fully equipped gym.
And then, whip up something fabulous in your chef-ready gourmet kitchen, well equipped for everything from healthy meals to indulgent treats. Take morning, afternoon, and evening strolls on the beach. (Be sure to go out when the stars are out. It’s otherworldly!) And spend your days on your ocean-breezy, shaded terraces. Welcome to paradise!
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Perk #3: The Guanacaste Rainy Season Isn’t That Rainy
While most experts tend to recommend our high and dry months (December through April), the rainy season months (May through November) in Guanacaste, where Hacienda Pinilla is located, aren’t that rainy.
To begin, Guanacaste is the driest province in Costa Rica, which predisposes us to milder rainy seasons. That means that torrential rain is rare and, when it happens, it typically lasts for a few minutes. And life could be worse than a few minutes in a tropical rainstorm!
What’s more, even during the rainiest months of September and October, the Hacienda Pinilla will rarely experience more than a couple of hours of rain. Of course, we are talking unpredictable weather and there are always outliers…
That said, a typical day during the Costa Rica green season wakes to gorgeous skies and bright sun. By lunchtime, you may see some clouds rolling in. In the early afternoon, it’ll likely rain – anywhere from 5 to 90 minutes (typically) – and by early evening, the storm has rolled out and a brilliant sunset sits on the horizon.
If you’re lucky, you may even experience the majesty of a tropical thunderstorm during your visit. There’s nothing like sitting on your private pool terrace as you watch the clouds descend and lightning strike!
Stay Here: Casa Diana
7 Beds | 5 Baths | 14 Guests
Surrounded by abundant nature, where luxury and comfort meet, Casa Diana is a spectacular vacation home in one of the most exclusive oceanfront gated communities in Costa Rica.
A private residence sprawling 6,700 square feet (622 square meters), Casa Diana is a hidden treasure not oft found. For here, you’ll find a celebration of everything that vacation should be: a private infinity pool and double living rooms, spacious sun-splashed terraces and two master suites, a gourmet kitchen and a not-oft-found wine cellar.
All this, just three minutes to the beach. All this, surrounded parrots, monkeys, and macaws. All this, all yours.
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Perk #4: The Prices Are Lower
See more, do more, travel more, thanks to the lower prices during Costa Rica’s low season
If the Costa Rica green season hasn’t yet won you over, then consider that it offers the lowest prices of the year.
It all comes down to supply and demand: Because so many choose to travel during the dry season, demand goes up. By contrast, the shoulder season (May, June, and November) and the rainy season (July-October) experience lower prices across the board: From airfare and Hacienda Pinilla vacation homes to tours and activities, prices drop.
That offers its own opportunities. Whether you want to lower your total costs or funnel your funds into a luxury home that would be out of your budget during the high season, then the rainy season grants you leeway. It lets you live a little. Or live a little bit large. You choose!
Perk #5: Access to Hacienda Pinilla’s World-Class Amenities
The par-72, 7,200-yard Hacienda Pinilla Golf Course was designed by renowned architect Mike Young.
While some areas of Costa Rica close down or reduce their tourist services during the green season, Hacienda Pinilla’s resort amenities are available year-round. Only, there are fewer people to share them with during the green season!
Retreat to the relative tranquility of the Hacienda Pinilla Beach Club, where you can relax at the oceanfront resort pool and restaurant. Avail yourself of the par-72 Hacienda Pinilla Golf Course, which welcomes you to up to 7,200 yards of play. Stop by the tennis courts for a friendly match or lesson with a pro. Bike or hike the community’s over 45 kms (28 miles) of trails. Surf our epic waves and get to know Hacienda Pinilla’s three beautiful beaches.
The community, the province, and the country are yours to explore. Revel in the beauty, the variety, and the almost-secrets of the rainy season. We think you’ll be glad you did!
Hacienda Pinilla Concierge Services: Plan Your Costa Rica Green Season Travel
Want to glean the most out your green season travels (while avoiding any probable pitfalls)? When you reserve your Hacienda Pinilla vacation home with us, you gain access to our full concierge services.
When you book with us, we’ll get in touch to help you plan all the details of your stay. Our job is to get to know you, so we can help you plan the trip of your dreams. Whether you just need help arranging transportation or would like a full itinerary – everything from your airport shuttle to a full trip’s worth of activities, private chef services, and golf cart rental – we’re happy to help.
Even better, our concierge services are always free. So, why wait? Get in touch and let’s get started!