Things to Do in Costa Rica in April

April is arguably the sweet spot for visiting Manuel Antonio. The dry forest isn't yet parched, so the howler monkeys still have foliage to hide in. But the undergrowth has thinned enough that you'll see them. And the sloths, capuchins, and agoutis. The morning air carries the scent of damp earth and orchids, and the park guides (required by law) can pinpoint the rustle of an iguana in the leaves. By late morning, the heat builds and the crowds at the famous park beaches arrive. Go with the first entry slot at 7 AM and you'll have Playa Espadilla almost to yourself, the sand still cool underfoot. The afternoon showers usually hold off until you're back at your hotel.

The waves in April are what local instructors call 'gentle but consistent' - good for first-timers. The water off beaches like Playa Sámara or Jacó is bath-warm, around 84°F (29°C), and the morning offshore winds create clean, manageable lines. You'll taste salt for hours after, and the sound of the waves is a constant, soothing roar. By noon, the onshore breeze picks up, chopping up the swell, which is why all good lessons start at dawn. The post-surf ritual - a cold pipa (green coconut) from a roadside vendor, the sweet water a contrast to the briny ocean - is a Costa Rica experience in itself.

April is a fascinating month for Costa Rican food. It's the tail end of the mango and cashew fruit harvest, and the very beginning of the rainy season's first crop of heart of palm and pejibaye (peach palm). A cooking class now lets you work with these transition ingredients. You'll feel the sticky latex from a green plantain on your hands as you pat out patacones, smell the acidic tang of sour orange (naranja agria) in a marinade, and hear the sizzle of gallo pinto hitting a well-seasoned clay comal. This isn't restaurant cooking. It's the food Ticos eat at home, and learning it in April gives you a snapshot of the country's seasonal rhythm.

Rivers like the Río Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park are at their most spectacular - and navigable - in April. The rains have started in the highlands, feeding the waterfalls, but haven't yet swelled the rivers to dangerous levels. Floating down these turquoise waterways, the air 10 degrees cooler under the rainforest canopy, is pure magic. You'll hear the chatter of kingfishers, feel the surprisingly warm water from volcanic springs mixing with the cooler current, and see the impossible blue color caused by a mineral collision. The hike to the waterfall viewpoint is muddy and steep. But the sight of that blue cascade plunging into an emerald pool is worth every slippery step.

April shoves the action nearer the beach. Roosterfish, snapper, and the first dorado (mahi-mahi) cruise inside the 100-fathom curve. Mornings stay flat until the Papagayo wind wakes up. The light turns liquid gold. Diesel and bait mingle at the dock. Spray slaps your cheeks rounding the headland. The reel sings. Frigate birds wheel overhead. The coastline flips to a new angle. Trophy fish? Maybe. The real prize is the soundtrack of the sea. Book a half-day charter; you're tied up before the afternoon weather flips.