Things to Do in Costa Rica in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Costa Rica
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + Dry season's last hurrah leaves Guanacaste's beaches the same postcard-blue you see in January, only now Tamarindo's main drag isn't a parking lot of rental SUVs.
- + March is prime time for wildlife: Resplendent Quetzals linger in Monteverde's cloud forest before heading uphill, and humpback whales are still calving along the Pacific coast.
- + River rafting peaks, Pacuare carries enough water for Class III-IV rapids, minus the chocolate-brown April runoff.
- + Rates fall 15-20% from peak; that beachfront casita in Santa Teresa that needed three-month advance booking in December now has same-week availability.
- − UV index hits 8 by 9 AM, cloud-piercing sun that fries unprotected skin lobster-red in 45 minutes.
- − Short, sharp afternoon showers arrive at 2 PM like clockwork, turning trails into mud slides for the rest of the day.
- − March 19-21 is Easter week, Semana Santa empties San José and doubles beach-town hotel rates as Tico families head for the sand.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March's clear dawns make the 6 PM night tours reliable: you walk pre-montane cloud forest with flashlights, catching kinkajous and the orange-eyed shine of tarantulas. Dry-season ground stays firm, not the knee-deep muck of later months. When the mercury drops to 18°C (64°F) you'll want that flight fleece.
March is the wetland sweet spot: high enough water to navigate, low enough to funnel wildlife into the channels. Caimans outnumber river guides, and jabiru storks arrive for March's fish bonanza. Catch the 8 AM departure to beat heat and crowds.
Pacific coast shines now: Playa Conchal's crushed-shell sand won't scorch feet, Playa Flamingo's tide pools are crystal-clear before April algae, and March's offshore winds groom beginner waves at Playa Grande.
March mornings let you weave through 200+ stalls minus rainy-season shoulder-checking. Coffee counters pour the season's final crop, and chorreadas come from fresh March corn. Temperature holds at 24°C (75°F) under the market roof.
Clear March dawns give you an 80% chance of seeing Arenal's perfect cone before noon clouds move in. Lava-rock trails are dry enough for sneakers, no need for May's hiking boots. Lake Arenal's wind patterns set up ideal afternoon kayaking once hiking turns furnace-hot.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
The second Sunday in March, San Antonio de Escazú shuts down for hundreds of hand-painted oxcarts. Drivers wear white outfits and red scarves; wood-smoke from chorreada stalls drifts past a 100-year-old coffee roaster. Park by 8 AM; stay for the noon oxcart races.
Four days in Uvita: sunrise yoga, sunset electronica, and workshops from permaculture to sound healing. March weather is made for beach camping, expect 3 AM drum circles and barefoot dancing until the sun returns.
Packing Checklist
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Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
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