Things to Do in Costa Rica in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Costa Rica
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is November Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + You'll have most of Costa Rica to yourself in November, the month sits squarely between the rainy-season rush and the December holiday boom. Manuel Antonio's beaches are free of wall-to-wall umbrellas, and howler monkeys drown out camera shutters.
- + Green-season waterfalls are still roaring: La Fortuna's Catarata drops 70 m (230 ft) in a silver ribbon that has already slimmed to postcard perfection yet hasn't faded to the meager trickle you'll see in March.
- + Resident wildlife is in overdrive after six months of rain, turtles keep nesting at Ostional, scarlet macaws gorge on almond trees along the Nicoya coast, and sloths become easier to spot because the foliage thins just enough.
- + Flight-plus-hotel packages can dip 25-35 % below the mid-December curve, and high-end lodges in Guanacaste that normally demand five-night minimums will accept shorter stays if you ask nicely.
- − Afternoon cloudbursts still show up on 40 % of days; 30-minute downpours can turn a coastal road into a muddy luge track, so any itinerary banking on unpaved shortcuts needs a Plan B.
- − Some river crossings on the southern Osa Peninsula remain swollen, if you're determined to reach Drake Bay's raw side, prepare for a wet-foot boat transfer instead of driving the whole way.
- − Mountain lodges around Monteverde fire up diesel generators at night because the sun is scarce this month. If you need absolute silence to sleep, pack earplugs or reserve a room with solar-plus-battery backup.
Best Activities in November
Top things to do during your visit
Humpback moms and calves hug the warm coastal shelf from Golfo Dulce up to Tamarindo in November. Skippers use the calmer morning seas (before 11 AM) to edge close enough to hear the whales exhale. Swell stays low, visibility hits 20 m (65 ft), and you'll share the boat with maybe six other travelers instead of a tour-bus load.
November's misty evenings coax out kinkajous, sleeping hummingbirds, and bioluminescent fungi that glow faintly on rotting logs. Temperature hovers around 16 °C (61 °F), so your breath fogs, and the forest soundtrack swaps cicadas for dripping leaves and distant nightjars.
End of harvest means the red cherries still cling to the trees. Yet roads are dry enough for 15 km (9 mile) loops between Hacienda Alsacia and the Río Grande without the choking dust you'd face in March. Afternoon clouds keep temps in the mid-20s °C (mid-70s °F), so you won't melt on the climbs.
November's gentle tides allow two-hour paddles into Damas Island's narrow channels. The water is brackish and warm, and you'll glide past herons and the occasional crocodile. Mornings after overnight rain are mirror-flat, good for reflection shots of the cathedral mangrove roots.
Rain pushes locals indoors, so Barrio Escazú and Barrio Amón fill with the aroma of honey-processed beans being cupped at 3 PM. November micro-lots from Tarrazú hit their flavor apex, expect bright tangerine acidity and a cocoa finish.
November Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
San José's Festival of Lights packs Avenida 2 with marching bands and LED floats on the second Saturday of November, picture Disney colliding with Tico marching drums. Arrive by 5 PM to claim a curb spot. Confetti cannons fire for two solid hours and the air hangs heavy with churros and grilled pork skewers.
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