Costa Rica has coasts on the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Climate: The climate in Costa Rica is tropical and subtropical. There are only two seasons: the dry season, which lasts from December to April and the rainy season from May to November.
Contents
Is Costa Rica in the tropics?
In geography, the region between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn is called the tropics. Costa Rica is located in this region, which gives its ecological surroundings – its forests, waters, soils and climate – certain tropical characteristics.
Is Costa Rica temperate or tropical?
Costa Rica is a tropical country with two distinct seasons—dry and wet. However, within these seasons and in different parts of the country there is lots of variation. The Guanacaste region is the driest, while the highlands are generally colder and misty.
What kind of tropical climate does Costa Rica have?
tropical rainforest climate
It has a tropical rainforest climate with an average high of 30°C (86°F) year-round. In other words, it is hot and humid.
Does Costa Rica fall within the tropics?
Costa Rica is located in Central America between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. This puts it deep inside the tropics – about half way between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer. This region is characterized by heat and humidity and by the existence of a rainy season and dry season.
Is Costa Rica mountainous?
Costa Rica is peppered with mountains, volcanoes and sky-high precipices. There are 368 peaks in the country and several sit 9,842ft (3,000m) or more above sea level.
How many climate zones are in Costa Rica?
twelve climatic zones
12 Climatic Zones
Located in the tropics, Costa Rica has twelve climatic zones varying from hot and humid to cold and frosty. The temperatures are mostly determined by the elevation and other geographical factors.
What is the terrain like in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is a mountainous country located between the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. The coastal areas are made up of beaches and mangroves. As you move further inland, it becomes mountainous as the Talamanca Mountain Range divides the country.
Which side of Costa Rica is warmer?
Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast, near the border with Nicaragua, is popular for those seeking a beach lifestyle and warm climate. This region receives the least rainfall and has more sunny days than anywhere else in the country.
How many micro climates are there in Costa Rica?
Although 32 is the oft-quoted number of so-called “microclimates” Costa Rica boasts, that terminology is technically incorrect. In fact, a microclimate can be much smaller in area, even as small as the space surrounding a tall city building.
Where is the most temperate climate in Costa Rica?
Average night time temperatures can be quite warm in Costa Rica. The average night along the Caribbean coast is about 21°C (70°F) — which feels like a warm day in Ireland. The most comfortable climate all year round is found in San Jose and the so-called Central Valley.
How hot is Costa Rica in the summer?
August Temperatures in Costa Rica
The average temperature in Costa Rica in August is 69 – 89 degrees Fahrenheit (21 – 32 degrees Celcius) on the Pacific Coast. On the Caribbean coast the average temperature in August is 71 – 86 degrees Fahrenheit (22 – 30 degrees Celcius).
What is Costa Rica like in the summer?
In the Central Pacific, South Pacific and mountains, mornings are generally sunny, but heavy rains are common in the afternoon. There is, however, an important exception to this pattern. For several weeks in mid- to late-July, Costa Rica enjoys the effects of a dry weather phenomenon called veranillo (“little summer”).
Is Costa Rica always humid?
Hottest and driest months are March and April, temperatures can reach 100 F (38 C). Rainiest months are September and October. Gets very humid in rainy season. The Guanacaste province, especially the North Pacific, tends to have a longer dry season.
Is Costa Rica humid in December?
The latter can receive upwards of 12 inches throughout December. The country as a whole is quite humid, with humidity occasionally exceeding 88 percent in many areas.
Does Costa Rica have high humidity?
Costa Rica receives annual sunshine between 1650 hours to 2700 hours annually. The average humidity is high and ranges between 74% and 90%.
What are the characteristics of Costa Rica?
Costa Rica geographical features include over 200 active and extinct volcanoes, steep mountain slopes, endless tropical beaches with sands ranging in colors from sparkling white and pale rose to black.
What is the scenery like in Costa Rica?
The nation boasts rainforests and cloud forests (there is a difference), sunny beaches, mountains, volcanoes, hot springs, waterfalls and rivers – as well as all of the action you would expect to find across these terrains.
Is Costa Rica in the northern or southern hemisphere?
However, Costa Rica is not in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s in the Northern, providing further evidence that climate is a complex phenomenon. In Costa Rica, weather is influenced significantly by proximity to the equator, wind, rain, and topography, particularly dramatic differences in elevation.
What is the best climate in Costa Rica?
The best time to visit Costa Rica is between December and April, when the weather is at its driest and brightest. We’d also recommend traveling in the country’s green season, from May to June or in November.
What are the 12 climate zones in Costa Rica?
The regions are Guanacaste, Alajuela, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, Cartago and San Jose. Each region is made up unique climate zones and an abundance of wildlife and rainforests. The country can also be split up into different zones.
