Best time to visit San José: December–April.
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December–April is the best window to visit San José. Costa Rica's dry season, ideal for beaches and hiking alike.
May–November is the stretch to avoid if possible. The rainy "green season" — lush and less crowded, but with frequent afternoon downpours.
Not necessarily — weather and crowd timing don't always match the cheapest airfare windows. Check our Best Time to Book Flights tool separately for pricing.
Usually yes — the weeks just before or after San José's best window often have nearly as good weather with noticeably fewer crowds and lower prices.