Best time to visit Central America
Watching turtles come up Nicaragua’s La Flor Beach with the children at Christmas made us realise, on so many levels, that ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ ![]()
This tropical terrain has heat, humidity, heavy rain and high elevation ‘hit or miss’ weather. The dry season is generally the best time to visit Central America which, in most countries, is January-March (or November-April in Nicaragua, Panama and Honduras). In Nicaragua the rainy season means an hour of rain in the afternoon, and it's gorgeous at this time of year. Costa Rica is driest and sunniest late December-April, but clouds lift a little later from Belize and Panama, around February. And with any rainforests, come rain. When you least expect usually.
Central America, month by month
Our Central America Vacations
Costa Rica wildlife vacation
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Tailor made vacation in Belize
Explore the rainforests, rivers & coral reefs of Belize
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12 days
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Coast to coast cycling vacation in Costa Rica
Take in the variety of Costa Rica by bike
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14 days
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Costa Rica tour
Explore the Caribbean coast to the Pacific
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Central America vacation
Explore some of the very best Aztec & Mayan sites
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US $2970 to US $4640
16 days
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Costa Rica tailor made vacation, highlights
Discover Costa Rica's natural and cultural wonders
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US $2970
13 days
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Costa Rica Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
15
23
6
FEB
15
24
7
MAR
16
25
9
APR
16
25
56
MAY
17
25
261
JUN
17
25
296
JUL
17
24
205
AUG
17
24
282
SEP
17
24
372
OCT
17
24
343
NOV
16
24
155
DEC
16
23
36
Our top Central America Vacation
Costa Rica wildlife vacation
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
From
US $5279 to US $5949
15 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2023: 22 Apr, 6 May, 20 May, 8 Jul, 22 Jul, 29 Jul, 5 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, 2 Sep, 16 Sep, 30 Sep, 7 Oct, 14 Oct, 28 Oct, 2 Nov, 4 Nov, 7 Nov, 9 Nov, 11 Nov, 16 Nov, 18 Nov, 25 Nov, 16 Dec, 21 Dec
2024: 2 Jan, 4 Jan, 6 Jan, 11 Jan, 13 Jan, 18 Jan, 20 Jan, 25 Jan, 30 Jan, 1 Feb, 6 Feb, 17 Feb, 27 Feb, 29 Feb, 5 Mar, 12 Mar, 14 Mar, 16 Mar, 19 Mar, 21 Mar, 23 Mar, 27 Mar, 30 Mar, 6 Apr, 13 Apr, 20 Apr, 27 Apr, 4 May ...
2023: 22 Apr, 6 May, 20 May, 8 Jul, 22 Jul, 29 Jul, 5 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, 2 Sep, 16 Sep, 30 Sep, 7 Oct, 14 Oct, 28 Oct, 2 Nov, 4 Nov, 7 Nov, 9 Nov, 11 Nov, 16 Nov, 18 Nov, 25 Nov, 16 Dec, 21 Dec
2024: 2 Jan, 4 Jan, 6 Jan, 11 Jan, 13 Jan, 18 Jan, 20 Jan, 25 Jan, 30 Jan, 1 Feb, 6 Feb, 17 Feb, 27 Feb, 29 Feb, 5 Mar, 12 Mar, 14 Mar, 16 Mar, 19 Mar, 21 Mar, 23 Mar, 27 Mar, 30 Mar, 6 Apr, 13 Apr, 20 Apr, 27 Apr, 4 May ...
Travel Team
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Responsible Travel recommends
Jessica Schugel from our Nicaraguan specialist, Buen Viaje Tours:
“I think Nicaragua is great to visit all year because there is a festival or celebration almost every day. However, during the dry season, particularly March through May, it is very dry and isn’t as pretty. The rainy season doesn’t prevent you from doing anything, because the rains come in the afternoon, it pours for an hour to an hour and a half, and then it’s over. Easter week gets very busy. However Nicaraguans all go to the water, so the towns empty out. Which, for some tourists, is perfect. Purisima, the celebration of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, at the beginning of December, is non-stop fireworks throughout the month. “
“I think Nicaragua is great to visit all year because there is a festival or celebration almost every day. However, during the dry season, particularly March through May, it is very dry and isn’t as pretty. The rainy season doesn’t prevent you from doing anything, because the rains come in the afternoon, it pours for an hour to an hour and a half, and then it’s over. Easter week gets very busy. However Nicaraguans all go to the water, so the towns empty out. Which, for some tourists, is perfect. Purisima, the celebration of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, at the beginning of December, is non-stop fireworks throughout the month. “
Scott Marquardt, tour leader with our supplier Tucan Travel tells us the best time to visit Central America:
“Panama and Costa Rica in particular can get quite rainy from May to November, in fact “ticos” (Costa Ricans) call this their winter. Even so it’s still a lovely time to visit with fewer crowds. In general November is a perfect time to visit Central America, with the rain tailing off and still not too many tourists, although there is the odd chance of a hurricane or two coming up the Caribbean Coast.”
Festivals & events
In Masaya, Nicaragua, every Sunday in October and November, dancers perform El Baile de Negras to celebrate the city’s patron saint, San Jerónimo. Accompanied by traditional marimba musicians, they dance in the streets, in people’s homes. They dance everywhere. Beautifully and skillfully. And masked. Which conceals the fact that they are all, in fact, men.
More about Central America
Central America means different things to different people, and while Costa Rica is one of its most established destinations, the whole region is home to beautiful coastlines, wildlife rich rainforest and Mayan marvels.
Welcome to the idyllic isthmus, the bit in the middle packed with ancient Mayan heritage, rainforest adventure, coastal spectacles and Creole culture that covers the gamut from hot to cool to oh so chilled.
Central America is crammed with adventure, wildlife and the legacies of ancient civilizations, so there's never a dull day on vacation here.
La Ruta Maya in Guatemala encompasses some of this ancient civilisation’s most impressive sites – with glyph-covered stelae, giant pyramids and vast temples scattered over many kilometres through the tropical rainforests.
Traveling overland in Central America is definitely for adventurers, ready to travel through numerous countries on an epic odyssey through volcanic landscapes, coastal contrasts and ancient cultures.
Cycling in Central America takes you from Mayan ruins to Pacific beaches, from rainforest to cloud forest, across borders, away from the crowds and into remote villages.
For every Mayan site to explore there’s a rainforest waterfall to jump under, and for every long journey there seems to be beach awaiting, making traveling in Central America with kids a joy.
Many vacationmakers are concerned about whether it is safe to travel to Central America.
Our experts and seasoned travelers have plenty of advice on visiting Central America, explaining how best to tackle this vast region that's relatively new to tourism.
We talk about wildlife conservation, preservation of ancient Mayan cities and the polluting effects of giant cruise ships, but this responsible tourism in Central America guide looks first at the people.
