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
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
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US $5279 to US $5949
15 days
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Tailor made vacation in Belize
Explore the rainforests, rivers & coral reefs of Belize
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US $4300 to US $4950
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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US $5149 to US $5599
14 days
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Costa Rica tour
Explore the Caribbean coast to the Pacific
From
US $1747 to US $2345
15 days
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Central America vacation
Explore some of the very best Aztec & Mayan sites
From
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
From
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.