Costa Rica in December: Holiday Peak, Dry Season Established, and Leatherback Season Peak

December returns Costa Rica to peak season. The dry season is fully established across the Pacific by December — Guanacaste’s beaches are reliably sunny, the Nicoya Peninsula road network is dry and accessible, and the country’s tourism infrastructure is operating at maximum. Christmas brings international visitors alongside Costa Rican families celebrating the holiday, creating the year’s second-busiest period (after January). The leatherback turtle nesting season at Playa Grande reaches its numerical peak in December and January. Prices match January levels. Book everything well in advance.

Weather & Conditions

Guanacaste: 24–34°C. Dry season fully established. Sunny and reliable.

Manuel Antonio: 25–32°C. Dry season. Excellent beach conditions.

Arenal: 21–27°C. Drier than the rainy season. Some cloud but much better than June–October.

Osa Peninsula: 24–32°C. Drying. The best December conditions in years begin appearing.

Caribbean: 23–28°C. Still in wet season pattern. Different from Pacific.

What to Do

Guanacaste Christmas week beach experience: The Pacific beach towns from Tamarindo to Playa Sámara are at their most festive in the last two weeks of December. Restaurants are at full service, beach bars run through sunset, and the international mix of visitors creates a particular holiday energy. The beaches — Playa Conchal (blue water, shell sand), Tamarindo (surf town vibe), Playa Flamingo (calm water, upscale) — are at their finest dry season conditions.

Leatherback turtle nesting peak, Playa Grande: The leatherback nesting season peaks in December and January. The largest females of the season come ashore during this window. Las Baulas National Park’s tour system (15 visitors maximum on the beach at any time) is operating daily. December is the most in-demand month for leatherback tours — book in advance. The Hotel Las Tortugas (the only hotel with direct beach access to Playa Grande) is the recommended base.

Arenal in the dry season return: December Arenal is significantly different from its August self. The rain has reduced, the mornings are clearer for volcano viewing, and the hot spring experience (Tabacón, Baldi, Eco Termales) in cooler December temperatures is particularly appealing. The La Fortuna Waterfall is lower flow than rainy season but accessible and beautiful.

Manuel Antonio National Park — Christmas wildlife: The park is at full operation in December. The combination of beach and primary forest — accessible on a single day’s visit — is the classic Costa Rica experience. White-faced capuchin monkeys, three-toed sloths, coatimundis, and hundreds of bird species in a compact park of extraordinary biodiversity. Book park entry (daily cap of 600 visitors) in advance through sinacreservas.go.cr.

Coffee region (Valle Central and Naranjo): December through February is coffee harvest season in Costa Rica’s highlands. The Naranjo and Tarrazú coffee regions run harvest-time tours — picking coffee alongside local workers, the wet mill process, and cupping sessions. Hacienda Espíritu Santo and other Tarrazú operations welcome small groups. The combination of coffee culture and Valle Central highland scenery is a uniquely Costa Rican experience.

Festivals & Events

Christmas (December 24–25): A major national celebration. Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) is the primary family gathering. Many restaurants close December 24; others run special menus.

New Year’s Eve (December 31): Beach towns across Guanacaste, Tamarindo particularly, run outdoor events and fireworks. San José’s Parque La Sabana hosts the main national event.

Tope Nacional (December 26): The National Horse Parade in San José — thousands of horses and riders parade down the Paseo Colón. A traditional event uniquely Costa Rican.

Practical Tips

December accommodation: book 4–5 months ahead for Christmas week at Guanacaste beach destinations. Tamarindo, Flamingo, and Conchal resort accommodation sells out completely for December 22–January 4.

Leatherback tours: the Las Baulas National Park tour system caps at 15 people on the beach. December peak demand means tours sell out. Book through sinacreservas.go.cr or Hotel Las Tortugas at least 4–6 weeks ahead.

Manuel Antonio park entry: the 600 daily visitor cap is regularly reached on December and January days. Book through the online reservation system at least 2 weeks ahead.

New Year Tamarindo: the most internationally-oriented beach town in Guanacaste is at maximum capacity December 28–January 2. Prices are at annual peak. Book far ahead or choose a quieter Nicoya beach.

Coffee harvest tours: call or email directly. Most coffee operations prefer small groups and aren’t always listed on booking platforms. Tarrazú and Naranjo are 2–3 hours from San José.

Who December Is For

Holiday travelers for whom December is the available window. Leatherback turtle peak season visitors. Dry season beach travelers who want reliability. Families celebrating Christmas in a tropical setting. Coffee harvest travelers. And first-time visitors who don’t want to manage green season logistics and accept January pricing in exchange for January reliability — starting from December 1.