October is the worst month for rain

Recently,  a couple of people have written me about Costa Rica’s weather. They are thinking of retiring here but want to know more about the country’s climate. I’d like to start by saying that in the tropics the lower you go the hotter it is. Conversely, the higher you go the cooler it gets. You can choose between the mountains, Central Valley with its spring-like weather, the beach and all of the micro climates in between.

We have about five months of summer that lasts from the middle of November to the middle of April or beginning of May. From May until October is the rainy season or winter as it is sometimes referred to here. During the wet season the mornings are usually sunny with the rain coming in the afternoon or evening. Like other tropical places when it rains it usually pours torrentially. Sometimes the rain is accompanied by a lot of thunder and lightening. At the beach it seems to rain more frequently and harder than inland.

Traditionally October is the worst month for rain. It rains a lot and very hard. Sometimes you’d think you were in a tropical version of Seattle. My sister lives there and it seems to rain all the time. Luckily we only get this kind of weather in October. The rain is not unbearable but at times it does put a damped on one’s plans. When it is pouring  it can be really hard to get enthused about leaving your home. Traffic can be very bad especially if there is an accident during a storm.

The best thing to do when it is rains is curl up in bed with a good book, watch your favorite TV program, cook, go to the mall or rent a DVD. Fortunately, there are a lot of indoor activities in a country that is made for doing things outdoors. So, you should never be bored here during your retirement even when it rains. On my monthly retirement tours I go out of my way to tell my clients about all of the activities that are available here to stay busy and happy.