HIGHLIGHTS OF GREEN SEASON

1 Turtle watching

Green turtles nest at Tortuguero between Jul and early Oct, the hatchlings emerging around 65 days after the eggs are laid. Several other beaches on both of Costa Rica’s coastlines are home to turtles. Most spectacular are the mass arrivals, known as an arribada, of thousands of olive ridley turtles. These can be seen at Ostional and Playa Nancite on the Pacific coast between Jun and Feb (the peak is Aug to Nov), but dates are difficult to predict ( pictured).

2 Whale watching

Humpback whales arrive in Costa Rica every year between July and October from the Antarctic after a journey of some 8,000 kilometres. September is the peak season, and the community of Bahía Ballena, centred in Uvita, hosts a yearly Whale and Dolphin Festival at this time.

3 Birdwatching

You will see birds in Costa Rica at any time of year – after all, there are over 880 species found in the country. But September is a key migration time for northern hemisphere birds, arriving to winter here or in countries further south.

4 Rafting

Increased rain in Green season raises the water levels of the Pacuare and other rivers. True, you risk days when the river is too high to be safe, but, most of the time, the flow is faster at this time of year, leading to a more exhilarating experience.

5 Surfing

Surfing in Costa Rica during Green season means larger and more plentiful waves. Even if you’re not up to tackling the surf yourself, fun can be had watching the experts. Noted beaches are Puerto Viejo, Playa Tamarindo and Playa Hermosa.