SeasonMapWhat's on in San José, Costa Rica through the year
San José, Costa Rica has 5 curated events through the year — 2 festivals, 2 holidays and 1 season. The ones to plan around: Festival de la Luz (December) and Fiestas de Zapote (December). December is its peak-crowd month.
Updated September 2026 · every event curated and sourced · dates for 2026 where they are announced, the usual window where they are not
San José events and crowds by month
January in San José
San José weather in January →Busy — Fiestas de Zapote, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in January.
Still on: Dry season (15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)), Fiestas de Zapote (25 Dec – 4 Jan)
February in San José
San José weather in February →Busy — one of its best months for weather
Nothing new starts in February.
Still on: Dry season (15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually))
March in San José
San José weather in March →Busy — Semana Santa, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
- Holiday
Semana Santa
29 Mar – 5 AprEaster & Holy WeekClosuresThe capital empties for the coast and stays shut from Thursday: no banks, few restaurants, and long-distance buses on a skeleton timetable. The processions that remain are worth staying for; nothing else is open. Source ↗
Still on: Dry season (15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually))
April in San José
San José weather in April →Busy — Semana Santa
Nothing new starts in April.
Still on: Semana Santa (29 Mar – 5 Apr), Dry season (15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually))
May in San José
San José weather in May →Quiet — one of its worst months for weather
Nothing new starts in May.
June in San José
San José weather in June →Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather
Nothing new starts in June.
July in San José
San José weather in July →Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in July.
August in San José
San José weather in August →Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in August.
September in San José
San José weather in September →Busy — Independence Day, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
- Holiday
Independence Day
14–15 SepNational holidayClosuresCrowdedChildren carry homemade lanterns through the streets on the evening of the fourteenth and the school bands take the avenues the next morning. Offices, banks and museums close and the city centre is walked rather than driven. Source ↗
October in San José
San José weather in October →Quiet — one of its worst months for weather
Nothing new starts in October.
November in San José
San José weather in November →Shoulder season — an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in November.
December in San José
San José weather in December →Peak crowds — Festival de la Luz, Fiestas de Zapote
- Festival
Festival de la Luz
5–15 Dec · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowdedA night parade of lit floats and marching bands down Paseo Colón on the second Saturday of December, ending in fireworks. Half the city turns out and the surrounding streets close from the afternoon. Source ↗
- Season
Dry season
15 Dec – 15 Apr · usuallyThe afternoon rain stops and the Central Valley gets its clear stretch, with the volcanoes on the rim visible from the city most mornings. The wind off the Caribbean side picks up through January and February.
- Festival
Fiestas de Zapote
25 Dec – 4 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedA fairground, food stalls and Costa Rican bullfights — where the bull chases the crowd and is not killed — in the Zapote suburb from Christmas to the new year. It is where the capital actually spends the holiday. Source ↗