Here Comes Summer!

 Summer . . .
That warm, sunny time of year when you hit the beach, take long walks in the fresh air and enjoy the beautiful outdoors!

Summer in Costa Rica is the High Season.  A time when the many downpours of rain come to a halt and the misty dampness in the air turns into hot blistery sunny days where you seek shelter from the sun instead of the rain.

"But it is always warm in Costa Rica" ... you say.  

Well yes, in many areas it stays very comfortable year round but the Green Season rains add a coolness to the air and the temps are a bit lower.  It is a time of year when you take to your hammocks with a good book and enjoy the sound of the rain on the clay tile roof and listen to the birds singing.  A time when you get use to the sudden surprise of the loud clash of thunder and amazing thunderbolts that light up the sky. A time when the rains come down so fast and with such force that the creeks and rivers rise and the mud slides off the mountains.  And as suddenly as it came it comes to a halt and the sun shines brightly and the clear sky's return as if nothing ever happened.  

.... but the rich lush greenery all around reminds you that it did.

As we bid farewell to the rains and welcome in the High Season we are excited to recall the many activities and fun filled days that are a big part of this joyful time when many friends bid farewell to the cold and the snow in the North and return to Costa Rica to bask in the hot sunshine and enjoy their little slice of Paradise! 

Our sleepy little village of Bejuco comes alive with the sounds of music and chatter as everyone gathers together to visit, share the holidays and to begin this "Summer" time of Sunday Fundays on the playa, BBQ's,  potluck dinners,  hikes through the rain forest to majestic waterfalls and magical nights on the town dining out in the many restaurants nearby.  

So as we say goodbye to the rains and begin the sunny days ahead we WELCOME the return of old friends and look forward to the promise of many new friends to come!

. . . and That is PURA VIDA!

Sunny Skies Ahead!

Enjoy this great article in A.M. Costa Rica about the upcoming weather!  It is time to get ready to enjoy sunny skies, hotter temps with cool ocean breezes and fun times at the beach with friends!  A time when we can plan outdoor activities and not get pushed indoors due to the large buckets of agua being poured from the skies.  Adventure travels will increase with better road conditions and drier walking trails in the rainforest.  Goodbye mud, umbrellas and puddles. . . Come on AMAZING SUNSETS!

The end is in sight, weather institute promises

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The official word has come from the weather experts. The notification is what expats and would-be tourists have been awaiting.

The country has begun to enter the transitional phase between the rainy season and the dry, although that may not be obvious from the weather Tuesday.

The Instituto Meteorológico Nacional said that everywhere but in the south Pacific, the onset of the dry season is delayed this year from five to seven days at least.

The weather institute released a list of probable dates Tuesday for the start of the dry season. As usual, the northern Pacific benefits from the northerly winds that drive away the rains. The institute estimated that the dry season would arrive there between Nov. 11 and 19. The normal date is Nov. 4, the institute said. The transition period is generally the week before the onset of the dry season. The transition period is characterized by alternating days of rain and days without rain.

In the Central Valley, the dry season should have arrived by Thanksgiving. The weather institute said that the likely time this year would be Nov. 14 to Nov. 24, which happens to be U.S. Thanksgiving. The normal date is Nov. 9.

The central Pacific is about a month later. The institute said that the dry season would arrive there in time for Christmas. The experts estimated from Dec. 14 to Dec. 24. The normal date is Dec. 9, they said.

Because of its location, the southern Pacific always welcomes the dry season the latest and sees it leave the soonest. This year, the institute estimated from Dec. 20 to Dec. 29. That probably means an early arrival when compared to the average date of Dec. 29.

On the Caribbean coast, where the weather seasons are reversed, November means the arrival of more rain, pushed there by the northern cold fronts. The weather institute is predicting more rain there through February and warns of flooding and other rain-related problems.

On the Pacific and in the Central Valley, the dry season frequently contains several cold spells that are amplified by stronger winds.

I have my beach chair, hammock, 

grill, ice chest, picnic basket 

and boogie board ready 

and waiting by the door!

Who is going to be on standby 

to join me!

PURA VIDA!

 

You may also view this article online at http://www.amcostarica.com/