Updated April 2023

Panama & Costa Rica Green Season:

5 Perks of Traveling In The Off Season

Our philosophy here at The Real Deal Tours is that travel is a good and beautiful thing to do with life… and it should be applied liberally throughout. Any time is a good time to travel! Around the globe, each destination has its own way of expressing the tourism seasons: high season, low season, rainy season, green season, holiday season, peak season, off-season, spring break, and special event scheduling to name just a few. But with that said, there are, of course, some considerations for the time of year you decide to discover a new world.

What Does “Off-Season” Really Mean?

One of the first things to be aware of is that “low season” means different things in different places. The off-season in Costa Rica, often referred to as the “green season,” corresponds with the rainy season. For most of the country, that is May to November. The “green season” is aptly named! During this time of year, even the dry tropical forest of Guanacaste comes alive with verdant green foliage.

This is true for everywhere except the Caribbean coast, where it rains most of the year, but has a mini dry season in September & October. In neighboring Panama, you will find similar weather patterns as it is just to the south and bordered by the same two oceans, the Pacific & Caribbean. The off-peak season is referred to as the “green season” in Panama as well. In addition to the dry spell in the Caribbean during September and October, Panama enjoys what’s known as a “veranito” (little summer) during July every year on the Pacific side.

It really is a little different during each season, so it’s important to know what’s happening at your destination during the time of year you want to travel. This way, you can make the most of your precious vacation time and keep your holiday free of unpleasant surprises as well. Here are 5 reasons why low-season travel to Costa Rica and Panama is the way to go. 

1. The Kids Are Out Of School

A lot of people may think, particularly in the US and Canada, that the “rainy season” would correspond with the winter months, but as you can see, that’s not really the case in Central & South America. All of this might be great news to you if you don’t mind a little rain, have kids in school, and love a good bargain, right?

With the kids on summer break, and holiday travelers safely ensconced in the office for another few months, it’s the perfect time to get out of town and make new summer vacation memories.

2. Everything Is Cheaper

Traveling in the low season often means great deals can be had at pretty much every turn. Do you love a 4-star hotel in Panama but not its 4-star price tag? Not to worry… just wait until the low season, and you might even see a whole zero drop off that price!

Is your Costa Rica Bucket List teeming with zip line tours, rainforest hikes, fishing charters, snorkeling excursions, and the like? All of these things can also be found at often deeply discounted rates during the low season. One note of caution, however, when traveling to more remote destinations in Panama or Costa Rica: rainy season means the already treacherous highways will be at their worst. If you plan on renting a car, you will be required to rent a 4wd, which could cost more than your regular economy car rental.

3. It’s Way More Chill Too

One great benefit to low-season travel is the flexibility that often comes with it. When traveling in the high season, there are so many people vying for spots on guided tours, etc., that excursions are often packed with fellow travelers, and typically there are no provisions for cancellation or rescheduling at the last minute. If you are unable to make your tour, it is likely you will still have to pay in full, or at least pay a stiff penalty to reschedule.

If, on the other hand, you are traveling during a less busy time of year, it is possible that you could get on tomorrow’s tour at the last minute. This holds true with flights, hotels, shuttles, and just about anything you can think of that you would normally have to reserve in advance.

4. Sometimes A Little Too Chill

It is important to note that when traveling in the low season, stores may keep shorter hours, or close their doors entirely. So if traveling during the low season is looking like an option for you, definitely make sure that the things that you really want to do and tours you want to take will be open and available for you! The same is true for modes of transportation: bus, train, and ferry schedules all over the world adjust with the seasons, so again… no matter what time of year you are traveling, know what season your destination is in!

5. Happier, More Approachable Locals

The kindness to the pocketbook is, of course, a huge bonus to low-season travel, but one of our true favorite reasons for traveling when fewer people do is that the local personality is more relaxed and friendly.

During the high season, the locals are all working long hours, they are a bit haggard, and their town is packed to the gills with tourists. To be sure, tourism dollars are wonderful dollars, and those in the hospitality industry know this (we’re in the tourism industry, we get it), but tired is tired, right?

The high season is tiring, but during the off-season, your guides will have more time and energy to talk to you and get to know you. They want to hear your story, and they probably have a story or two for you as well! In the low season, you can expect to make new friends and find new bonds with folks who live half a world away from you, much more readily than you would during the high season, in many regions.

Panama & Costa Rica In The Shoulder Season

If you love the idea of a mellow vacation without the frenzy of so many other travelers, but not so much the idea of half the town being shut down, consider the “shoulder season.” This is the month or so just after high season and the month or so again just before it. Everything is still open, or opening back up, but the throngs of tourists aren’t there yet. The weather may be slightly rainy, or “off,” but that’s really the only inconvenience you’re likely to run into. And if you time it just right, you can get low-season rates close to high-season, and reap the benefits of both seasons.

Call it whatever you like: shoulder season, off-season, low season, rainy season, green season… the bottom line is that we love (and highly recommend) traveling during less busy times, and now you can see why! Just be sure to do your homework, so you know without a doubt if low-season travel will work for you. Then the only part that’s left is the “having tons of fun” part. Buen viaje!

Need a little help planning your next adventure? Reach out to us, the travel specialists, at info@therealdealtours.com, and let us help you plan the perfect getaway.