The climate of Costa Rica is undeniably tropical. The country is situated between 8° and 11° North latitude which is close to the equator. The average temperature for the country is between 21.7 °C (71 °F) and 27 °C (81 °F). Those average temperatures are lower in the mountains which are 2000 meters above sea level. Historically, the coolest months are from November through January and the warmest from March through May.
Generally the year in Costa Rica is divided into the rainy and dry seasons. These two seasons are known to the locals as Verano (Summer) and Invierno (Winter). The summer seasons runs from December to May and is considered to to be the dry season. Invierno is the period from May to November where daily rainfall, generally in the late afternoons, can be expected.
The climate is a complex phenomenon and coupled with Costa Rica's vast array of topography from lush rainforest in deep valleys to mountains that scrape the clouds. The climate can and will change from city to city, and like a good book, there is no simple way to describe it.