June is the green season finding its confidence. Pacific waterfalls run at full volume. The Caribbean coast — which operates on a nearly inverted weather pattern from the Pacific — enters one of its better periods. Sea turtle season on the Caribbean beaches is in full swing. This is the month the jungle is loudest.
Highlights this month
- ✓Pacific waterfalls at peak seasonal flow — most dramatic conditions of the year
- ✓Green sea turtle nesting season peaks on the Caribbean coast
- ✓Caribbean coast beaches in good condition — often drier than the Pacific in June
- ✓Bioluminescence most visible in calm coastal bays during new moon periods
Best for
Photography
Dramatic storm light over the Pacific is June's photographic signature. Late afternoon cloud formations over volcanic peaks are extraordinary. Bioluminescence photography requires a completely dark bay and a new moon.
Worth knowing
Some jungle trails become genuinely impassable after heavy rains. Check with local guides before attempting remote routes — river crossings can become dangerous quickly.
Places that shine in June
💎 Hidden Gems
Punta Uva
At the quiet end of the Caribbean road — the beach the bus doesn't reach
Puerto Viejo
🌊 Waterfalls
Catarata La Fortuna
A dramatic 70-metre waterfall, tropical rainforest, wildlife, and swimming
La Fortuna
🏊 Swimming
Parque Nacional Cahuita
One of Costa Rica’s most beautiful Caribbean national parks
Cahuita
🌊 Waterfalls
Cataratas Llanos de Cortez
The most accessible major waterfall in Costa Rica — and the most generous
Bagaces
🦜 Wildlife
Playa Grande
Leatherback turtles nest here in darkness — the beach is theirs first
Playa Grande
🌊 Waterfalls
Cataratas Nauyaca
Two-tier 45-metre falls, three hours deep in the jungle south of Dominical
Dominical
💎 Hidden Gems
Playa Limón
Long stretches of sand, coconut palms, river mouths, and a distinctly wild Caribbean atmosphere
Matina
🌊 Waterfalls
Catarata Aquiares
A stunning waterfall cascades into a crystal-clear pool surrounded by lush rainforest and the historic Aquiares Coffee Estate.
Turrialba
🏊 Swimming
Poza Los Coyotes
A hidden oasis where volcanic rivers, waterfalls, and dramatic canyon scenery create one of Guanacaste’s most beautiful natural swimming spots.
Liberia
🏊 Swimming
Playa Cahuita
One of the most beautiful and culturally rich beaches. It combines white-sand beaches, coral reefs, rainforest wildlife, and Afro-Caribbean culture
Talamanca
🦜 Wildlife
Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas
Protects far more than beautiful beaches—it safeguards one of the last major nesting strongholds for the Eastern Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle.
Santa Cruz
🦜 Wildlife
Playa Camaronal
Camaronal stands out for conservation, solitude, and the opportunity to witness ancient sea turtle nesting rituals under the stars.
Nandayure