July is a month that combines tradition, nature, and activities for the whole family in Costa Rica. It coincides with the mid-year school holiday break, the start of important wildlife observation seasons, and one of the country’s most representative civic dates: the Annexation of the Partido de Nicoya. Furthermore, the landscape is at one of its greenest moments of the year, offering excellent opportunities to explore national parks, waterfalls, and various natural destinations.
Mid-Year School Holidays
During the first weeks of July, thousands of students enjoy the mid-year holidays established by the Ministry of Public Education (MEP). This school recess has become an excellent opportunity for families to travel to different destinations around the country and take part in recreational activities.
Museums, cultural centers, national parks, and municipalities typically organize workshops, guided visits, urban camps, and special activities aimed at children and teenagers. It is also one of the times when many Costa Ricans take advantage of the break to make one or several-day getaways to beaches, volcanoes, nature reserves, or rural towns.
For foreign visitors, these holidays offer a great opportunity to experience a more family-oriented and lively atmosphere at many of the country’s main tourist destinations.
July Marks the Start of the Humpback Whale Season
One of July’s greatest natural attractions is the beginning of the arrival of humpback whales from the Southern Hemisphere.
Every year, these ocean giants travel thousands of kilometers to the warm waters of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast to breed and give birth to their calves, making the country one of the few places in the world where whales from both hemispheres can be observed at different times of year.
The best locations for whale-watching tours are:
- Marino Ballena National Park (Uvita)
- Bahía Ballena
- Dominical
- Ojochal
The season generally begins in July and extends through October, offering some of the best opportunities of the year to enjoy this natural spectacle accompanied by specialized guides.
The Sea Turtle Nesting Season Begins
July also marks the beginning of the green sea turtle nesting season on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.
Thousands of turtles return each year to the beaches where they were born to lay their eggs, one of the most impressive natural cycles that can be witnessed in Costa Rica.
The main setting is Tortuguero National Park, considered one of the most important green sea turtle nesting sites on the planet.
Visits must be made exclusively through authorized tours accompanied by certified guides, as nighttime access is regulated to protect both the turtles and their nests.
The season will continue for several months, but July represents the beginning of one of the most emblematic natural phenomena of the Costa Rican Caribbean.
July 4 and 5 — Remembering Juan Gabriel | Teatro Popular Melico Salazar, San José
The month opens with a tribute to one of Latin America’s most beloved artists.
The show “Recordando a Juan Gabriel” will come to the Teatro Popular Melico Salazar with two performances: Saturday, July 4 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, July 5 at 4:00 p.m.
The concert brings together some of the greatest hits of the “Divo de Juárez,” performed by national musicians and singers in a show designed for lovers of Mexican romantic music and great ballads.
July 23 to August 1 — Costa Rica International Film Festival (CRFIC 14)
The Costa Rica International Film Festival celebrates its 14th edition, consolidating itself as the leading platform for independent cinema in Central America and the Hispanic Caribbean.
Over more than a week, San José receives national and international productions, free screenings, premieres, encounters with directors, specialized workshops, and training spaces for students and professionals in the audiovisual sector.
In addition to the official screenings, the festival seeks to bring contemporary cinema closer to the public through travelling screenings and open activities at different cultural spaces throughout the capital.
July 24 and 25 — Diego Vargas: Más que Magia | National Auditorium, San José
Renowned Costa Rican illusionist Diego Vargas presents “Más que Magia,” a show that combines contemporary magic, humor, technology, and audience participation.
Performances will take place on Friday, July 24 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 25 at 2:00 p.m. at the National Auditorium of the Children’s Museum.
This is a proposal designed for all ages, where illusion and entertainment are combined with high-level stage production.
July 25 — Annexation of the Partido de Nicoya Day
On July 25, Costa Rica celebrates one of the most important historical events in its national identity: the Annexation of the Partido de Nicoya.
In 1824, the peoples of Nicoya, Santa Cruz, and later Guanacaste decided to voluntarily join Costa Rica under the motto “From the homeland by our own will,” a unique event in the history of Central America.
The celebration is most prominent in the province of Guanacaste, especially in Liberia, Nicoya, and Santa Cruz, where the streets fill with parades, cimarronas (street bands), marimbas, horseback riding, folk dances, traditional food, and equestrian activities.
During this date it is also common to find presentations of traditional music, masquerades, and sales of rosquillas, chorreadas, tamales de elote, and other traditional dishes that form part of Guanacaste’s identity.
Throughout the rest of the country, civic events and cultural activities are also organized to commemorate this highly representative date in Costa Rican heritage.
July 26 — Music at the Museum | National Museum of Costa Rica
As on every last Sunday of the month, the National Band of San José offers a free concert in the gardens of the National Museum.
The July edition will be dedicated precisely to the Annexation of the Partido de Nicoya and will include a repertoire inspired by traditional Guanacastecan music, as well as classical works and contemporary arrangements.
It is an excellent option to enjoy live music in a historic and heritage setting, with free admission for all.
July 26 — II BAC Triathlon Series Paseo de los Turistas | Puntarenas
Sports enthusiasts can participate in or attend the second round of the BAC Triathlon Circuit, which will take place along the Paseo de los Turistas in Puntarenas.
The event brings together national and international athletes in individual and relay events, while also offering a family-friendly atmosphere by the sea and an excellent opportunity to discover one of the most traditional destinations on the Central Pacific coast.
Every Weekend — Farmers’ Markets
The green season is also reflected in the traditional Ferias del Agricultor (Farmers’ Markets).
During July it is possible to find a wide variety of fresh seasonal produce, such as palm hearts, plantains, chayote, squash, tropical roots, fruits, and vegetables grown in different regions of the country.
Beyond shopping, these markets represent one of the best spaces to discover local gastronomy, speak directly with producers, and find typical ingredients of Costa Rican cuisine.
Some of the most visited are located in Zapote, Heredia, Cartago, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, and Alajuela.
The Veranillo de San Juan and a Completely Green Landscape
Although July is part of the rainy season, many regions of the country experience during the second half of the month the well-known “veranillo de San Juan” (St. John’s little summer), a period of several days with reduced rainfall, clearer skies, and pleasant temperatures.
This phenomenon does not occur every year with the same intensity, nor does it affect all regions equally, but when it arrives it becomes an excellent opportunity to explore trails, visit volcanoes, discover waterfalls, or enjoy outdoor activities.
Places such as the Toro Waterfall, Llanos de Cortés, Tenorio Volcano National Park, Rincón de la Vieja National Park, and Manuel Antonio National Park display a particularly lush landscape in July, with intensely green forests and rivers running full.
July: A Month to Discover Another Side of Costa Rica
July proves that Costa Rica has much more to offer than beaches and sunshine. Between the mid-year school holidays, the start of the humpback whale and sea turtle nesting seasons, the celebration of the Annexation of the Partido de Nicoya, and a varied cultural agenda, the month offers experiences for all tastes.
Whether enjoying a concert, exploring a national park, visiting a farmers’ market, or discovering the country’s natural wealth during the green season, July is an invitation to discover a different facet of Costa Rica, where culture, biodiversity, and traditions remain firmly in the spotlight.
