Why We Love Surfing Santa Teresa in Green Season (And You Will Too)

I'm writing this from the back patio at Lucero on a Tuesday morning in June. It's 7:15am. The air smells like wet earth and salt. Out at the point, I can count six surfers in the lineup — and three of them are our guests.

Six surfers. In June. At one of the most consistent surf breaks in Central America.

That right there is why I love this season.

My name is Marieke, and I've been managing Lucero Surf Hotel in Santa Teresa for years. Every season has its charm, but if you asked me — or Daniel, our head surf instructor, or honestly any local who's been here a while — we'd all tell you the same thing: green season is our favorite time of year.

Here's why.

What 'Green Season' Actually Means

First, let's clear something up. Costa Rica has two seasons: dry season (roughly December through April, sometimes called high season) and green season (May through October, sometimes called rainy season). That second name — rainy season — scares people off. And that's a shame, because it's deeply misleading.

Yes, it rains in green season. But not the way most people imagine. The rain typically comes in the afternoon — a warm, dramatic tropical downpour that rolls in around 2 or 3pm, clears the air, turns the jungle an impossible shade of emerald, and is usually done by evening. Mornings are almost always clear and sunny. The temperature hovers in the mid-80s Fahrenheit. The water is warm. The sky is blue.

What you get is this: golden surf mornings, a dramatic afternoon show from nature, and long evenings that feel like the end of a perfect day. It's not a compromise. It's a different, and in many ways more beautiful, version of paradise.

The Surf Is Actually Better

Here's something the surf community knows that casual travelers don't: green season often means better waves.

During May through October, the Pacific coast of Costa Rica receives consistent south and southwest swells generated by storms far out in the southern hemisphere. These swells hit the Santa Teresa breaks at ideal angles, producing powerful, well-shaped waves — particularly at spots like Playa Carmen and the various reef breaks up and down the coast.

Daniel, who has been coaching in these waters for over a decade, puts it simply: "Dry season is great for beginners because the conditions are mellow. Green season is when the waves really turn on. If you're looking to progress, this is the time to be here."

For intermediate and advanced surfers, that matters enormously. You're not waiting around for something rideable. The ocean delivers.

And because the crowds thin out — tourists concentrate in dry season — you get those waves largely to yourself. The lineup that would have 40 people in January might have eight in July. Fewer people means more waves per session. More waves means faster progression.

The Jungle Comes Alive

Even if you weren't surfing, green season would be worth coming for.

Santa Teresa is set against a backdrop of dry tropical forest that transforms completely when the rains arrive. The hillsides that look dusty and brown in February turn vivid green within days of the first rains. Flowering trees bloom. The rivers run again. The wildlife — howler monkeys, scarlet macaws, white-faced capuchins, poison dart frogs — becomes dramatically more active and visible.

If you've only ever seen this coastline in dry season, you haven't seen it at its most dramatic.

Fewer Crowds, More Connection

Something happens at Lucero in green season that we've noticed over many years: the guests who come during this time tend to form deeper connections with each other, with the staff, and with the place itself.

Part of it is the pace. The urgency of high season — book early, fight for a table, rush to the beach before it fills up — just isn't there. You wake up when you feel like it. You take your time at breakfast. You get to know the people in the pool next to you.

Our coaching team — Daniel and Isaac — can spend more time with each individual guest when the hotel is running quieter. Progress happens faster. Relationships form more naturally. More than a few guests have told us their green season stay felt more like visiting friends than staying at a hotel.

That's the version of Lucero we're proudest of.

The Rates Are Lower, Too

We'd be leaving something out if we didn't mention this: green season is genuinely more affordable. Our rates during May through October are lower than peak season, and we offer packages like 'Stay 7, Pay 5' that make a longer trip possible for more people.

When you factor in better waves, emptier beaches, and lower prices, the value proposition is hard to argue with.

Who Green Season Is Perfect For

Not everyone. If you're absolutely set on dry, sunny days with zero chance of rain, high season might suit you better. But if you're any of the following, green season was made for you:

✦  Intermediate or advanced surfers looking for quality waves and empty lineups

✦  Beginners who want more personal attention from coaches

✦  Remote workers wanting to extend a trip without breaking the budget

✦  Couples or small groups wanting a quieter, more intimate experience

✦  Travelers who've done Costa Rica before and want to see a different side of it

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Come See What the Locals Know

We've been running Lucero for nearly 10 years. Every year, green season rolls around, and every year, the guests who come during this time leave as the most enthusiastic converts. They booked despite the season, not because of it — and they end up being the ones who come back.

If you're curious about green season availability or packages, you can book directly at costarica-surfvacation.com, or reach out to us at reservations@lucero.surf. We'd love to have you.

Pura vida from Santa Teresa.

— Marieke, General Manager, Lucero Surf Hotel

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