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Side-by-side comparison

Costa Rica vs Iceland: Best Time to Visit

Trying to choose between Costa Rica and Iceland? The right answer almost always comes down to when you can travel. Here's the month-by-month breakdown.

🇨🇷
Costa Rica

North America

Dry season is high season.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Peak: January, February, March, April, December

🇮🇸
Iceland

Europe

Midnight sun or northern lights — both, never at once.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Peak: May, June, July, August, September, October

best
good
shoulder
off-season

Month-by-month: which is better?

MonthCosta RicaIcelandWinner
JanuarybestgoodCosta Rica 🇨🇷
FebruarybestgoodCosta Rica 🇨🇷
MarchbestgoodCosta Rica 🇨🇷
AprilbestgoodCosta Rica 🇨🇷
MaygoodbestIceland 🇮🇸
JuneshoulderbestIceland 🇮🇸
JulyshoulderbestIceland 🇮🇸
AugustshoulderbestIceland 🇮🇸
SeptembershoulderbestIceland 🇮🇸
OctobergoodbestIceland 🇮🇸
Novembergoodgoodtie
DecemberbestgoodCosta Rica 🇨🇷

Pick Costa Rica 🇨🇷 if you're going in…

January, February, March, April, December

Green season has half the prices and a quarter the crowds — most days have only afternoon rain.

Pick Iceland 🇮🇸 if you're going in…

May, June, July, August, September, October

Don't try the F-roads / highlands outside Jun–early Sep — they're closed.

Months where both are equally good: November.