It only seemed like yesterday that we were welcoming in 2014 and yet the summer vacation period is just around the corner. You may not have considered traveling to Latin America during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer as we are down here preparing for the beginning of our winter season. However, you can forget about the polar vortex and your fear of being snowed in, with a unique summer vacation to Costa Rica and Peru. If pristine beaches, wild nature, stunning landscapes and world wonders interest you, then this summer could just be your best one yet!
♦ Costa Rica’s Green Season
Before exploring Costa Rica during your summer vacation, those of you who might have read about Costa Rica’s weather may be thinking, ‘why would I want to travel to Costa Rica during the wet season?’ To begin with, we prefer to refer to Costa Rica’s wet season as the ‘green season’ as not only does it sound much more appealing but Costa Rica’s nature really springs to life during this period. Traveling to Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast during the green season which runs from mid-December to May is not recommended as the roads can become unrecognizable and somewhat undriveable due to the rainfall.
But don’t worry because the Pacific coast of Costa Rica during the wet season is nothing short of spectacular!
Costa Rica is one of the most diverse and in-tact ecosystems in the world and with many travelers visiting Costa Rica for its nature and wildlife, the green season is a perfect opportunity to do so. Coinciding with the summer vacation period in North America and Europe, you will be able to spend more time exploring this incredible environment during what is considered to be low-season. With everything blooming, bright sunny mornings and afternoon showers you can take advantage of exploring the wild side or Pacific coastline of Costa Rica in the morning and continue through the rain in the afternoon or take the afternoon to relax in your luxury Costa Rica hotel or spa. The Guanacaste province is the perfect region to explore during the green season as this usually dry tropical rainforest with its agricultural practices blossoms and blooms into almost a completely different destination.
As you can see in the interactive graph above, the temperatures along the Pacific coast in the Guanacaste region remain high while the rainfall really isn’t that bad! If you want to avoid the rainfall but still want to travel to Costa Rica during the month of July, you will be able to enjoy the ‘veranito’ (little summer). During this short dry spell the rainfall drops significantly allowing you to spend a few more afternoons on the beach whilst enjoying the lush and verdant nature of the green season. With rivers running high and the rainforests becoming even more mystical, Costa Rica’s Pacific coast is the perfect summer adventure destination! 
♦ Peru’s Perfect Travel Season
From the green season of Costa Rica to the dry season of Peru, what more could you ask for? These two very different destinations located in completely different continents fit together perfectly to create an unforgettable summer vacation experience! As you can see in the graph below Peru’s dry season runs from June to August within the Andean region which luckily for you includes stunning destinations and highlights such as, Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Cusco!
Perfectly overlapping with the North American and European summer vacation periods, this is certainly the best time to lace up your boots and go hiking in the steps of the Incas along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. With clear, sunny days you will be able to enjoy the uninterrupted views of the Sacred Valley below and see for miles and miles from the top of Machu Picchu.
Basking in the ‘winter’ sunshine of Peru is a truly breath-taking travel experience!
Although the nights during Peru’s dry season become chilly, this gives you the perfect opportunity to sport Peru’s famous alpaca ponchos and warm ‘chullos‘. The chullo is a traditional Andean styled woolen hat made from vicuña, alpaca, llama or sheep’s wool and has some very stylish ear flaps.
If you want to continue the theme of wild nature from your time spent in Costa Rica, and if llamas don’t quite get your adrenaline pumping then the Peruvian Amazon will meet your adventure-filled desires. With fewer mosquitoes in the Amazon basin during the dry season, the fauna also can be found to stay closer to the river banks with piranha fishing and bird spotting being especially successful during this period. While the rivers don’t stretch as deep into the Amazon jungle, there is still a world of opportunities to explore in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest during this upcoming summer vacation period.
