Beware of Falling Prices, Shoulder Season is Here
The infamous “shoulder season.”
Once an offseason hack for veteran, sometimes thrifty travelers, the shoulder season has gained in popularity during the past few years.
With the price of almost everything going through the roof since the pandemic, it’s no wonder savvy travelers are willing to accept a bit of cold weather or a tad more rain in exchange for cheaper prices on airfare, lodging and activities.
Oh, and the relentless crowds, too. Not only can you save a lot of money traveling during a shoulder season, but you can often avoid huge gatherings of fellow tourists. Why rub elbows with the hot masses at Manuel Antonio National Park in February when you can walk through the same spot in early November with hardly anyone around?
What, exactly, is a shoulder season, you ask?
We’ll let our friends at AAA explain.
“Shoulder season is the time of year at a travel destination when visitation is lower than at the peaks, but conditions are still good for travel. Shoulder season often falls before and after the high season — hence, the period is like “shoulders” on either side of the peak. For many destinations, shoulder season falls during mid-to-late spring (with the exception of spring break) and early fall when the weather is still warm, but families aren’t yet on summer vacation for school break. When people refer generally to shoulder season, that’s usually what they mean.”
When is Shoulder Season in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has a couple of shoulder seasons. May through June would be one, as it’s the period succeeding our high tourism season (late December through April) and before the American/European summer rush (July and August).
The months of September, October and November would be another shoulder season in our neck of the woods. Of those three months, October typically carries the most amount of rainfall. It can truly be a mixed bag of perfect weather, tough rainstorms and everything in between during this period of time. It’s a bit of a diceroll weatherwise, but the payoffs can mean empty beaches and tours with just you and your crew on them.
Imagine absolute bliss and solitude in the jungle while everyone else is at work and school.
This is also the time of year when rates for luxury vacation homes are at their lowest points. We’re talking about spectacular villas such as The Jade House, Villa Maravilla, Vista Encanto, Casa Komorebi and La Libelula renting for deep discounts.
For example, a night at The Jade House this September will run you $1,550 USD before sales tax. The same villa rents for $3K per night during the holidays. So if you’ve ever dreamed of lounging at one of The Jade’s House’s three infinity swimming pools for a few days, the next few months might be the call.
Cheaper airline tickets and flights that aren’t jam packed also make traveling during a shoulder season much more enjoyable. Our staff has flown from San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) to the east coast of America several times in September and October and there will be rows of empty seats available on the plane. Flying with a smile and stretching out your limbs a bit is rare these days, but it’s still possible, particularly in the shoulder season.
Furthermore, rental car prices will drop during these months with many more vehicle choices available to renters. The roads and highways of Costa Rica are also far less crowded during this time of year.
If you’re considering a last-second trip to southern Pacific Costa Rica and have any questions about the upcoming shoulder season, we’d be happy to assist. Simple email [email protected] and we’ll get you all set up with a great vacation rental home.
