The veranillo de San Juan, Costa Rica’s “little summer,” is a short break in the rainy season around June 24, the feast of Saint John the Baptist. For about three to five days, rain eases in Guanacaste and the Central Valley, mornings stay clear longer and the trade winds pick up. It doesn’t happen every year, and it’s often confused with the longer canícula in July and August. This guide explains when the veranillo de San Juan comes, where you’ll notice it and what it means for a late-June or July trip.
| Veranillo de San Juan | At a glance |
|---|---|
| When | Around June 24 (roughly June 23 to 25) |
| How long | Usually three to five days |
| Where | Mainly Guanacaste (North Pacific) and the Central Valley |
| What changes | Fewer, lighter showers, more sun and stronger winds; rain doesn’t stop entirely |
| Every year? | No; some years it’s weak or doesn’t form |
| Not to confuse with | The canícula, a longer dry spell from about mid-July into August |
The basics
What Is the Veranillo de San Juan?
Verano means summer, and Costa Ricans use it for the dry season. The ending -illo makes it small: a veranillo is a little summer, a few dry-ish days in the middle of the rainy season. This one carries the name of San Juan Bautista because it tends to arrive around his feast day, June 24.
Costa Rica’s national weather service (IMN) describes it as a brief pause in the rains, especially in the Central Valley and the North Pacific. Showers become lighter and less frequent and afternoons can stay dry, but it isn’t a true dry season. In some years it shows up as two short dry spells close together; in others it barely registers. In 2025, for example, the weather service said it wouldn’t occur because conditions stayed wet and unstable.
Two different breaks
Veranillo de San Juan vs. the Canícula
Many people, Costa Ricans included, call any summer-like break in the rainy season “the veranillo.” Most of the time, a dry stretch in July or August is actually the canícula, a separate and usually longer event.
| Veranillo de San Juan | Canícula | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Around June 24 | Typically mid-July to around Aug. 10 |
| How long | About 3 to 5 days | About 5 to 15 days, not always in a row |
| Where | Guanacaste and the Central Valley | North and Central Pacific, Central Valley and the southern valleys; strongest in Guanacaste |
| What it feels like | A short pause in the rain | Fewer and weaker rains, more heat and wind |
Some years bring two canículas, one in July and another in August, and in some years the veranillo and the canícula run together into one long, drier spell. Both are linked to stronger trade winds, which is why the sunny days often come with a breeze.
For your trip
What the Veranillo Means for Travelers
Late June through August is green season: fewer visitors, lower prices and full rivers and waterfalls. The veranillo and the canícula can give you a run of good weather inside that window, but you can’t book them in advance. The weather service only forecasts them a few days to weeks out, and some years they don’t come.
Where to be for the best odds
- Guanacaste: the beaches around Tamarindo, the Papagayo Gulf and the Nicoya Peninsula feel these breaks most. See our Tamarindo guide.
- The Central Valley: San José and the surrounding towns often get dry, breezy afternoons. See our guide to San José for first-time visitors.
- The Central Pacific: Jacó and Manuel Antonio get the canícula more than the veranillo.
How green season weather usually works
Even without a veranillo, most rainy-season days on the Pacific side follow the same pattern: clear or partly sunny mornings and rain in the afternoon or evening. Plan beaches, hikes and tours for the morning and keep afternoons flexible. Our guides to the rainy season and the advantages of green season travel go further.
What to pack
- A light rain jacket and quick-dry clothes
- Sunscreen and a hat; the sun is strong on clear days
- Sandals plus closed shoes for muddy trails
- A dry bag for phones and cameras
- Insect repellent
Our full Costa Rica packing list covers the rest.
The name
San Juan and the Saints’ Calendar
June 24 is the feast of San Juan Bautista. Costa Rica’s farming calendar has long been tied to saints’ days, so it’s natural that a pause in the rain near his feast took his name. Several towns are named for him, including San Juan de Tibás near San José. Later in the season, the Romería to Cartago on Aug. 2 often falls during the canícula; see our guide to La Romería, and our Costa Rica holidays guide for the rest of the year.
FAQ
Veranillo de San Juan FAQ
When is the veranillo de San Juan?
Around June 24, the feast of San Juan Bautista, usually for about three to five days. The exact dates shift each year, and some years it doesn’t form.
What does “veranillo” mean?
“Little summer.” Costa Ricans call the dry season verano, and a veranillo is a short, summer-like break during the rainy season.
Is the veranillo the same as the canícula?
No. The veranillo is a few days around June 24. The canícula comes later, typically mid-July to around Aug. 10, and usually lasts longer, about 5 to 15 days.
Does it stop raining during the veranillo?
Not completely. Showers are lighter and less frequent, with more sun and wind, but it’s not a true dry spell.
Where in Costa Rica is the veranillo strongest?
In Guanacaste (the North Pacific) and the Central Valley. The Caribbean coast and Northern Zone follow different rain patterns.
Is late June a good time to visit Costa Rica?
It can be good value: it’s green season, with fewer crowds and lower prices, and a veranillo can add sunny days. For the most reliable dry weather, visit from December to April.
The short version
The veranillo de San Juan is a short break in the rain around June 24, strongest in Guanacaste and the Central Valley.
The longer canícula usually follows from mid-July into August.
Neither is guaranteed: plan mornings outdoors, pack for rain and enjoy the sun if it comes.