December brings the dry season back to Monteverde: drier, brighter days, returning quetzals, and building trade winds. Early December is great value; the Christmas and New Year holidays surge in crowds and price. Here is the full month-by-month picture.
What You Should Know
- December marks the return of the dry season in Monteverde: warm days around 26°C (79°F), a marked drop in rain to roughly 14 rain days and falling, and brightening, clearer skies as the month goes on.
- The trade winds rebuild in December, and they can be strong. Gusts on exposed ridges occasionally pause or even cancel the highest zipline lines, so wind, not rain, becomes the thing to plan around late in the month.
- December splits sharply on crowds and price. Early December is quiet and good value; the Christmas and New Year holiday period, from about December 22, is the busiest and most expensive stretch of the entire year.
- Most people don't realize quetzals return in December. As the dry season sets in, resplendent quetzal sightings start to pick up again, a lead-in to the February-to-May peak, so December can be a good early wildlife month.
Monteverde in December: Overview
⭐ Best December window: December 1 to 20, before the holidays. You get the returning dry-season weather, brightening skies, and early quetzal activity while crowds and prices are still reasonable, ahead of the Christmas and New Year surge.
| Factor | December Rating |
|---|---|
| Weather | 8/10: drying out, brighter; windy late month |
| Crowds | 5/10: quiet early; very high over Christmas and New Year |
| Prices | 4/10: reasonable early; peak over the holidays |
| Wildlife & Quetzals | 8/10: quetzals returning as the dry season sets in |
| Ziplining | 7/10: clearer skies, but building winds can pause top lines |
| Wind | 4/10: trade winds rebuild; gusty on exposed ridges |
| Families | 7/10: good weather; book holidays far ahead |
| Couples | 7/10: bright and festive, but busy and pricey late month |
💰 Average December hotel prices (Santa Elena / Monteverde, mid-range):
Early December: ~$100–140/night · Christmas/New Year: ~$150–220/night
Rough mid-range estimates; rates vary by property and booking lead time.
December is, in our view, really two months in one. Early December is a quietly excellent time to visit: the dry season returns, the forest is still lush from the green months, quetzals begin reappearing, and crowds and prices remain reasonable. Then the Christmas and New Year holidays arrive and everything changes, with the busiest, priciest stretch of the entire year. We'd book early-to-mid December if value matters, and reserve far ahead if your dates fall over the holidays. What typically happens is that the weather brightens through the month while the trade winds build, so late December can be gusty enough to affect the highest ziplines. Plan around the wind and the holiday calendar and December rewards you with the best of the returning dry season.
Monteverde December Weather
| Metric | December |
|---|---|
| Avg High | 26°C (79°F) |
| Avg Low | 16°C (61°F) |
| Rain Days | ~14 (dropping through the month) |
| Humidity | Moderate, easing |
| Wind | Building; strong on exposed ridges late month |
| Sunshine | Increasing; clearer, brighter days |
Temperature and Humidity
December stays warm and mild in the mountain climate, with days around 26°C (79°F) and nights near 16°C (61°F), and the cooler, breezier evenings the dry season is known for. Humidity eases as the rains retreat, giving December a fresher feel than the deep green-season months. A light layer is genuinely useful in the wind and cool nights.
Rain Pattern
December sees a marked drop in rainfall as the dry season takes hold, to roughly 14 rain days and falling through the month. Early December can still see the odd shower or lingering mist, but clear, bright days become the norm and the long canopy views return. By late December, conditions are firmly dry-season, with sunshine dominating and only the occasional passing cloud.
Wind and Outdoor Conditions
The defining December development is wind. As the dry season sets in, the trade winds rebuild, and December can be notably windy, with strong gusts on exposed ridges and the higher zipline courses. In some years the wind is strong enough to pause or cancel the highest lines, so this is the month where wind returns as a real planning factor. Trails firm up nicely as the ground dries, making hiking and wildlife walks easier. Book exposed, high-adrenaline activities for calmer mornings, and keep sheltered options ready for the windiest afternoons.
Monteverde December Crowds and Prices
December is the sharpest split of the year between a quiet early stretch and a peak holiday surge.
- December 1 to 20: the sweet spot. Dry-season weather is returning, but crowds and prices remain reasonable before the holidays. This is the window we'd book for value.
- December 22 to January 1 (Christmas and New Year): the busiest and most expensive period of the entire year. Hotels and tours book out well in advance and rates spike sharply.
- Late December generally: even outside the exact holiday dates, demand runs high through the end of the month as the dry-season high season begins.
If your dates are flexible, early-to-mid December offers dry-season weather at shoulder-season prices, which is hard to beat. If you are traveling over the holidays, book everything, hotels, tours, and transport, as far ahead as you can.
Monteverde Month by Month: How December Compares
December closes the year as the dry season returns, so it helps to see it against the alternatives. This is how the cloud forest's mountain climate shifts across the calendar.
| Month | Weather | Crowds | Wildlife | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Dry, sunny, windy | High | Strong (quetzals) | 9/10 |
| February | Driest, sunny, windy | High | Excellent (quetzal peak begins) | 9/10 |
| March | Driest, sunniest, warm | High (spring break) | Excellent (quetzal peak) | 9/10 |
| April | Dry to first rains, calmest wind | Moderate (Easter spike) | Excellent (quetzal nesting) | 9/10 |
| May | Green season begins, afternoon rain | Low | Very good, lush (quetzal tail) | 7/10 |
| June | Deeper green season, wetter afternoons | Low | Very good; superb night life | 7/10 |
| July | Green season; veranillo drier spell possible | Moderate | Good; lush and active | 7/10 |
| August | Green season, misty, heavier rain | Moderate | Good; lush and active | 7/10 |
| September | Wettest stretch, low visibility | Very low | Good, active; quiet trails | 6/10 |
| October | Heaviest rain, then easing late month | Very low | Good, active; quiet trails | 6/10 |
| November | Rain easing fast, greener, brightening | Low | Very good, lush | 7/10 |
| December | Dry season returns, windy; bright late | High (holidays) | Strong (quetzals return) | 8/10 |
The pattern is clear: December reopens the dry season and the quetzal window, with returning sunshine, firming trails, and building winds. Its split personality is the key: early December rivals November for value, while the holidays match the peak of January to April for crowds and cost. We'd give early December the edge for anyone wanting dry-season weather without high-season prices, and we'd steer holiday travelers to book far ahead and expect a busy, festive Monteverde.
Returning Quetzals and Building Winds
Two things define December for a Monteverde visitor, and they pull in opposite directions: the return of the quetzal and the return of the wind.
- Quetzals reappear: as the dry season sets in, resplendent quetzal sightings begin picking up again after the quieter green-season months. It is the lead-in to the February-to-May breeding peak, so December is a good early window for a wildlife walk.
- Trade winds rebuild: December is the start of the windy dry-season stretch that runs through about April. Gusts are strongest on exposed ridges and can pause the highest zipline lines, especially late in the month.
- How to balance them: book a guided wildlife walk to make the most of the returning quetzals, and schedule any exposed, high-adrenaline activities for calmer mornings to work around the wind.
For the quetzal-focused side of a December trip, our Monteverde bird watching guide and Curi-Cancha Reserve tour guide cover the reserves and tactics, and our Monteverde zipline guide compares the courses for windier days.
Best Monteverde Activities in December
| Activity | December Rating | Best Time of Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided wildlife / birding walk | 9/10 | Early morning | Quetzals returning; firm, bright trails |
| Hanging bridges | 8/10 | Morning | Clear views back; high bridges breezy in the wind |
| Ziplining | 7/10 | Morning | Clearer skies, but building winds can pause top lines |
| Coffee & chocolate tour | 8/10 | Any | Reliable in any weather; good windy-afternoon option |
| Night walk | 7/10 | Evening | Still good, though drying conditions reduce frog activity |
What to prioritize this month
December is a wildlife-and-views month as the dry season returns. We'd give an early guided wildlife walk top billing, with quetzals reappearing and the trails firm and bright. Hanging bridges reward the returning clear skies, though the high spans get breezy as the winds build. Ziplining is good on clearer days but subject to wind pauses on the highest lines, especially late month, so book calmer mornings. The coffee and chocolate tour is a reliable windy-afternoon choice, and the night walk is still worthwhile even as drying conditions gradually reduce frog activity. Book exposed activities early in the day, and, if your trip is over the holidays, book everything well ahead.
Compare the Best Monteverde Tours for December
The top-rated tour from each of our Monteverde guides, side by side. Browse live options, then book the top-rated guided cloud forest naturalist walk, December's standout, directly below.
Book the Most Popular Option Directly
Live pricing and dates for the top-rated guided naturalist walk in the Monteverde cloud forest: a certified guide and small group of up to eight, from around $35 per person. Pick your date below.
- Certified naturalist guide, small group up to 8
- Highest review count of any Monteverde cloud forest tour
- Returning quetzals as the dry season sets in
- Bright, firming trails and clearer views
- Book early December for value before the holidays
- Reserve entrance fee not included
We may earn a commission on bookings made through this link — at no extra cost to you.
What Travelers Say About the Guided Walk
Here's what recent travelers had to say after their trip, straight from verified bookings.
Hunt for a quetzal
Our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable about the cloud forest, and super patient helping us glimpse a quetzal. We saw families of coatis, lots of birds and a tarantula nest, and learned about the balance between the strangler fig and the epiphytes. We definitely would not have seen a fraction of it without a guide. Muddy and wet, but the cafe at the end serves a welcome empanada and coffee.
An outstanding guide made it
The tour was great and our guide was outstanding. His knowledge of the forest and wildlife was very impressive, and thanks to him we saw a wide variety of wildlife. What stood out was an emerald toucanet. The cloud forest itself is stunning, but having a great guide made it much better.
Terrific and knowledgeable guide
A wonderful guide whose passion for nature really shines through. Very informative, taking his time to find and show us amazing birds, which made the walk through the forest so much more delightful. Highly recommended.
More December Activities Worth Booking
Beyond the headline tours, these round out a December visit as the dry season returns:
- Sky Tram gondola: a gentle, all-ages way to see the canopy, rewarding on the increasingly clear days.
- Butterfly and hummingbird gardens: weather-proof, easy, and a good windy-afternoon option.
- Sustainable coffee, chocolate, and sugar-cane farm tours: mostly sheltered and reliable in the wind.
- Santa Elena reserve: a quieter, higher alternative to the main Monteverde reserve, calmer than the holiday crowds elsewhere.
- Cheese factory and town food spots: an easy way to fill a windy midday, with a festive buzz around the holidays.
From Our Experience
We've found early-to-mid December is one of the best-kept secrets in Monteverde: you get returning dry-season weather and reappearing quetzals at shoulder-season prices, right before the holiday surge. If your dates are flexible, aim to arrive and leave before December 22.
Tips for Visiting Monteverde in December
- Aim for early-to-mid December. Dry-season weather returns while crowds and prices stay reasonable, before the Christmas surge from about the 22nd.
- Book holidays far ahead. Christmas and New Year are the busiest, priciest dates of the year; reserve hotels, tours, and transport well in advance.
- Plan around the wind. The trade winds rebuild in December and can pause the highest ziplines, so schedule exposed activities for calmer mornings.
- Come for the returning quetzals. Sightings pick up as the dry season sets in, so a guided wildlife walk is a strong December choice.
- Pack layers for wind and cool nights. A windproof layer and something warm for the breezy, cooler evenings, plus a light rain layer for any early-month showers.
- Visiting at a different time of year? Our Monteverde in November guide covers the quieter, cheaper month before, and our Monteverde in January guide covers the peak dry-season month that follows.
How We Put This Guide Together
We built this December guide from Monteverde's month-by-month climate patterns, the return of the dry season and the trade winds, the reappearance of quetzals, the sharp Christmas and New Year demand surge, and the tours travelers actually book here. Weather figures are typical averages for the cloud forest, not guarantees, and conditions shift year to year. Ratings reflect how well each activity suits December specifically, balancing weather, crowds, and cost. Prices and availability change, so confirm current details on any booking page before you reserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monteverde good in December?+
Yes, especially early in the month. December brings the dry season back, with brightening skies, firming trails, and returning quetzals, and early December offers this at reasonable prices. The tradeoffs are the rebuilding trade winds, which can pause the highest ziplines, and the Christmas and New Year holiday surge, the busiest and priciest period of the year.
What is the weather like in Monteverde in December?+
Warm and drying out. Daytime highs are around 26°C (79°F) with cool, breezy nights near 16°C (61°F). Rainfall drops markedly to roughly 14 rain days and keeps falling through the month, so clear, bright days become the norm. The main development is wind, as the dry-season trade winds rebuild.
Is it windy in Monteverde in December?+
Yes, increasingly so. December marks the return of the dry-season trade winds, which can be strong on exposed ridges. In some years the wind is strong enough to pause or even cancel the highest zipline lines, especially late in the month, so it becomes a real planning factor. Booking exposed activities for calmer mornings helps.
Can you see quetzals in Monteverde in December?+
Yes, sightings begin picking up. As the dry season sets in, resplendent quetzals reappear after the quieter green-season months, making December a good early wildlife window ahead of the February-to-May breeding peak. An early guided walk with a spotting scope gives the best odds.
Is December expensive in Monteverde?+
It depends on the dates. Early December is reasonably priced, offering dry-season weather at shoulder-season rates. The Christmas and New Year period, from about December 22, is the most expensive stretch of the entire year, with hotels and tours at peak prices and booking out well ahead.
What is the best week to visit Monteverde in December?+
December 1 to 20, before the holidays. You get the returning dry-season weather, brightening skies, and early quetzal activity while crowds and prices remain reasonable, ahead of the Christmas and New Year surge. If you must travel over the holidays, book everything as far in advance as possible.
What activities are best in Monteverde in December?+
Early guided wildlife walks are the standout, with quetzals returning and trails firm and bright. Hanging bridges reward the clearer skies, and ziplining is good on calmer days, though building winds can pause the highest lines. Coffee and chocolate tours are reliable windy-afternoon choices.
What should I pack for Monteverde in December?+
Layers for wind and cool nights: a windproof layer and something warm for the breezy, cooler evenings, plus a light rain layer for any early-month showers. Closed shoes with grip are still useful on firming trails, and standard sun protection matters more as the skies clear.
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