You considering building a home, vacation rental, or any other type of construction in Costa Rica? If so, then it’s a good idea to consider and plan for the Costa Rican seasons: winter and summer. That’s right, in Costa Rica there are only two seasons, the winter season is the rainy season and is generally considered to last (roughly) from June to December; and the summer is the dry season, which is considered to last (roughly) from January to May.
An important thing to keep in mind is that as you get to the Dominical, Baru, or Platanillo areas and travel further south into the Costa Ballena region (including Escaleras, Uvita, Ballena, and Ojochal) and on to the Osa Peninsula the seasons aren’t so clearly marked by a beginning and an end.
So when is the best time to build in the Costa Ballena region?
Benefits of Building During The Dry Season
The summer months, January to May, are widely considered the best time to build in the Costa Ballena region due to the lack of rain. By far the greatest benefit (for the homeowner and builder) of building during the Costa Rican summer months is that there can be peace of mind in knowing that the construction’s foundation will not compromised due to rainy weather. In addition, the trend of summer construction projects is that they often can be completed in a shorter amount of time when compared to a construction project carried out during the rainy months. This can in turn can lead to some savings for the owner(s) of the building project.
If you have a construction project in mind and are debating when the best time to build might be, please feel free to contact us. We’re happy to assist you in any way we can.
Is Building During the Rainy Season An Option?
Building during the Costa Rican rainy season is an option and does not necessarily hamper the structural integrity of the construction; however, there are a few things to consider before moving forward.
First off, it’s pretty safe to say that the months of September, October, and November are not months to start a new construction project. If the project is starting from its foundation it is necessary to start with the construction of the building’s foundation outside of these three months, when the rain will not jeopardize the structural integrity of the construction’s foundation.
Secondly, it’s necessary to bear in mind that the construction project is likely to take longer than average pending weather conditions of that year, or season. While an experienced builder can estimate the time a construction should take to build out, the weather and micro-climates of Costa Rica are very hard to predict, especially between August and November.
Lastly, if a construction project’s foundation can be set prior to any significant rainfall then the rest of the construction can be carried out with little to no setbacks – from a weather related perspective.
Consult an Experienced Building Contractor
If you’re considering building in or around Uvita and have questions regarding the construction of your home, vacation rental, or other building project, please don’t hesitate to contact us – we would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about your construction project
