Visit in the dry months and the roads turn dusty, markets stay busy late and beaches belong to sunset watchers. Come when the rains arrive and the same country turns deep green, afternoon downpours drum on tin roofs, and volcanoes sit under low clouds.
The weather is tropical, dry from November to April and rainy from May to October, cooler in the highlands and wetter on the Caribbean side. Mornings suit walks and colonial streets, afternoons suit shade and long conversations. A Local Friend tells you when to go early and when to linger, so even a rainy afternoon can become the best part of the trip.
