BootsnAll Travel Community

hey guys

does anyone know actually how bad the rainy season is in CA from june-august time?? cant find a reliable source- some say 2 hours a day, some say 7 hours a day on average!! Anyone been there in the rainy season who can give me some first time advice??? really dont fancy heading out there to major downpours all day.

help!!!!

Well, usually its one doozy of a rain storm a day, and if you're in a civilised place, you can find a nice restaurant and wait it out. Then out comes the sun, and wallah, perfect.

PS, if its a hurricane, its not a 2 hour affair. Still, thats not always in the cards. Usually, its just a two hour torrent and a lot of sun afterwards.

Hint.. if you take four wheels for transport, it shouldnt hinder you too much. MOtorcycle riders tend to take a 2 month vacation when thinking about dirt roads, because those dirt roads can turn into mudholes.

Hiking in the jungle can be less than fun too, BUT...
Most backpackers and tourists don't do either of those two things.

Me? I've hiked in a jungle. Three times. I think twice about doing it again.

The confusion probably arises because, depending where you are in CA, the rain can last an average of 2 to 8 hours a day.

Where exactly are thinking of going?

Here in the Central Valley of Costa Rica we usually awaken to bright sunny skies, it starts to cloud over shortly after noon, rains about 2 o'clock and clears up around 4:30 or 5ish.

And oh my what a rain it can be. Do not wanna be cycling in that for sure. And most of the rain forest I've been in you are going to get wet no matter what time of year it is.

well im thinking of traveling from Guatemala down to costa rica so plast places really. i dont mind 2 hours in the afternoon but just wanted to make sure it was not going to be continual and put a dampner (excuse the con) on things??!!

also wanted to check safety issues at the moment....how would it be for 2 girls travelling alone? have traveled a great deal beofre in asia/india etc and know not to be stupid. going to stick to the main traveling paths but just wanted to check??

thanks

You shouldn't have any problems.

I've seen plenty of lone and paired women take the gringo trail and come out happy in the end. Some even go further, if they speak Spanish.

Just take normal precautions, especially at night in Antiqua and other large cities. Europe is usually VERY safe. CA is New York City safe, if you wantg a comparison. Just fine if you tak normal precautions and use your danger instincts.Just don't lose them, or get drunk and wander around the streets of antigua at 3 am.

I do recommend 2 weeks of spanish lessons in antiqua or Xela before you start your long range grand tour. It will really improve your trip considerably.

Here is a chart (from Travelotica.com) showing average annual rainfall for CA. Does not show time of day or intensity of course but a useful reference anyway I think.

http://tinyurl.com/4m7kwj

In the Antigua, Guatemala area, two hours of rain per day in the rainy season is the norm. The time of day varies by the month. Usually at the beginning of the rainy season it rains around mid-day. As the season progresses it occurs in the evening or night.

With a tropical storm in the area it can rain most of the day, and with a bad hurricane I have seen it rain for 72 hours continuously, with the wind forcing the rain to soak through 8 inch thick walls, but thankfully that is rare.

Rainy depends on your location. For example, the rainy season usually doesn't start until Fall in northern Honduras/Bay Islands, we've run into rains almost exclusively at night in Belize, and in Guatemala it tended to be in the afternoon, in some highland locations as early as 2 or 3. I'm heading back for my 7th summer visit to CA and find it to be a great time to visit. Keep us posted!