Guanacaste is Costa Rica's driest province, and Santa Cruz reflects this. The dry season runs from December to April — the most comfortable time to visit, with reliable sunshine and low humidity. The green season (May to November) brings heavy afternoon rain, but mornings are often clear, the landscape turns lush and green, and accommodation prices drop significantly.
The most distinctive time to visit is around Guanacaste Day on July 25, when the province celebrates the 1824 vote to annex from Nicaragua to Costa Rica. Santa Cruz, as the province's folklore capital, hosts marimba performances, traditional Guanacaste folk dance (the Punto Guanacasteco, Costa Rica's national dance), and a traditional bullfighting event. It is a genuine local festival rather than a tourist production.