Costa Rica has two seasons: verano (dry, December to April) and invierno (the green season, May to November). Guanacaste sits at the hot, dry end of the country, and what grows here follows that rhythm: an explosion of mangos and jocotes at the tail end of the dry months, then a second wave of tropical fruit (rambutan, soursop, passion fruit) that rolls in with the rains. We've lived in Sámara since 2024, and this is the guide we wrote for our villa guests.
The quick seasonal snapshot
December to February (early dry): watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, mandarines, papaya, late-crop avocado, starfruit.
March to May (late dry): mango at full peak, cas, mamey, papaya, watermelon, pineapple, limes.
June to August (early rains): soursop, passion fruit, rambutan starting, guava, nance, corn, beans.
September to November (peak green): rambutan and jocote at peak, guava, anona, soursop, pitahaya, avocado, squash.
Year-round: banana, plantain, coconut, yuca, chayote, papaya, lime, pineapple, chile dulce, tomato.
First, learn the fresco
Any fresh fruit blended with water (fresco en agua) or milk (fresco en leche) and a little sugar is a fresco natural, the Tico everyday drink. Cas, maracuyá, guanábana, and mango are the most ordered. Every soda has them, and a fresco is the single best way to taste a fruit you've never met.
The ones worth planning around
Mango (March to June)
The signature fruit of the Nicoya Peninsula. In April and May the trees drop fruit onto the roads, and a walk down any residential street in Sámara is free dessert. Ripe yields to a gentle squeeze like a peach; skin color doesn't matter. Try green mango with salt, lime, and a pinch of chili, the classic local snack.
Cas (late dry season)
A small, tart guava cousin you won't find at home. You don't eat it off the tree; you drink it. Fresco de cas is the defining Guanacaste refreshment. If a soda has it on the board, order it.
Rambutan (July to October)
Called mamón chino here. The hairy red shells hide sweet lychee-like fruit, sold in big bags at the feria and from pickup trucks. Squeeze the shell until it cracks, never bite it.
Soursop / guanábana (rainy season)
Huge, spiky, and ugly, and the base of one of the world's great smoothies. Buy it soft, or just order fresco de guanábana en leche.
Passion fruit (June onward)
Maracuyá. Wrinkled skin means ready. Halve it and spoon it straight, seeds and all.
Pineapple, papaya, banana (always)
Costa Rica is one of the world's top pineapple producers; smell the base, sweet and floral means ripe. For papaya, the smaller Solo type beats the giants on flavor. And seek out dátil bananas, the tiny intensely sweet ones. They're a revelation.
Where to shop in Sámara
The Saturday feria (7 AM to 2 PM, on the main road by the school) is the main event: produce, flowers, tortillas, fresh meat. Blue Mountain Farms delivers local and organic produce on Tuesdays and Fridays, including straight to our villas before guests arrive. In town, Rindemass has a solid produce section, Doña Lechuga is the dedicated produce vendor, and the roadside stand across from Roots Bakery catches whatever is peaking.
What's in season the week you arrive?
We publish a live snapshot for our guests, updated every week: What's in Season This Week. Guests at the villas also get our full 17-page fruit and vegetable guide covering 35+ items, how to pick them, and three easy recipes.
Want to taste a Costa Rican fruit season for yourself? Our two villas are a 9-minute walk from Sámara Beach and a 5-minute walk from the Saturday feria. Check availability and save 10% with code DIRECT10.