The fact that Costa Rica and Panama are close makes both countries perfect for visiting. During your holiday there, it’s easy to travel back and forth between the two countries and enjoy all the wonders they have to offer. Keep in mind that the timing of your holiday will influence what sorts of sites you can visit and what activities you can make part of your plans. By understanding a little about what to expect, it’s easy to determine the best time of year to visit both countries, based on what you would like to do.

Learning More About the Dry and Rainy Seasons

If you’re the type who prefers the hustle and bustle that comes with holidays during the tourist season, plan on being in Costa Rica and Panama during what’s known as the dry season. Expect plenty of sunshine and warm weather during this part of the year. Many of your activities will be outdoors, although you will find a number of indoor sites that you will want to include in your plans.

The dry seasons in both countries overlap. The dry weather for both typically arrives during the first to the middle part of December. In Costa Rica, the dry season usually lingers until sometime in April. Panama enjoys a slightly shorter dry season, with it usually ending sometime in March.

Keep in mind that since this dry period is the height of the tourist season, the cost of visiting from December to April will be higher than at other times of the year. Even so, if your plans include spending a lot of time exploring the rain forests or soaking in the rays on one or more of the beautiful beaches, the dry season is the only time to consider.

Making the Most of the Dry Seasons

During the dry season in both nations, do expect the weather to be more humid and the day temperatures to be a little higher. There is some variance depending on which regions you plan on visiting. As a general rule, locations nearer the coast will include warmer weather and higher levels of humidity. By contrast, the more mountainous areas will offer slightly cooler temperatures and lower humidity levels.

During this time, do plan on enjoying the lush greenery found in the rain forests. During much of the dry season, the abundance of rain from what’s known as the rainy or green season ensures that the forests are at their best. Consider adding some variety to your holiday by spending time at the beach, soaking in the nightlife along the coast, and doing some shopping at many of the open air districts. This is also the perfect timing to enjoy some of the local cuisine while dining outside.

There are special events to celebrate during the dry season. President’s Day in Costa Rica occurs during this period. Along with locals, you can enjoy a number of celebrations, open-air festivals, and just about any type of entertainment that one can imagine.

Since the dry season does attract more tourists, it pays to book your lodgings in advance. Along with President’s Day, there’s also spring break and the Easter Season to consider. While you could look at different hotels and other properties near beaches, there are also hostels that make perfect places to sleep. After all, how much time do you plan on spending indoors when there’s so much to do?

Things to Do During the Rainy Seasons

In spite of the name, it isn’t always raining during the rainy or green season. Most days, there will be brief periods of sunshine that do allow you to spend some time at the beach and other outdoor venues. Do expect the evenings to be cooler. At times, the temperature may make wearing long sleeves or possibly a sweater a good idea.

Even if you’re out and about while it’s raining, there are plenty of things to see. Towns and cities in both nations offer indoor concerts, a number of restaurants catering to all sorts of tastes, and clubs and other settings for entertainment. You will find museums that will tell you more about the history of indigenous peoples and the complexity of their cultures.

What are some of the activities you can enjoy during this time of year? Both Costa Rica and Panama offer options to go horseback riding. Generally, this will happen during the morning when the sun is most likely to be out. Walking tours are also a great way to learn more about the culture and possibly find some interesting places that you will want to return to a little later. Don’t overlook the opportunity to get in some fishing when there’s a sunny morning coming your way. There are changes to engage in freshwater fishing as well as charter boats that will take you to some of the better places to enjoy salt-water fishing.

Coffee and rum tours are also something to consider during the rainy season. These tours allow you the opportunity to see different facilities and how they produce their products. As a bonus, you get to enjoy some taste-testing at many of the places that you visit along the tour. Some of the sites will also have bistros or restaurants included, allowing you to enjoy a nice meal or snack with your coffee or rum.

In terms of museums to visit, San Jose offers some of the most interesting museums in Costa Rica. Many of them are located in or adjacent to what’s known as the Central Market. It’s a great way to enjoy time indoors during the rainy afternoons and early evenings.

In Panama, check out the Panama Canal Museum in Casco Viejo. You can make use of headphones that offer the guided tour in multiple languages. If you happen to be proficient in Spanish, feel free to check out each exhibit on your own. You can also check out the Biodiversity Museum, which features exhibits on the over 1,000 species of animals and plants that are found in the country. Make the most of the discounts offered on Sundays. Retirees also get to enjoy discounts when visiting these museums.

Which season is the best time to visit Costa Rica and Panama? It’s really up to you. For those who prefer a slower pace and don’t mind rain during the afternoons and evenings, the raining season is ideal. Those who thrive on activity, sunshine, and plenty of tourist activities will enjoy going during the dry season. Whatever your choice, plan on coming back a second time. It’s rare for anyone to see everything they want to see during a single holiday.

Everyone knows about Paris and Rome and London but there are so many other beautiful travel destinations that are amazingly underrated. The fact that so many beautiful countries go unexplored by travelers is a tragedy. Not only because so many people are missing out on rich cultures and picturesque views, but also because a lot of these destinations tend to be a lot cheaper to travel to than popular cities. 

A majority of Americans, when asked about traveling abroad, will likely shake their head and say they can’t afford such trips. Many people deal with multiple monthly bills, such as mortgage or rent, student loans, and title loans, which are all stress inducing. 

But what a lot of people don’t know is that there are gorgeous, underrated foreign cities one can visit for a fraction of the price of touristy European cities. Forbes recently published a collection of the ten most underrated destinations you should consider visiting. 

Here are a few of them:

Yerevan, Armenia

Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, is known for its magnificent sights of Mount Ararat, historical monasteries, and its many striking temple ruins. Armenian cuisine is other worldly with classic dishes like rabbit stew, sautéed eggplant rolls, and lamb tartare. 

Telč, Czechia

Telč is a colorful town with Italian influences in Czechia. It boasts of Baroque-Renaissance architecture and has a castle of its own with exciting tunnels and passageways that you can explore underneath the town.

Santiago, Chile

Santiago is the capital of Chile and features gorgeous architecture from the neoclassical era. There are towering cathedrals and, of course, plenty of quality Chilean wine. Plus, the city of Santiago is a great place to kick off your exploration of Chile’s wine country. 

Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Rotterdam is often ignored due to the popular neighboring city of Amsterdam, but it is a bastion of underground music and street art. The architecture is strikingly modern since the city was heavily bombed during World War II and thus had to be rebuilt from the ground up. The city is filled to the brim with amazing cuisine and museums.

Lagos, Nigeria

If you are looking for a big city destination, Lagos is a metropolis that has plenty to see and do so that you’ll never be bored. And whenever you need a break from the urban marketplaces, private beaches are just a short drive away.

Con Dao, Vietnam

Con Dao is a Southeast Asian island that makes an excellent beach destination with two resorts and tons of fascinating history. Once host to a brutal French prison, the island is also home to the tomb of the Vietnamese martyr Vo Thi Sau. 

Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay

This is one of the oldest cities in Uruguay dating back to the 17th century. The city has a vibrantly decorated historic quarter and a three-century-old convent. It’s also only a short trip away from the bigger city of Montevideo.

The history and culture that define Rome keep travelers coming back again and again. In fact, it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, The Pantheon, or the Trevi Fountain, there’s always something magical about those old cobbled streets and stories behind them. 

However, for anyone who wants to see a different side of the Eternal City, it’s certainly worth stepping off the usual tourist trails to explore some of the lesser known sights. Rome is bursting with hidden gems that most visitors either never see or never notice as they’re exploring the city, and by taking a little extra time to discover Rome’s secrets, you can enjoy a different perspective on this ancient metropolis that has so much to offer. 

So, read on to discover our top 5 hidden gems of Rome and enjoy a city that you never knew existed. 

Borromini’s Perspective

This fascinating and largely ignored corridor of Rome is definitely worth a visit. Located in the Palazzo Spada, Borromini’s Perspective is an optical illusion on the grandest scale, creating what seems like a 40-meter corridor in the space of just eight meters. Stand at the entrance to this other worldly piece of architecture and your mind will be blown! 

Designed with the help of a mathematician, Francesco Borromini built diminishing rows of columns and a rising floor to create this Roman oddity, placing a sculpture of just 60 cm at the end of the corridor to really nail the illusion. The sculpture sits in an open part of the building bathing it in daylight, also helping to support this real-world trompe l’oeil and fooling your brain into thinking that this corridor is much longer than it really is. 

Trastevere

Located just across the Tiber from the city center, Trastevere is a lesser-known district of Rome that rarely gets much attention outside of the Piazza di Santa Maria. However, if you’re willing to dive a little deeper, you’ll find some of Rome’s best food and drink in this pleasant neighborhood, alongside a calm atmosphere that the rest of the city would kill for. 

Leaving the Piazza di Santa Maria, you’ll quickly find that the number of tourists drops off considerably. Head to the Piazza di San Cosimato to begin with to check out the outdoor food market and stop for a coffee at one of the cafes in the square. Once you’ve had your fill, be sure to wander around the charming old streets of Trastevere to escape the usual tourist trail and see a different side to Rome. 

Gianicolo

Rome is the city of seven hills, and there are plenty of great views to be had if you’re willing to climb any one of them. However, for those that don’t already know, Rome actually has an eighth hill! Gianicolo offers some of the best views of the city if you’re willing to hike up from Trastevere, and it’s also a very pleasant place to explore away from the majority of tourists. 

While you’re there, make sure you check out the Fontana dell’Acqua Paola and the Piazzale Garibaldi where a cannon fires every day at noon. Additionally, the church of San Pietro in Montorio is worth a look as it is thought to be the site of St Peter’s crucifixion. 

Villa Borghese

As the largest public park in Rome, you’d think that the Villa Borghese would be overflowing with tourists on a daily basis—particularly in summer! However, most people come here to see the galleries and skip the 80 acres of lush green space, tranquil ponds, and winding paths of the gardens. It’s a true oasis nestles between the bustling city streets, and the perfect place to eat a picnic an unwind a little. 

Developed over the course of the 17th century, the gardens of the Villa contain many hidden places to just relax, alongside plenty of interesting buildings, fountains, and sculptures that will give you more insight into the history of this garden. Animal lovers will also be particularly pleased with the old city zoo that has now been turned into a Biopark with more than 200 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. 

Quartiere Coppedè

It’s quite possible that if you blink, you’ll miss the Quartiere Coppedè entirely. As Rome’s smallest district, this unique little corner of the city is usually quiet and ripe for exploration by intrepid sightseers. It’s also home to some very interesting architectural wonders that are sure to stop you in your tracks as you discover this hidden gem for yourself. 

Start at the corner of Via Dora and Via Tagliamento and wind your way through the Art Nouveau, medieval, baroque and Greek influences that were designed by architect Gino Coppedè between 1923 and 1927. It’s Rome’s equivalent of Gaudi’s Catalan masterpieces, and a surefire way to enjoy the eternal city from an entirely new perspective!