Exchanging Snow Boots for Flip-Flops
Your snow boots become flip-flops.
Your hot chocolate becomes a fresh coconut.
And the only “white” of the season comes not from snow, but from drifting mountain mist and rolling Pacific waves.
Christmas in Costa Rica doesn’t erase the magic of the holidays…
It rewrites it under the sun, in harmony with nature.
And if you look closely, you may even notice something extraordinary hidden in the rainforest — a tropical cousin of the Christmas tree, standing quietly among the clouds…
December in Costa Rica: Warm, Golden & Full of Life
Mid-December marks the beginning of verano, Costa Rica’s dry season — one of the most beautiful moments of the year. At Origins, mornings open with birdsong, days glow warm and bright, and evenings bring the cool mountain breeze.
According to the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN), December typically offers:
- Warm days: 26°C–32°C
- Cool nights: 18°C–22°C
- Gentle winds and clear skies
- Golden sunsets over lakes, volcanoes, and jungle
A world away from the snowstorms and freezing temperatures of North America and Europe — and the reason Costa Rica is a beloved festive-season retreat.
👉 Costa Rica December Weather (IMN): https://www.imn.ac.cr
Has It Ever Snowed in Costa Rica?
Surprisingly… yes, but only at the summits closest to the sky.
On Cerro Chirripó (3,821 m), hikers sometimes find light frost and ice crystals during cold fronts — a phenomenon documented by the IMN. Rare frost has also been recorded on Irazú Volcano during exceptionally cold spells.
Chirripó National Park (SINAC): https://www.sinac.go.cr/EN/Pages/default.aspx
As for the lush region surrounding Origins, the closest you’ll get to “snowflakes” is the white morning mist sliding through the rainforest.
But higher in the mountains, something else grows — something that unexpectedly connects the tropics… with Christmas.
The Unexpected “Christmas Trees” of Costa Rica
(A poetic and scientific link between Origins forests and festive symbolism)
Most people imagine Costa Rica’s forests as lush jungles full of broad leaves and vines. Few expect the silhouette of a Christmas tree here.
And yet…
The Tropical Conifers: Podocarpus — cousins of the Christmas tree
Costa Rica is home to Podocarpus, elegant evergreen trees belonging to the world’s largest family of tropical conifers (Podocarpaceae).
They grow in humid mountain forests between 1,000–3,000 m, including regions ecologically linked to Origins.
Species include:
- Podocarpus guatemalensis
- Podocarpus oleifolius
- Podocarpus costaricensis
Their tall, slender shape and needle-like leaves echo the familiar imagery of Christmas conifers — a poetic bridge between the tropics and northern traditions.
Evergreen Symbolism — A Universal Holiday Sign
In Europe, the Christmas tree symbolizes life that never fades, even when winter arrives.
In Costa Rica, the rainforest carries the same message:
- Ficus (strangler figs) that remain green year-round
- Palma Real (Welfia georgii) towering like natural cathedral pillars
- Laurel (Ocotea) — aromatic, evergreen, and sacred to Indigenous communities
This shared “always green” essence becomes a beautiful parallel:
“Here, the Christmas tree doesn’t need lights — it glows with life itself.”
The Maleku Vision — Trees as cosmic bridges
For the Maleku people, trees act as messengers:
- Their roots connect to ancestors
- Their trunks to humans
- Their crowns to the cosmic world
A perfect echo of the spirit of Christmas: continuity, connection, and light returning.
The Holiday Spirit, Pura Vida Style
Walk into any Costa Rican village in December and the festive energy is unmistakable.
Families gather to prepare traditional Christmas tamales, wrapped in banana leaves — a ritual of love and connection.
Tamales Tradition: https://puravidaeh.ca/costa-rican-tamales-tradition/
Homes glow with nativity scenes (“portales”), and the capital comes alive with the spectacular Festival de la Luz.
Festival de la Luz (City of San José): https://www.msj.go.cr
On December 26th, the iconic Tope Nacional fills the streets with horses, music, and celebration.
Here, Christmas is lived outdoors — with warmth, community, and joy.
North vs. Tropics: Two Different Kinds of Christmas Magic
Snowflakes → sunbeams slipping through the canopy
Wool scarves → breezy linen
Fireplace warmth → thermal pools in the rainforest
Hot cocoa → fresh coconut water under the sun
Same spirit.
Different setting.
Equally magical.
A Festive Table at Origins: Connecting Through Food
Whether you celebrate in the cold or under the sun, food is one of the deepest expressions of love, tradition, and togetherness.
At Origins, we honour this through both of our restaurants:
EL SALTO — At Origins Floral
A celebration of land and fire, where our chefs reinterpret Costa Rican holiday staples — tamales, cacao, roots, herbs — with elegance, creativity, and a luxurious festive twist.
EL COSMO — At Origins Astral
A celestial dining experience inspired by starlight, altitude, and ancestral wisdom.
Here, holiday flavors meet cosmic vision: aromatic broths, forest-foraged herbs, ancient cacao, and volcanic-grown produce.
Both restaurants reinterpret Costa Rican traditions with refined modernity, preserving the soul of the dish while elevating it into an unforgettable festive experience.
Because at Origins, cuisine is more than food —
it is connection, memory, and celebration.
Celebrate Christmas the Pura Vida Way — At Origins
If you feel called to warmth, nature, and peace at the end of the year, a Christmas at Origins is unlike any other.
Here, time slows.
Mornings start with toucans.
Afternoons melt into panoramic sunsets.
Nights glow softly under a thousand stars.
Whether you stay at Origins Floral or Origins Astral, this season is one of the most enchanting moments to experience Northern Costa Rica.
We recommend a minimum of four nights to fully experience the cuisine, rituals, and quiet forest magic.
✨ Book Your Festive Escape →
✨ Explore Our Villas →
✨ Contact Our Team →
**Naturally Yours,
The Origins Lodges Team**
