While Tuscany and Bordeaux are harvesting grapes and Greece is pressing its first olive oil, we at Finca Luna Nueva are feasting in our own season of abundance: tropical fruits in autumn. September and October here on the Caribbean mountain slope are among our driest and coolest months, so visitors can experience the rainforest at an ideal time and enjoy a cornucopia of exotic fruits.
Wait! A drier and cooler tropical rainforest in September and October? How is that possible? It’s a function of Costa Rica’s unique geography, as this slender nation features several mountain chains running north and south between the Pacific and the Caribbean. In the January-May “high season,” the Pacific side of the country is often hot, dry, and windy, and we, too, experience much less rain and a lot more sun here near La Fortuna. Given Costa Rica’s complex mountain systems, however, something unusual happens in September and October: national weather patterns shift. In particular, westerly winds in October called temporales del Pacifico bring substantial rain to the Pacific coast, with many resorts closing in that period. These winds on the Pacific coast, however, can result in a rain shadow on the Caribbean side, so even though it’s “low season” for travel to all of Costa Rica, it’s a mini “high season” of especially nice weather on the Caribbean side. Savvy travelers can take advantage of this weather dynamic by timing their travel to the La Fortuna/Caribbean slope area to September and October, where the mini high season is available at “low season” pricing. This is the best kept travel secret about Costa Rica, and I’m whispering it to you: September and October are the best times of the year to visit our beautiful nation and experience Mother Nature’s delicious fruits.
Carlos, Tom, and Walter threshing rice
Not only is this a great travel value, but September and October are months of exceptional abundance. Here at Finca Luna Nueva we harvest rice in those months, and our guests may, depending on the exact time of the harvest, be able to witness and even participate in the threshing. We also have more than 100 species of tropical fruit trees planted throughout the farm, and in September and October it’s as if our trees are adorned with Christmas ornaments.
Rambutans
Our hundreds of rambutan trees are so heavy with lychee-like fruit that they seem to be bowing down to offer our guests fresh sweetness. If you like rambutans (who doesn’t?), then try the closely related pulasan fruit, which I think is even sweeter.
Pulasan
Mangosteen
Button Mangosteen
And there are folks (like our daughter Sara) who insist that mangosteens are the world’s most delicious fruits.
Others say that button and lemon drop mangosteens are even better: you can try them all here at Luna Nueva and cast your vote!
Then there’s the aptly named Rollinia deliciosa (custard apple) that tastes like a bowl full of lemon-meringue fruit pie!
Custard Apple/Biriba
Colombian zapotes
Colombian zapotes with bright orange flesh? Yeah, we’ve got them by the bushel basket, easy to peel and tasting like sweet potatoes and caramel.
And when you’re done feasting, you can walk over the lipstick tree and paint your faces in celebration.
Happiness is a Lipstick Tree!
There’s a famous Italian painter named Giuseppe Arcimboldo who used fruits as puzzle pieces to comprise a human face.
By Giuseppe Arcimboldo
This is how I feel during the delicious months of September and October here in the rainforest. My wife Terry and I have a beautiful big family, with kids and grandkids all over the United States. We have lots of hugs to give and receive, thus we often go back and forth between the US and Costa Rica. We make sure we’re at Finca Luna Nueva during September and October. Why? It’s my favorite time of the year! I invite you to experience harvests like you’ve never imagined!
