Weather by month for central Costa Rica, the best months to go and how Costa Rica's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
Feb
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs 22°C · 11 rain days
Jan, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Still good weather, just not quite the top months.
Highs 21°C to 23°C · 16–30 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21°C / 15°C | 17 days (102 mm) | 10.0 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| Best month: February | 22°C / 15°C | 11 days (63 mm) | 10.7 h/day | 7.7/10 |
| March | 23°C / 15°C | 16 days (66 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| April | 23°C / 16°C | 21 days (181 mm) | 10.0 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| May | 23°C / 17°C | 29 days (443 mm) | 8.1 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| June | 23°C / 17°C | 30 days (485 mm) | 7.5 h/day | 6.9/10 |
| July | 22°C / 17°C | 29 days (426 mm) | 7.6 h/day | 6.9/10 |
| August | 23°C / 16°C | 30 days (490 mm) | 8.0 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| September | 23°C / 16°C | 30 days (571 mm) | 7.8 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| October | 23°C / 16°C | 30 days (587 mm) | 7.4 h/day | 6.9/10 |
| November | 22°C / 16°C | 29 days (394 mm) | 7.6 h/day | 6.9/10 |
| December | 22°C / 15°C | 21 days (170 mm) | 9.3 h/day | 7.0/10 |
Figures for central Costa Rica; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
21°C / 15°C · 17 rain days · 10.0 h sun
Expect highs around 21°C with about 17 rain days and 102mm of rain, so showers are still fairly common early in the month. This is one of the drier starts to the year, with 10 hours of sun a day. The month scores 7 out of 10, rated good, and New Year's Day falls on 1 January.
22°C / 15°C · 11 rain days · 10.7 h sun
February is the top-scoring month at 7.7, rated best. Highs reach 22°C, rain drops to about 11 days and 63mm, and sunshine climbs to nearly 11 hours a day, making this the driest, sunniest stretch of the year.
23°C / 15°C · 16 rain days · 10.8 h sun
Weather stays dry with highs of 23°C and 10.8 hours of sun daily, though rain days tick up slightly to around 16, totalling just 66mm. The month scores 7, rated good, continuing the dry-season pattern.
23°C / 16°C · 21 rain days · 10.0 h sun
April marks the shift toward wetter weather: rain days jump to about 21 and rainfall rises to 181mm, while highs stay warm at 23°C. Expect public holidays around Easter, with Maundy Thursday on 2 April, Good Friday on 3 April, and Juan Santamaría Day on 11 April. The month still scores 7, rated good.
23°C / 17°C · 29 rain days · 8.1 h sun
May brings a sharp change with 29 rain days and 443mm of rain, plus sunshine dropping to about 8 hours a day. This is the start of the wetter green season, with heavier, more frequent showers than earlier months. Despite the rain, the month still scores 7, rated good. Labour Day falls on 1 May.
23°C / 17°C · 30 rain days · 7.5 h sun
Rain stays heavy through June, with about 30 rain days and 485mm of rainfall, and sunshine falling to 7.5 hours a day. Highs hold near 23°C. The score dips slightly to 6.9, still rated good, reflecting the wetter conditions rather than any drop in appeal.
22°C / 17°C · 29 rain days · 7.6 h sun
July sees a little less rain than June, around 29 days and 426mm, though sunshine stays low at 7.6 hours daily. Highs average 22°C. The month scores 6.9, rated good. Annexation of the Party of Nicoya to Costa Rica is marked on 25 July.
23°C / 16°C · 30 rain days · 8.0 h sun
Rain picks back up in August to about 30 days and 490mm, with sunshine around 8 hours a day and highs near 23°C. The month scores 7, rated good. Two holidays fall here: the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels on 2 August and Mother's Day on 15 August.
23°C / 16°C · 30 rain days · 7.8 h sun
September is one of the wettest months, with roughly 30 rain days and 571mm of rainfall, and sunshine down to 7.8 hours daily. Highs stay around 23°C. The month still scores 7, rated good. Independence Day is celebrated on 15 September.
23°C / 16°C · 30 rain days · 7.4 h sun
October brings the heaviest rain of the year, with about 30 rain days and 587mm of rainfall, plus the lowest sunshine at 7.4 hours a day. Highs average 22.5°C. The score is 6.9, rated good, reflecting the peak of the wet season rather than poor conditions overall.
22°C / 16°C · 29 rain days · 7.6 h sun
Rain begins easing slightly in November, though it's still wet with about 29 rain days and 394mm. Highs sit around 22°C with 7.6 hours of sun daily. The month scores 6.9, rated good, as the transition back toward drier weather begins.
22°C / 15°C · 21 rain days · 9.3 h sun
December sees a clear drying trend, with rain days dropping to about 21 and rainfall down to 170mm, while sunshine rises to 9.3 hours a day. Highs average 21.5°C. The month scores 7, rated good. Army Abolition Day falls on 1 December and Christmas Day on 25 December.
By trip type
City sightseeing
February is the best month for city trips. It has just 11.4 rain days and 63mm of rainfall, with highs of 22.1°C and 10.7 hours of sunshine, making it easy to explore on foot without rain interruptions.
Hiking & nature
January and February suit hiking best. February offers the driest conditions of the year (63mm rain, 11.4 rain days) and the most sunshine (10.7 hours), while January is nearly as dry with 102mm of rain and 16.7 rain days, keeping trails firmer and views clearer.
Events calendar
Public holidays: New Year's Day (1 Jan)
Public holidays: Maundy Thursday (2 Apr), Good Friday (3 Apr), Juan Santamaría Day (11 Apr)
Public holidays: Labour Day (1 May)
Public holidays: Annexation of the Party of Nicoya to Costa Rica (25 Jul)
Public holidays: Feast of Our Lady of the Angels (2 Aug), Mother's Day (15 Aug)
Public holidays: Independence Day (15 Sep)
Public holidays: Army Abolition Day (1 Dec), Christmas Day (25 Dec)
Keep planning
FAQ
Yes, February is the best month, with a score of 7.7 out of 10. It has only 11.4 rain days and 63mm of rain, the lowest of the year, plus 10.7 hours of sun a day. Daytime highs reach 22.1°C, so this is the driest, sunniest window for travel.
October still scores 6.9 out of 10, a good month, but it's the wettest. It averages 30.2 rain days and 587mm of rain, the highest monthly totals, with only 7.4 hours of sun. Highs stay around 22.5°C, so expect warm but frequently wet, green-season days.
Yes, August rates a good 7 out of 10. It brings 29.5 rain days and 490mm of rain, with sun hours around 8 a day and highs near 22.7°C. It's wetter than the February–March dry window but still a workable time if you don't mind frequent showers.
Yes, January scores 7 out of 10, a good month. It has 16.7 rain days and 102mm of rain, noticeably drier than the June–October months, with 10 hours of sun and highs of 21.4°C. It sits at the tail end of the dry season.
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