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
January is dry-season Costa Rica: highs near 21.4°C and only about 17 rain days, with 10 hours of sun. The score is 7, a good month. New Year's Day kicks things off, and roads and beaches get busy as visitors escape northern winter.
22°C / 15°C · 11 rain days · 10.7 h sun
February is the top-scoring month at 7.7. Rain drops to just 11 days and sun hours reach 10.7, with highs of 22.1°C. This is the clearest, driest stretch of the year, good for hiking and beaches alike.
23°C / 15°C · 16 rain days · 10.8 h sun
March stays dry with 15.5 rain days and highs of 22.8°C, plus nearly 11 hours of sun. The verdict is good at a 7. It's one of the last calm months before the rains build through April.
23°C / 16°C · 21 rain days · 10.0 h sun
April marks the shift toward the wet season: rain days jump to 21.4 and rainfall rises to 181mm, though highs reach 23.3°C. The score holds at 7. Holy Week falls this month, with Maundy Thursday and Good Friday on April 2 and 3, followed by Juan Santamaría Day on April 11, so expect holiday crowds despite the wetter weather.
23°C / 17°C · 29 rain days · 8.1 h sun
May brings the real green season: 28.7 rain days and 443mm of rain, with sun hours dropping to 8.1. Highs stay around 23.2°C. The score is still a good 7, and Labour Day falls on May 1. Expect frequent afternoon downpours and lush, green landscapes.
23°C / 17°C · 30 rain days · 7.5 h sun
June is wet, with 29.7 rain days and 485mm of rainfall. Highs ease to 22.7°C and sun drops to 7.5 hours. The score dips slightly to 6.9. Rain is heavy but often arrives in afternoon bursts, leaving mornings clearer.
22°C / 17°C · 29 rain days · 7.6 h sun
July keeps the wet pattern going with 29 rain days and 426mm of rain, slightly less than June. Highs sit at 22.3°C with 7.6 hours of sun. The score is 6.9. The Annexation of Guanacaste holiday on July 25 draws visitors to that region despite the rain.
23°C / 16°C · 30 rain days · 8.0 h sun
August is one of the wettest months, with 29.5 rain days and 490mm of rainfall, though highs recover a touch to 22.7°C. The score is a good 7. The Feast of Our Lady of the Angels on August 2 and Mother's Day on August 15 are both marked nationally.
23°C / 16°C · 30 rain days · 7.8 h sun
September is the wettest month of the year by rainfall, with 571mm over 29.8 rain days, and sun hours fall to 7.8. Highs reach 22.9°C. The score stays at 7. Independence Day on September 15 is widely celebrated with parades, rain or no rain.
23°C / 16°C · 30 rain days · 7.4 h sun
October has the most rain days of the year at 30.2, with 587mm of rainfall and just 7.4 hours of sun, the lowest of the year. Highs are 22.5°C. The score is 6.9, reflecting the toughest weather window, driven by the peak of the Pacific rainy season.
22°C / 16°C · 29 rain days · 7.6 h sun
November is still wet, with 28.6 rain days and 394mm of rain, though conditions start easing. Highs are 21.7°C with 7.6 hours of sun. The score sits at 6.9, as the transition back toward the dry season begins.
22°C / 15°C · 21 rain days · 9.3 h sun
December sees rain drop off fast, down to 21.3 rain days and 170mm, with highs of 21.5°C and 9.3 hours of sun. The score rises to 7. Army Abolition Day on December 1 and Christmas Day on December 25 bring holiday travel and a festive, drier close to the year.
By trip type
City sightseeing
February is the best month for city trips. It has the fewest rain days of the year (11.4) and only 63 mm of rain. It also has 10.7 hours of sun a day and mild highs of about 22°C.
Hiking & nature
January and February suit hiking best. February is the driest, with 63 mm of rain. January is wetter at 102 mm, but still far drier than May to November, when monthly rain reaches 394–587 mm. Highs stay cool, around 21–22°C.
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
February is the best month, with the highest score in the data at 7.7. It is the driest month, with 63 mm of rain over about 11 rain days. It also gets 10.7 hours of sun a day. Days reach about 22°C and nights drop to about 15°C.
Rain is heaviest from May to November. In these months it rains on about 29 to 30 days, and monthly totals are 394 to 587 mm. Sun drops to 7.4 to 8.1 hours a day. The driest months are January to March, with 63 to 102 mm of rain.
Only if you don't mind a lot of rain. October is the wettest month, with 587 mm and rain on about 30 days. It also has the least sun, at 7.4 hours a day. It still scores 6.9, and temperatures stay mild at about 22.5°C by day and 16°C at night. If you want dry days, choose February instead.
Yes, but expect some rain. December gets 170 mm over about 21 rain days. That is much less than November's 394 mm. Sun rises to 9.3 hours a day. Highs are about 21.5°C and lows about 15°C. For the driest weather, February is better.
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