The climate in Costa Rica

Climate zone: tropics

High humidity and hot temperatures make the weather in Costa Rica pleasant at times but also tropical humid. It is warm to hot all year round, inviting bathing at average water temperatures of 28 degrees. The warmest and rainiest part of the country is Limón. The coldest is Alajuela. Due to less rain, the best time for traveling is from December to April. Most precipitation falls from May to October.

Temperature records of the last 47 years

The hottest temperature measured from 1976 to January 2023 was reported by the Puntarenas weather station. In March 1999, the record temperature of 36.5 °C was reported here. The hottest summer from July to September, based on all 2 weather stations in Costa Rica below 910 meters altitude, was recorded in 1997 with an average temperature of 27.3 °C. This average temperature will normally be measured every four to six hours, thus also including the nights. Normally, this value is 26.4 degrees Celsius. The average maximum daily temperature at that time was 31.3 °C.

The coldest day in these 47 years was reported by the Puerto Limon weather station. Here the temperature dropped to 12.6 °C in November 2013. Puerto Limon lies at an altitude of three meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 2005 with an average temperature of 23.9 °C. In Costa Rica, it is usual to have about 1.8 degrees more at 25.7 °C for this three-month period.

The most precipitation fell in May 1997. With 34.1 mm per day, the Puerto Limon weather station recorded the highest monthly average of the last 47 years.

Data basis and methodology

The data from the individual measuring stations are based on the archives of the German Weather Service, individual values averaged and supplemented by own elements. In order to determine a representative national average, average values were first calculated for each part of the country, which were then summarized at the national level. There are 3 stations in Costa Rica itself. In one case, a nearby weather station from a neighboring country was used to obtain more accurate values.