Climate in Costa Rica — Annual Weather Overview
Costa Rica has a mediterranean climate — hot dry summers and mild wet winters. The hottest month is March (average high 26.5°C) and the coolest is November (23.7°C). Temperatures are consistent year-round, with highs ranging only 2.8°C between the warmest and coolest months. Annual rainfall totals around 3376mm. October is the wettest month at 579.6mm, while February averages just 8.4mm. Average daily sunshine is 9.4 hours.
**Spring (March, April, May):** average highs 26.2°C, 543mm rain. **Summer (June, July, August):** average highs 24.6°C, 1311mm rain. **Autumn (September, October, November):** average highs 24.3°C, 1415mm rain. **Winter (December, January, February):** average highs 25.0°C, 107mm rain.
Costa Rica — Monthly Temperatures
Costa Rica — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
All year
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Costa Rica stays reasonable all year.
Costa Rica weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24.7°C | 15.5°C | 33.8mm | 10.8h | 6 | 10/10 |
| February | 25.9°C | 15.5°C | 8.4mm | 11.4h | 4 | 10/10 |
| March | 26.5°C | 15.5°C | 50.7mm | 11.1h | 8 | 10/10 |
| April | 26.5°C | 16.4°C | 148.8mm | 10.3h | 17 | 9/10 |
| May | 25.7°C | 16.9°C | 343.3mm | 8.9h | 25 | 8/10 |
| June | 24.2°C | 16.4°C | 408.2mm | 8.3h | 28 | 8/10 |
| July | 24.8°C | 16.7°C | 341.3mm | 8.7h | 24 | 8/10 |
| August | 24.7°C | 16.4°C | 561.2mm | 8.3h | 28 | 8/10 |
| September | 24.9°C | 16.1°C | 484.9mm | 8.5h | 29 | 8/10 |
| October | 24.2°C | 16.0°C | 579.6mm | 8.0h | 29 | 8/10 |
| November | 23.7°C | 16.2°C | 350.7mm | 8.2h | 25 | 8/10 |
| December | 24.3°C | 15.8°C | 65.0mm | 10.4h | 10 | 10/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Costa Rica and the Costa Rica rainy season guide. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Costa Rica have?
Costa Rica has a mediterranean climate — hot dry summers and mild wet winters. Average highs range from 23.7°C in November to 26.5°C in March.
What is the hottest month in Costa Rica?
March is the hottest month in Costa Rica, with average highs of 26.5°C and lows of 15.5°C.
What is the coldest month in Costa Rica?
November is the coolest month, with average highs of 23.7°C and lows of 15.5°C.
What is the wettest month in Costa Rica?
October is the wettest month, averaging 579.6mm of rainfall over around 29 rainy days.
When is rainy season in Costa Rica?
Rainy season in Costa Rica runs April to November, when rainfall is significantly higher than the rest of the year. Full rainy season guide →
How much rain does Costa Rica get per year?
Costa Rica receives around 3376mm of rain per year. The driest month is February (8.4mm).
When is the best time to visit Costa Rica?
The best time to visit Costa Rica is All year. See the full month-by-month guide →
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For the packing side of things, our sister site has a ready-made checklist: Costa Rica packing list at 247PackingList. For currency, language and country facts see the Costa Rica guide at 247CountryInfo. Some travellers fund a longer stay in Costa Rica by teaching English along the way — a TEFL certificate is usually all it takes.
Trip essentials for Costa Rica
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Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.