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Costa Rica Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Costa Rica in May.

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Jacó San José Tamarindo Fortuna

Planning a journey to Costa Rica this May and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Costa Rica in May

In May, Costa Rica experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from warm to very warm and heavy precipitation.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between warm in Orosí at 23°C (73°F) to very warm in Santa Cruz at 34°C (93°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 25°C (77°F) in Santa Cruz and 15°C (59°F) in Orosí.

To explore the conditions in Costa Rica in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From heavy rainfall in Playa el Jobo with an average of 177 mm (7 in) to heavy rainfall in Matapalo with 787 mm (31 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is generally plentiful throughout many areas. Jacó enjoys about 203 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Costa Rica by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Costa Rica - and find the best time to visit. (based on Jacó)

January29°C (84°F) February29°C (84°F) March30°C (86°F) April29°C (84°F) May29°C (84°F) June29°C (84°F) This monthJuly28°C (82°F) August28°C (82°F) September28°C (82°F) October28°C (82°F) November28°C (82°F) December28°C (82°F)
Best Time to Visit Costa Rica →

Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Costa Rica.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Costa Rica

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica?

Temperature range in Costa Rica (May)

Precipitation variation in Costa Rica (May)

Jacó

In May Jacó generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
255 hours
203 hours
156 hours
Monthly rainfall
167 mm (6.6 in)
491 mm (19 in)
541 mm (21 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
17 days
22 days
Weather conditions
very good
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Jacó →

San José

In May San José generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 17°C (63°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
17°C (63°F)
17°C (63°F)
Monthly sun hours
241 hours
183 hours
145 hours
Monthly rainfall
123 mm (4.8 in)
403 mm (16 in)
455 mm (18 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
19 days
24 days
Weather conditions
very good
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in San José →

Tamarindo

In May Tamarindo generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 32°C (90°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 26°C (79°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
33°C (91°F)
32°C (90°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
265 hours
204 hours
167 hours
Monthly rainfall
36 mm (1.4 in)
242 mm (9.5 in)
286 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
17 days
22 days
Weather conditions
very good
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Tamarindo →

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

In May Puerto Viejo de Talamanca generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
174 hours
171 hours
133 hours
Monthly rainfall
202 mm (8 in)
399 mm (16 in)
424 mm (17 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
18 days
22 days
Weather conditions
mixed
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca →

Fortuna

In May Fortuna generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 21°C (70°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
21°C (70°F)
21°C (70°F)
Monthly sun hours
255 hours
203 hours
156 hours
Monthly rainfall
64 mm (2.5 in)
274 mm (11 in)
330 mm (13 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
18 days
23 days
Weather conditions
very good
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Fortuna →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Costa Rica.

In our records: Costa Rica May extremes

Notable May records observed across cities in Costa Rica in our climate database (1994 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the warmest May day in Costa Rica reached 40°C (104°F) in Sámara on May 13, 1998.
  • In our records, the coldest May daytime high in Costa Rica was 19°C (66°F) in Puntarenas on May 29, 2008.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Costa Rica in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Jacó 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 491 mm (19 in)
San José 25°C (77°F) 17°C (63°F) 403 mm (16 in)
Tamarindo 32°C (90°F) 26°C (79°F) 242 mm (9.5 in)
Fortuna 29°C (84°F) 21°C (70°F) 274 mm (11 in)
Santa Teresa 29°C (84°F) 26°C (79°F) 323 mm (13 in)
Uvita 27°C (81°F) 22°C (72°F) 714 mm (28 in)

Costa Rica weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Costa Rica in May?

May in Costa Rica brings less favorable weather. In Jacó, daytime temperatures are typically around 29°C (84°F) and nighttime lows hover near 25°C (77°F).

What is the average temperature in Costa Rica in May?

In Jacó, the average daytime high in May is 29°C (84°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 25°C (77°F).

Does Costa Rica get a lot of rain in May?

Yes. May brings heavy rainfall to Costa Rica, with Jacó averaging around 491 mm (19 in). Expect frequent showers and pack accordingly.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Costa Rica?

In our opinion, May may not be the ideal time to visit Costa Rica due to the typically less favorable weather in Jacó.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in January and February offering mostly excellent weather in Jacó. On the other hand, the months of May, June, July, August, September, October and November tend to have less favorable weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Costa Rica.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Costa Rica? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Costa Rica.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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