Weather in December in Costa Rica
Considering a trip to Costa Rica this December and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:
What is the weather like in Costa Rica in December?
Costa Rica has a wide variety of climate types. During December, you can expect temperatures that range from pleasant to very warm and precipitation levels ranging from low to heavy.
Temperatures
The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from pleasant in Cachí at 22°C to very warm in Santa Cruz at 32°C. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 23°C in Santa Cruz and 14°C in Cachí.
Precipitation
In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From low rainfall in Ocotal with an average of 12 mm to heavy rainfall in Matapalo with 509 mm.Average sunshine
The days are mostly sunny, with an average total of around 233 hours of sunshine in Jacó. The sunlight during this month doesn't just make the days brighter, it also seems to make everyone a bit more cheerful.To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Costa Rica in December, check out the map below. For more details on the yearly weather, visit our Costa Rica climate page.
Where to go in Costa Rica in December
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Popular destinations
What is the weather like in December for the 5 most popular destinations in Costa Rica?
Jacó
In December Jacó generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.
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San José
In December San José generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.
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Tamarindo
In December Tamarindo generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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Puerto Viejo
In December Puerto Viejo generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Fortuna
In December Fortuna generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.
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Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in Costa Rica.
Is December the best time to visit Costa Rica?
In our opinion, December is a good time to visit Costa Rica with overall tolerable weather in Jacó.
Generally speaking, January and February provide perfect weather in Jacó. On the other hand, the months of May, June, July, August, September, October and November tend to have poor weather conditions.
Interested in more climate information?
We have much more information about the climate in Costa Rica.
Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.
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.