Costa Rica in February: Pacific or Caribbean Coast?
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February is one of the clearest examples of why Costa Rica's weather should be judged region by region. On the Pacific side, Tamarindo averages 33°C (91°F) during the day, just 3.5 mm (0.1 in) of rain and around 275 hours of sunshine. Across the country on the Caribbean coast, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca averages 28°C (82°F) but receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain and only about 154 hours of sunshine. Jacó, San José and the Arenal area sit between those extremes. If dry beach weather is the priority, Guanacaste is the strongest choice. If Caribbean scenery and culture matter more than rainfall risk, Puerto Viejo can still be rewarding.
Costa Rica in February weather at a glance
Costa Rica is small enough to cross in a day, but mountains, trade winds and exposure to two oceans create large differences in February. The Pacific dry season is well established, especially in the northwest. The Caribbean side follows a different rainfall pattern and can remain much wetter.
| Destination | Daytime | Nighttime | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sunshine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamarindo | 33°C (91°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 3.5 mm (0.1 in) | 5 | 275 hrs |
| Jacó | 29°C (84°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 7 | 252 hrs |
| Fortuna | 27°C (81°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 7 | 252 hrs |
| San José | 24°C (75°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 9 | 265 hrs |
| Puerto Viejo de Talamanca | 28°C (82°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 9 | 154 hrs |
Historical averages from Weather & Climate. Conditions in individual years will vary.
Guanacaste has the strongest weather for a dry beach trip
If you are choosing purely on the likelihood of hot, dry and sunny weather, northwestern Costa Rica is difficult to beat in February. Guanacaste in February is firmly in its dry season. Tamarindo averages 33°C (91°F) during the day and 25°C (77°F) at night, with only 3.5 mm (0.1 in) of rain and around 275 sunshine hours.
The pattern extends beyond Tamarindo. Weather & Climate records 3 mm (0.1 in) of February rain in Coco, 3.1 mm (0.1 in) in Playa Flamingo and 3.3 mm (0.1 in) in Playa Grande. That makes this stretch of the Pacific coast particularly useful for travelers whose plans revolve around beaches, boat trips and long days outside.
There is a practical trade-off. 33°C (91°F) afternoons are considerably hotter than the Central Valley or Arenal area, and shade becomes valuable around midday. For a classic tropical beach holiday, however, the very low rainfall gives Guanacaste the clearest statistical advantage in this comparison.
Jacó is a good central Pacific compromise
Jacó is less dry than Tamarindo, but the February figures remain favorable. Average daytime temperatures are 29°C (84°F), nights stay around 25°C (77°F), rainfall totals 46 mm (1.8 in) and there are approximately 252 hours of sunshine.
That makes Jacó a useful option if you want Pacific beach weather without traveling as far northwest. It also works well as part of a route between San José and the central or southern Pacific coast. Compared with Tamarindo, the difference is clear: Jacó receives more than ten times as much monthly rain, although its total is still far below Puerto Viejo's 197 mm (7.8 in).
Arenal and Fortuna: cooler nights and more rain
The Arenal area offers a different kind of February trip. Fortuna averages 27°C (81°F) during the day and 19°C (66°F) at night, so evenings are noticeably cooler than on either coast. Rainfall reaches 77 mm (3 in) over around seven days, while sunshine totals approximately 252 hours.
Those figures are not as dry as Guanacaste, but they are well suited to a journey focused on rainforest, volcanic scenery and the Arenal area rather than uninterrupted beach time. The cooler nighttime average can also be welcome after the hotter Pacific lowlands.
The important point is that February is not uniformly dry across Costa Rica. Fortuna's 77 mm (3 in) is still relatively modest compared with the Caribbean coast, but it is far removed from the near-rainless conditions around Tamarindo.
San José has the mildest temperatures in this comparison
San José feels very different from the coastal destinations because of its elevation. February averages are 24°C (75°F) during the day and 15°C (59°F) at night, with 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain over around nine days. Sunshine is strong at approximately 265 hours.
For travelers who find tropical heat tiring, these are arguably the easiest temperatures in the table. San José is not a beach destination, but the climate can suit museums, markets, restaurants and the start or end of a wider Costa Rica journey.
San José also illustrates why a simple national temperature is not very useful for Costa Rica. In the same month that Tamarindo averages 33°C (91°F), the capital is almost ten degrees cooler during the day.
Puerto Viejo: warm Caribbean weather, but much wetter
The biggest contrast is on the Caribbean coast. Puerto Viejo de Talamanca in February averages 28°C (82°F) during the day and 23°C (73°F) at night. That sounds ideal for a warm coastal trip, but rainfall reaches 197 mm (7.8 in) and sunshine drops to around 154 hours.
It is therefore risky to choose Puerto Viejo in February on the assumption that Costa Rica is simply in its dry season. The Pacific and Caribbean sides do not share the same rainfall pattern. Puerto Viejo can still have bright, warm periods, but the odds of rain are substantially higher.
That does not make the Caribbean coast a poor choice. It simply changes the reason to go. Puerto Viejo offers a different landscape and atmosphere from Guanacaste, and travelers who value that character may accept the wetter climate. For a weather-first holiday, however, the Pacific coast wins easily.
Pacific or Caribbean coast in February?
The data makes the choice unusually clear. Tamarindo receives 3.5 mm (0.1 in) of rain compared with Puerto Viejo's 197 mm (7.8 in), while sunshine is about 275 hours in Tamarindo versus 154 hours in Puerto Viejo. Daytime temperatures are also higher in Tamarindo at 33°C (91°F) compared with 28°C (82°F).
If you want the highest probability of dry beach days, choose Guanacaste. If you prefer a central Pacific base, Jacó still has favorable weather with 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain. Puerto Viejo makes more sense when the Caribbean coast itself is the reason for the journey and you are comfortable building flexibility into your plans.
Which Costa Rica destination should you choose?
- For the driest beach weather: Tamarindo and the Guanacaste coast, with 3.5 mm (0.1 in) of rain in Tamarindo.
- For a central Pacific beach stop: Jacó, with 29°C (84°F) days and 252 sunshine hours.
- For volcano and rainforest scenery: Fortuna, with milder 27°C (81°F) days and 77 mm (3 in) of rain.
- For comfortable city temperatures: San José, averaging 24°C (75°F) during the day.
- For the Caribbean coast: Puerto Viejo, accepting a much higher 197 mm (7.8 in) rainfall total.
Where is the best weather in Costa Rica in February?
For most travelers defining good weather as hot, sunny and dry, Guanacaste is the strongest answer. Tamarindo's combination of 33°C (91°F) days, 3.5 mm (0.1 in) of rain and 275 sunshine hours is markedly better for a weather-dependent beach trip than the Caribbean coast.
Jacó is a practical alternative with somewhat more rain, while Fortuna and San José work well if beaches are not the sole focus. Puerto Viejo remains warm, but its rainfall total is the key warning in February. Costa Rica may be compact on a map, yet the February climate varies enough that choosing the right coast can completely change the trip.