Arenal Volcano National Park

Arenal Volcano National Park Weather in May

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

Are you planning a trip a to Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica in May and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in Arenal Volcano National Park in May

Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica is a region in Costa Rica. May in Arenal Volcano National Park generally has warm temperatures, with heavy precipitation.

Temperatures

You can expect warm maximum daytime temperatures of around 29°C (84°F) and nighttime temperatures around 21°C (70°F) in El Castillo de La Fortuna. The temperatures mentioned for daytime and nighttime are general averages. However there can be days that surpass these temperatures. So equip yourself with clothing that can handle the potential heat.

For a closer look at conditions across Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From heavy rainfall in La Fortuna with an average of 243 mm (9.6 in) to heavy rainfall in El Castillo de La Fortuna with 264 mm (10 in).

Average sunshine

May brings good sunshine to many areas. El Castillo de La Fortuna sees around 203 hours of sunlight, great for visitors looking for bright days.

Explore Arenal Volcano National Park by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Arenal Volcano National Park — and find the best time to visit. (based on El Castillo de La Fortuna)

Best Places to Visit in Arenal Volcano National Park in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Arenal Volcano National Park.

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 Arenal Volcano National Park

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica?

Temperature range in Arenal Volcano National Park (May)

Precipitation variation in Arenal Volcano National Park (May)

El Castillo de La Fortuna

In May El Castillo de La 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 poor that month.

May
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
55 mm (2.2 in)
264 mm (10 in)
319 mm (13 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
19 days
23 days
Weather conditions

Nuevo Arenal

In May Nuevo Arenal generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 22°C (72°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
31°C (88°F)
30°C (86°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly rainfall
56 mm (2.2 in)
245 mm (9.6 in)
305 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
18 days
23 days
Weather conditions

La Fortuna

In May La Fortuna generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 22°C (72°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
28°C (82°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly rainfall
55 mm (2.2 in)
243 mm (9.6 in)
270 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
18 days
20 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Arenal Volcano National Park, 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 Arenal Volcano National Park in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
El Castillo de La Fortuna 29°C (84°F) 21°C (70°F) 264 mm (10 in)
Nuevo Arenal 30°C (86°F) 22°C (72°F) 245 mm (9.6 in)
La Fortuna 28°C (82°F) 22°C (72°F) 243 mm (9.6 in)

Arenal Volcano National Park weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica in May?

Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica typically experiences poor weather in May, part of the season. Daytime highs in El Castillo de La Fortuna average around 29°C (84°F), and temperatures drop to about 21°C (70°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica in May?

El Castillo de La Fortuna averages a daytime maximum of 29°C (84°F) in May, with overnight lows close to 21°C (70°F).

Does Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica get a lot of rain in May?

Rainfall in Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica peaks during May. El Castillo de La Fortuna averages roughly 264 mm (10 in), so frequent and sometimes heavy showers are the norm.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica?

In our view, May might not be the best time to travel to Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica with often poor weather in El Castillo de La Fortuna.

On average, the best time to visit Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica is in January, February and March with generally perfect weather in El Castillo de La Fortuna. On the other hand, the months of May, June, September and October tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Arenal Volcano National Park.

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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