Guanacaste Weather in May

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

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Tamarindo Coco Playa Flamingo Sámara

Planning a getaway to Guanacaste, Costa Rica this May and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Guanacaste in May

Guanacaste, Costa Rica is a region in Costa Rica. May in Guanacaste generally has temperatures that range from warm to very warm, with heavy precipitation.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from warm in Puerto Coyote at 30°C (86°F) to very warm in Liberia at 33°C (91°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 23°C (73°F) in Liberia and 25°C (77°F) in Puerto Coyote. The temperatures mentioned for both day and night are typical averages. However some days might get even hotter. It's best to stay prepared by wearing cloths suitable for the warmth.

For a closer look at conditions across Guanacaste, Costa Rica, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In May, precipitation varies across different areas. From heavy rainfall in Puerto Soley with an average of 186 mm (7.3 in) to heavy rainfall in Sámara with 359 mm (14 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is generally plentiful throughout many areas. Tamarindo enjoys about 204 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Guanacaste by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in Guanacaste in May

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

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 Guanacaste

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

Temperature range in Guanacaste (May)

Precipitation variation in Guanacaste (May)

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 poor 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
pleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Tamarindo →

Coco

In May Coco 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 poor 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
23 mm (0.9 in)
207 mm (8.1 in)
231 mm (9.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
17 days
23 days
Weather conditions
perfect
poor
poor
Climate in Coco →

Playa Flamingo

In May Playa Flamingo generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 26°C (79°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
33°C (91°F)
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
Monthly sun hours
265 hours
204 hours
167 hours
Monthly rainfall
27 mm (1.1 in)
217 mm (8.5 in)
247 mm (9.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
17 days
23 days
Weather conditions
perfect
poor
poor
Climate in Playa Flamingo →

Sámara

In May Sámara generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
32°C (90°F)
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly rainfall
93 mm (3.7 in)
359 mm (14 in)
397 mm (16 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
17 days
22 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Sámara →

Playa Grande

In May Playa Grande 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 poor 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
34 mm (1.3 in)
237 mm (9.3 in)
278 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
17 days
23 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Playa Grande →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Guanacaste, 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 Guanacaste in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Tamarindo 32°C (90°F) 26°C (79°F) 242 mm (9.5 in)
Coco 32°C (90°F) 26°C (79°F) 207 mm (8.1 in)
Playa Flamingo 31°C (88°F) 26°C (79°F) 217 mm (8.5 in)
Sámara 30°C (86°F) 25°C (77°F) 359 mm (14 in)
Playa Grande 32°C (90°F) 26°C (79°F) 237 mm (9.3 in)
Nosara 30°C (86°F) 25°C (77°F) 346 mm (14 in)

Guanacaste weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Guanacaste, Costa Rica in May?

Expect poor weather across Guanacaste, Costa Rica in May. The popular destination of Tamarindo averages 32°C (90°F) by day and 26°C (79°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in Guanacaste, Costa Rica in May?

Daytime temperatures in Tamarindo peak at roughly 32°C (90°F) in May, dropping to about 26°C (79°F) overnight.

Does Guanacaste, Costa Rica get a lot of rain in May?

Yes. May brings heavy rainfall to Guanacaste, Costa Rica, with Tamarindo averaging around 242 mm (9.5 in). Expect frequent showers and pack accordingly.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Guanacaste, Costa Rica?

In our opinion, May may not be the ideal time to visit Guanacaste, Costa Rica due to the typically poor weather in Tamarindo.

Generally speaking, January and December provide pleasant weather in Tamarindo. On the other hand, the months of May, June, July, August, September and October tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Guanacaste.

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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