Climate Insights for Costa Rica

The climate in Costa Rica is warm and mild. The average annual temperature is 23°C and approximately 1442mm of precipitation falls per year. Costa Rica receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Costa Rica is in the Southern Hemisphere. The seasons are reversed — summer runs from December to February, while winter falls between June and August. The summer months are: January, February, December. The coldest months are July, June, August, when temperatures can drop to 13°C.

Costa Rica sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 13°C to 31°C. The warmest month is January, when average highs reach 31°C and the mean temperature sits around 26°C. July is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 13°C and an average of 18°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 10°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between April and May, with a 3°C shift in average temperatures.

Costa Rica is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1442mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 120mm per month. The wettest month is December, averaging 196mm of rainfall. January and October also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is July, with just 52mm. That's 143mm less than December, the wettest month. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the second half (July to December) of the year generally seeing more rainfall.

Costa Rica is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 13km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is August, averaging 15km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in February, with average winds dropping to 12km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 3km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently autumn in Costa Rica, which began on March 20, 2026. Costa Rica is in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed — spring starts in September, summer in December, autumn in March, and winter in June. The warmest period peaks in January at around 31°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in July near 13°C. Winter is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 89 days from now.

The best time to visit Costa Rica is during April, June, July, August and September, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 21°C with modest rainfall averaging 73mm per month. By contrast, January can be uncomfortably hot with temperatures reaching 31°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Costa Rica based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.