Climate Insights for El Tortuguero

The climate in El Tortuguero is hot. The average annual temperature is 26°C and approximately 2114mm of precipitation falls per year. El Tortuguero receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. El Tortuguero is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: May, April, September. The coldest months are January, February, March, when temperatures can drop to 22°C.

El Tortuguero has relatively stable temperatures year-round, staying within a 10°C range. The warmest month is May, when average highs reach 32°C and the mean temperature sits around 27°C. January is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 22°C and an average of 25°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 7°C between highs and lows.

El Tortuguero is a very wet location, receiving approximately 2114mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 176mm per month. The wettest month is June, averaging 312mm of rainfall. October and July also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is March, with just 48mm. That's 264mm less than June, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic.

El Tortuguero is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 8km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is January, averaging 10km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in September, with average winds dropping to 6km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 4km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 10km/h in winter, 9km/h in spring, 8km/h in summer, 7km/h in autumn.

It is currently autumn in El Tortuguero, which began on September 23, 2026. El Tortuguero is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in May at around 32°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 22°C. Winter is next, beginning on December 21, 2026 (87 days from now).

The best time to visit El Tortuguero is during January, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 25°C with modest rainfall averaging 76mm per month. By contrast, May can be uncomfortably hot with temperatures reaching 32°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 El Tortuguero 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.