AI-generatedSan José, Costa Rica at a glance
- Best time
- Jan – Mar
- Warmest month
- Mar · 26°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,610 h
- Rain a year
- 2,710 mm
- Climate
- Mediterranean
- Time zone
- UTC−6
- Elevation
- 1,133 m
Climate in San José, Costa Rica
San José, Costa Rica has a Mediterranean climate with warm to hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. March is the warmest month with average highs of 26 °C, while October is the coolest at 24 °C. With around 1,610 hours of sunshine a year, San José, Costa Rica is moderately sunny; March is the sunniest month with 6.3 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: January – March
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 21°
- Midday, 13:00: about 24°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 23°
- Evening, 20:00: about 20°
- Night, 23:00: about 19°
05:2417:20
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:11–05:52 · evening 16:51–17:33
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:03–05:11 · evening 17:33–17:41
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in San José, Costa Rica in October?
In October, San José, Costa Rica is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 29 days, adding up to 459 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in San José, Costa Rica.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 55 min05:24 – 17:20
- UV index
- 13 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 18 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 7 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 92 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−6America/Costa_Rica
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %3 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in San José, Costa Rica
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 3.2 of 11.9 hours of daylight in San José, Costa Rica, 27 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in San José, Costa Rica
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 13 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in April (UV 15).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 20 min
- Olive skin
- about 25 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in San José, Costa Rica: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, San José, Costa Rica has about 29 rainy days with 459 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in San José, Costa Rica
How breezy and how cloudy San José, Costa Rica is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in San José, Costa Rica typically peaks at 7 km/h during the day: Beaufort 2, light air.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 92 % of the sky over San José, Costa Rica: mostly overcast, with about 3.2 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in San José, Costa Rica
How often the day gets hot in San José, Costa Rica (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, San José, Costa Rica has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 24 °C: often muggy. The air feels warmer than the thermometer says: light, airy clothes and slow days help.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in San José, Costa Rica
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Pleasant 15–20°
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
PleasantOctober: nights around 18°. Ideal for sleeping, often with the window open. Muggy on about 18 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (17°), the warmest in May (18°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) all year round. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 150 days a year, mostly from May to November.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 85 | 25° | 17° | 5.8 h | 6 | 28 |
| FebruaryFeb | 90 | 26° | 17° | 6.2 h | 5 | 20 |
| MarchMar | 88 | 26° | 18° | 6.3 h | 6 | 22 |
| AprilApr | 71 | 26° | 18° | 5.4 h | 12 | 66 |
| MayMay | 53 | 25° | 18° | 3.8 h | 25 | 330 |
| JuneJun | 52 | 25° | 18° | 3.5 h | 27 | 393 |
| JulyJul | 52 | 25° | 18° | 3.5 h | 25 | 269 |
| AugustAug | 53 | 25° | 18° | 3.8 h | 26 | 355 |
| SeptemberSep | 52 | 24° | 18° | 3.6 h | 29 | 425 |
| OctoberOct | 51 | 24° | 18° | 3.2 h | 29 | 459 |
| NovemberNov | 51 | 24° | 18° | 3.3 h | 23 | 267 |
| DecemberDec | 70 | 24° | 17° | 4.7 h | 12 | 76 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
9.93° N, 84.08° W · 1,133 m · America/Costa_Rica
Best time to visit San José, Costa Rica
The best time to visit San José, Costa Rica is from January to March. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from December to April. Rain is most frequent from May to November; the wettest month is October with 459 mm.
San José, Costa Rica through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
San José, Costa Rica in spring
Mar – May
Good
- 25–26 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 42 rainy days in all
San José, Costa Rica in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 25 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 78 rainy days in all
San José, Costa Rica in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 24 °C by day
- 3 h of sun a day
- 80 rainy days in all
San José, Costa Rica in winter
Dec – Feb
Excellent
- 24–26 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 22 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in San José, Costa Rica for you.
Your best months: January – March
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in San José, Costa Rica
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
February has the better holiday weather in San José, Costa Rica: score 90 against 51. In February, days are 2 °C warmer than in October. February has 24 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in February.
| Month | October | February |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 51 | 90better |
| Day high | 24° | 26° |
| Night low | 18° | 17° |
| Sunshine | 3.2 h | 6.2 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 29 | 5better |
| Rainfall | 459 mm | 20 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 18 | 1better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Dec – Apr
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
May – Nov
12 or more rainy days
San José, Costa Rica month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
85January25° · 6 h
In January, San José, Costa Rica is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 28 mm. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in San José, Costa Rica.
San José, Costa Rica in January90February26° · 6 h
In February, San José, Costa Rica is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 20 mm in total. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in San José, Costa Rica.
San José, Costa Rica in February88March26° · 6 h
In March, San José, Costa Rica is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 22 mm. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in San José, Costa Rica.
San José, Costa Rica in March71April26° · 5 h
In April, San José, Costa Rica is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 66 mm in total. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in San José, Costa Rica.
San José, Costa Rica in April53May25° · 4 h
In May, San José, Costa Rica is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 25 days, adding up to 330 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in San José, Costa Rica.
San José, Costa Rica in May52June25° · 4 h
In June, San José, Costa Rica is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 393 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in San José, Costa Rica.
San José, Costa Rica in June52July25° · 4 h
In July, San José, Costa Rica is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 25 days, adding up to 269 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in San José, Costa Rica.
San José, Costa Rica in July53August25° · 4 h
In August, San José, Costa Rica is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 26 days, adding up to 355 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in San José, Costa Rica.
San José, Costa Rica in August52September24° · 4 h
In September, San José, Costa Rica is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 29 days, adding up to 425 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in San José, Costa Rica.
San José, Costa Rica in September51October24° · 3 h
In October, San José, Costa Rica is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 29 days, adding up to 459 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in San José, Costa Rica.
San José, Costa Rica in October51November24° · 3 h
In November, San José, Costa Rica is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 23 days, adding up to 267 mm. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in San José, Costa Rica.
San José, Costa Rica in November70December24° · 5 h
In December, San José, Costa Rica is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 76 mm in total. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in San José, Costa Rica.
San José, Costa Rica in DecemberSan José, Costa Rica compared
Put San José, Costa Rica side by side with another destination.
No destination found
San José vs. Tamarindo
In October the holiday weather in San José and Tamarindo is about equally good (score 51 vs. 47). During the day Tamarindo is 4 °C warmer than San José. Tamarindo gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | San José | Tamarindo |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 51 | 47 |
| Daytime high | 24° | 28° |
| Sea | – | 28° |
| Sunshine | 3 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 29 | 28 |
| Best time | Jan – Mar | Dec – Mar |
Through the year
Costa Rica in October: the best places
In October, San José, Costa Rica ranks 2 of 2 destinations in this country.
- Tamarindo28°28°64
- 2San JoséThis page24°51
Planning a trip to San José, Costa Rica
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
San José, Costa Rica in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
San José, Costa Rica has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 78) and its weakest during October half-term (score 51).
- 76
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 26 °C by day
- 5.7 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 53
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 25 °C by day
- 3.7 h of sun a day
- 25 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 53
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 25 °C by day
- 3.7 h of sun a day
- 26 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 51
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 24 °C by day
- 3.2 h of sun a day
- 29 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 78
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
GoodBest holidays
- 25 °C by day
- 5.3 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 11 h
- Distance
- 8,710 km
- Time zone
- UTC−6
- Jet lag
- About 5 days (7 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about San José, Costa Rica
When is the best time to visit San José, Costa Rica?
The best time to visit San José, Costa Rica is from January to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in San José, Costa Rica?
March is the warmest month, with average highs of 26 °C and nights around 18 °C. October is the coolest month at 24 °C.
When does it rain most in San José, Costa Rica?
Rain is most frequent from May to November; the wettest month is October with 459 mm. The driest month is February with 20 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does San José, Costa Rica get?
San José, Costa Rica gets around 1,610 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is March with 6.3 hours a day; in October there are 3.2 hours a day.
What time zone is San José, Costa Rica in?
San José, Costa Rica uses the time zone America/Costa_Rica, at UTC−6 all year.
How long is the flight from London to San José, Costa Rica?
A nonstop flight from London to San José, Costa Rica takes about 11 h, for a straight-line distance of about 8,710 km.
Which school holidays are best for San José, Costa Rica?
San José, Costa Rica has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 78) and its weakest during October half-term (score 51). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 76, May half-term 53, Summer holidays 53, October half-term 51, Christmas holidays 78.
Near San José, Costa Rica
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like San José, Costa Rica
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to San José, Costa Rica's – good alternatives.