Central Valley
San José · Cartago
Costa Rica · Weather & travel planning
Costa Rica Weather Forecast
Explore current conditions by region, check the next few days, and see what the weather is usually like for your travel dates.
Current conditions & the next few days
Weather across Costa Rica
The Pacific and Caribbean have different rainfall patterns. Use the regional forecast rather than one country-wide season label.
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Weather data © OpenWeather · ODbL
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional
Official national forecast
Read the complete IMN bulletin and listen to the Spanish audio →
What is the weather usually like for your trip?
Select a destination and your dates to explore regional climate patterns from 2015–2024. Historical averages help you plan; they cannot predict the weather on a specific future day.
Regional NASA POWER / MERRA-2 estimates, 2015–2024. Terrain, elevation and coastal conditions can differ from the grid. A wet day means at least 1 mm of rain in the regional data.
Plan around regional differences
Pacific destinations often have a more marked dry and rainy cycle. Caribbean rainfall follows a different pattern. In the Central Valley and mountain areas, altitude matters as much as the coast you are visiting. These six travel regions organize the destination cards; they are not a substitute for the IMN’s detailed climatic regions.
Guanacaste
Liberia · Tamarindo
Central Pacific
Jacó · Quepos / Manuel Antonio
South Pacific
Uvita · Puerto Jiménez
Northern Zone
La Fortuna · Sarapiquí
Caribbean
Limón · Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Costa Rica weather questions
Can I check the weather for a trip several months away?
Yes. Use the travel-date planner for historical monthly patterns. For a trip within the available forecast window, consult the short-term forecast as your dates approach.
Does rainy season mean it rains all day?
A seasonal label does not describe every hour of every day. Rainfall varies between coasts, mountains and valleys. Check the dated forecast for your destination and allow flexibility for outdoor plans.
Is the Caribbean weather the same as the Pacific weather?
No. The two coasts can have different rainfall patterns, and mountain conditions can differ from nearby lowlands. Select your region and destination rather than relying on a national average.
How far ahead does this forecast go?
The OpenWeather feed covers approximately five days in three-hour intervals. Daily cards summarize the available samples; the first and last dates may be partial days.
What does the rain percentage on the forecast mean?
It is the highest precipitation probability among the available three-hour forecast intervals for that date. It is not the percentage of the day that will be rainy or a probability calculated for the full day.
What does the historical wet-day percentage mean?
It is the share of sampled days with at least 1 mm of precipitation in the selected calendar months during 2015–2024. It describes past regional patterns, not the chance of rain on your specific trip dates.
Where should I check official weather advisories?
Consult the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) for the latest official forecast and advisories. A general weather forecast does not assess sea conditions, trail access or the safety of a particular activity.
Where our weather information comes from
Current conditions and short-term forecasts: OpenWeather. Official national information: Instituto Meteorológico Nacional. Travel-date climate patterns: NASA POWER daily regional data, 2015–2024.
- OpenWeather: five-day / three-hour forecast
- Instituto Meteorológico Nacional: official forecasts and advisories
- NASA POWER: daily climate data and methodology
- Visit Costa Rica / ICT: regional climate guide
Short-term forecast dates use Costa Rica time (UTC−6). Past observations are not a forecast. Data may be unavailable during provider or network interruptions.
Planning an outdoor experience?
Use the forecast to prepare your packing list and discuss the day’s conditions with your local guide.
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