San Jose, Costa Rica: When to Go and Weather

Weather: Costa Rica's capital city isn't on the beach - it's located in the middle of the country near the tropical rainforest. Though San Jose isn't coastal, the city isn't far from the Pacific Ocean (to the west) and the Caribbean Sea (to the east), so the climate is influenced by tropical storms and sea winds. The city is also situated in an active volcanic zone where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common occurrences.

Considering all of these dramatic influences, San Jose weather is fairly mild. The climate consists of two seasons: the dry season, with warm weather and generally clear skies from December to April, and the wet season, with persistent rain showers, wind, and high humidity from June to November. Travelers should check with the National Hurricane Center (www.nhc.noaa.gov) if considering a trip to the area during the storm season. Temperatures range from 70 degrees F to 85 degrees F year round, though the humidity can make the air feel much hotter. Precipitation, of course, is minimal during the dry season, though the rainy season sees monthly averages of more than 10 inches of rainfall.

Looking for local weather reports in English? Try the Tico Times www.ticotimes.net or Inside Costa Rica www.insidecostarica.com.

When to Go: Peak Season
San Jose sees the most tourist traffic during Costa Rica's driest season. The months of December through April are the most popular time to travel to the region, and while many tourists are only passing through San Jose on their way to the beaches and ecological reserves elsewhere in Costa Rica, the city can still get very crowded. Hotel rooms can be hard to come by, and sightseeing stops throng with guidebook-toting tourists, but the weather is sunny and generally comfortable (if you don't mind a little humidity.) If you'll be stopping in San Jose during this time, don't take anything for granted: you'll want to reserve accommodations well in advance.

When to Go: Off Season
Costa Rica's tourism board calls the months of June through October the 'green season.' The phrase puts a positive spin on a geographical inevitability: it rains just about every day in San Jose's off season, except for a dry spell for a few weeks in June and July. There are plenty of sunny, pleasant days during the season, but you can't rely on good weather in the city or at the beach. Naturally, the crowds are smaller and hotel prices are much less than their full season rates. Humidity can make the city sticky and uncomfortable, so make sure that your hotel is air-conditioned.

When to Go: Shoulder Season
November and May are San Jose's shoulder season. The former leads into the peak season, while the latter sees fading numbers of visitors as the dry months end. In May and November, rain showers fall in the city nearly everyday. You'll still find that hotels are booked up in advance with travelers passing through the city, so you'll need to arrange your accommodations ahead of time, but in general, the city is much quieter than usual at this time, and you'll have the museums and cathedrals all to yourself when you head out for sightseeing. After the rainclouds pass through, head to the city's plazas for a little clear weather and fresh air.

• Mon

   

  Scattered Thunder- storms

  75  57

• Tue

   

  Scattered Thunder- storms

  76  57

• Wed

   

  Scattered Thunder- storms

  76  60

• Thu

   

  Scattered Thunder- storms

  79  60

• Fri

   

  Scattered Thunder- storms

  79  60

• Sat

   

  Isolated Thunder- storms

  79  59

• Sun

   

  Isolated Thunder- storms

  79  59

Get more information on San Jose weather.