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May in Costa Rica

Map of costa Rica weather and rainfall patterns in May
Costa Rica May rainfall patterns. This map may be wetter than actual conditions. The latter part of May is the beginning of the rainy season in Costa Rica.

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May can be fantastic.  The low season is kicking in, there are no crowds, prices are down and although the rains start in May it’s usually nothing like the downpours in September and October…

What’s the Weather Like in May in Costa Rica?

May marks the transition from the dry season to the rainy season in Costa Rica and the weather is a gamble. We’ve marked nearly the whole country as rainier on the map, but just a little bit.  The past five years have been particularly unpredictable with record rainfall in May 2018 and almost a whole month of drizzle in 2019, after a sunny dry break in 2020 La Niña brought early and more intense rains in 2021 and stuck around to make 2022 wetter as well.

Typically the weather starts out dry but by late in the month rainy season weather patterns are once again prevailing.

The rainy season normally comes on slowly.  Some rain in May, a few more rainy days through June and so on until sometime in October or November it’s pouring all the time and then suddenly it’s over in December or January.

This pattern means May is a transition month and beach vacation weather isn’t guaranteed.  We  saw the dry season hang on until June in the drought years from 2013 to 2016 but in May 2018 heavy rains, flooding and landslides hitting particularly hard in the central mountains, San José and the normally arid beach areas of Guanacaste and Nicoya.

Despite the El Niño which normally dries things out, May 2019 was again wetter than average.  A very slow moving tropical low pressure system set up off the north Pacific coast and drew rain across the central, Nicoya and Guanacaste beaches.

The lowland and Pacific beach temperatures in May depend a great deal on when the rains start.  Early in the month it may be more like dry hot April with highs well into the 90’s (32-36 °C) but once the season switches it’s more like June and a few degrees cooler.

Elsewhere in the country average temperatures are less impacted because it’s rained at least a little in April.  Highs are in the 80’s just like most of the year.

The rains are more consistent on the Caribbean side of the central mountains and it’s generally wetter. Afternoon and overnight showers are common in May.

Planning Ahead & Reservations

May is gaining popularity for Costa Rica travelers, but it’s the beginning of the low season.  Advanced reservations may still be necessary for some of the more popular hotels, but if you want the flexibility of traveling without an itinerary set months ahead May is a good choice.

Costs & Availability for Travel in May

As the rains start, the number of travelers decrease and so do the prices – lodging discounts of 10-20% are available in May although transportation and tour costs are relatively constant.

Costa Rica travel budget calculator
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For an accurate idea of how much to budget for a Costa Rica vacation in May try the instant trip cost calculator.

Alternatives to May in Costa Rica

November is the opposite transition month when rainy season ends and the dry season begins, but we’ve found that it’s much more of a gamble. Really wet weather is not uncommon in November and because the ground is saturated with months of moisture landslides that close down roads for weeks or even months are not uncommon.

Alternatives with low season prices and intermediate rainfall include June and August.

Notes:

May weather is normally a bit unpredictable starting out drier and gradually welcoming the rains by the end of the month. 

Currently NOAA is predicting a La Nada (technically called El Niño Southern Oscillation – Neutral) pattern for May of 2023 which amplifies unpredictability. There’s a chance that the “La Niña” that began back in 2021 will persist for a third consecutive year (called a triple dip) and bring on an early start to a wetter than normal rainy season in 2023.

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Calendar of Nature, Holidays & Fiestas – Costa Rica in May

The Costa Rica tide table below is for informational purposes and is not suitable for navigation. The more you see of a turtle, whale or quetzal symbol the more likely you’ll see one. A detailed explanation and legend is also included at the bottom.

 

May 2023
 approximate exchange rate ¢683 per $U.S.
Rise & Set
Tide Times
Pacific
Caribbean
Costa Rica Moon Phase sunrise and sunset
Costa Rica High and Low Tides
dry season    wave size
rainy season    wave size
Fri 1
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑12:35 ↓0:35 ↑5:21 ↓17:50 ↑8:51
↑21:15		 ↓2:23
↓14:53
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Día de los Trabajadores – Labor Day. Parades, marches and the Presidential “state of the union” address to Congress and the people. Cricket matches are a highlight in Puerto Limón.
Sat 2
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑13:33 ↓1:26 ↑5:21 ↓17:51 ↑9:57
↑22:25		 ↓3:26
↓16:04
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Fiesta Pattronale Desamparados – Street fair with music, dancing, traditional food and toro a la Tica (bullfights without the bloodshed)
Sun 3
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑14:30 ↓2:15 ↑5:21 ↓17:51 ↑11:02
↑23:32		 ↓4:32
↓17:13
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Mon 4
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑15:27 ↓3:03 ↑5:20 ↓17:51 ↑12:02
↑		 ↓5:36
↓18:15
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Tue 5
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑16:24 ↓3:51 ↑5:20 ↓17:51 ↑0:31
↑12:57		 ↓6:33
↓19:11
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Wed 6
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑17:23 ↓4:40 ↑5:20 ↓17:51 ↑1:26
↑13:48		 ↓7:27
↓20:03
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Thu 7
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑18:23 ↓5:30 ↑5:19 ↓17:51 ↑2:17
↑14:37		 ↓8:18
↓20:52
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Fri 8
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑19:24 ↓6:24 ↑5:19 ↓17:52 ↑3:07
↑15:25		 ↓9:07
↓21:40
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Sat 9
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑20:25 ↓7:19 ↑5:19 ↓17:52 ↑3:56
↑16:13		 ↓9:55
↓22:28
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Sun 10
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑21:24 ↓8:17 ↑5:19 ↓17:52 ↑4:45
↑17:01		 ↓10:44
↓23:16
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Mon 11
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑22:20 ↓9:14 ↑5:19 ↓17:52 ↑5:34
↑17:51		 ↓11:34
↓
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Tue 12
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑23:11 ↓10:10 ↑5:18 ↓17:52 ↑6:26
↑18:42		 ↓0:05
↓12:25
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Wed 13
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑23:58 ↓11:04 ↑5:18 ↓17:52 ↑7:21
↑19:38		 ↓0:57
↓13:21
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Thu 14
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑23:58 ↓11:54 ↑5:18 ↓17:53 ↑8:20
↑20:39		 ↓1:52
↓14:23
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Fri 15
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑0:41 ↓12:42 ↑5:18 ↓17:53 ↑9:22
↑21:44		 ↓2:51
↓15:30
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Día de San Isidro Labrador – Escazú and San Isidros all over Costa Rica hold street fairs and parades with music, dancing, traditional food, honoring the patron saint of farmers with blessings of animals and crops.
Sat 16
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑1:21 ↓13:28 ↑5:18 ↓17:53 ↑10:24
↑22:48		 ↓3:53
↓16:36
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Fiestas Pattronales San Marcos de Tarrazu, and Coronado – Street fair with music, dancing, traditional food and toro a la Tica (bullfights without the bloodshed)
Sun 17
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑1:59 ↓14:12 ↑5:17 ↓17:53 ↑11:21
↑23:45		 ↓4:53
↓17:36
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Mon 18
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑2:36 ↓14:56 ↑5:17 ↓17:54 ↑12:11
↑		 ↓5:47
↓18:27
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Tue 19
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑3:13 ↓15:41 ↑5:17 ↓17:54 ↑0:36
↑12:54		 ↓6:34
↓19:10
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Wed 20
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑3:51 ↓16:26 ↑5:17 ↓17:54 ↑1:20
↑13:34		 ↓7:16
↓19:49
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Thu 21
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑4:31 ↓17:14 ↑5:17 ↓17:54 ↑2:01
↑14:12		 ↓7:54
↓20:26
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Fri 22
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑5:13 ↓18:04 ↑5:17 ↓17:55 ↑2:40
↑14:49		 ↓8:32
↓21:03
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Sat 23
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑5:59 ↓18:56 ↑5:17 ↓17:55 ↑3:18
↑15:25		 ↓9:09
↓21:40
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Sun 24
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑6:48 ↓19:50 ↑5:17 ↓17:55 ↑3:56
↑16:03		 ↓9:47
↓22:17
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Mon 25
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑7:41 ↓20:45 ↑5:17 ↓17:55 ↑4:35
↑16:42		 ↓10:26
↓22:56
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Tue 26
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑8:36 ↓21:39 ↑5:17 ↓17:56 ↑5:14
↑17:23		 ↓11:07
↓23:37
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Wed 27
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑9:33 ↓22:32 ↑5:17 ↓17:56 ↑5:57
↑18:08		 ↓11:52
↓
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Thu 28
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑10:30 ↓23:23 ↑5:17 ↓17:56 ↑6:44
↑18:57		 ↓0:21
↓12:42
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Fri 29
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑11:26 ↓23:23 ↑5:17 ↓17:56 ↑7:35
↑19:53		 ↓1:09
↓13:37
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Sat 30
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑12:22 ↓0:11 ↑5:17 ↓17:57 ↑8:32
↑20:56		 ↓2:03
↓14:38
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Sun 31
 Costa Rica Moon Phase ↑13:17 ↓0:57 ↑5:17 ↓17:57 ↑9:33
↑22:01		 ↓3:02
↓15:44
olive ridley turtle  green turtle  leather back turtlehumpback whale  quetzal nesting
green turtle  leather back turtle  humpback whale
Costa Rica Moon Phase sunrise and sunset
Costa Rica High and Low Tides
rainy season    wave size
rainy season    wave size
Rise & Set
Tide Times
Pacific
Caribbean

Calendar Legend

Averages for the month

  • Approximate exchange rate
  • General weather pattern for each half of the country
    dry season or rainy season average weather pattern
  • Average surf wave height for each coast
    larger or smaller than average wave height

Shown for each day

  • The phase of the moon, and the moon and sun rise and set times for planning turtle viewing or a night hike (best under the dark skies of a new moon when nocturnal animals are most active).
  • Times for each high and low tide along the outer Pacific coast (gulfs and bays vary). Average height 8 feet (2.5 meters).
    Not intended for navigation.
  • Tides on the east coast occur about 2 hours earlier. However, the average height is only 8 inches (0.2 meters) so levels in the Caribbean Sea do not significantly impact most activities.
  • Natural events are shown as shaded icons for quetzals (nesting), turtles (nesting), and humpback whales (calving) on each coast.
    wildlife calendar species
  • The more solid color shown the more likely the event, the more shaded the less likely.
    more or less likely turtle nesting
  • Baby turtles hatch (usually at night) after approximately 50-70 days incubation so look for nesting activity on the calendar two months prior to your visit if you’d like to see the little ones popping out of the sand..
  • Holidays – Bold indicates a government & bank holiday when most businesses are closed and buses may run on limited schedules.
  • Fiesta and local festival dates are approximate – most include events spread over a week or two so check the schedule locally for more information.