Best Time to Visit San José, San José, Costa Rica
Month-by-month climate guide for planning a trip to San José.
San José does not have a month that clearly fits our sunny profiles. Its practical travel window centres on its warmest (April, 21.8°C / 71.2°F) and driest (February, 117 mm / 4.6 in) months. The drier stretch runs through December–June; the wetter half falls in July–November. At the city itself, monthly average temperatures range from 20°C / 68°F in December to 21.8°C / 71.2°F in April, with rainfall from 117 mm / 4.6 in (February) to 433 mm / 17 in (September). These are point-value climate normals sampled at San José, San José, Costa Rica's coordinates — usually more actionable for travellers than the country-wide average. San José's climate is broadly tropical. The full month-by-month table below lets you match your travel window against our five weather profiles.
Recommended months
| Month | Temp | Rain | Feels like |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | 20.5°C68.9°F | 117 mm4.6″ | — |
| March | 21.4°C70.5°F | 122 mm4.8″ | — |
| January | 20.2°C68.4°F | 128 mm5″ | — |
No month at San José matches our sunny profiles. The three above are the driest-and-warmest fallback.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit San José?
San José doesn't have a month that clearly matches our sunny profiles. The practical travel window centres on February (driest, ~117 mm / 4.6 in) and April (warmest, 21.8°C / 71.2°F). Because these are point values at the city, they can differ substantially from Costa Rica's national average.
When is the rainy season in San José?
The rainy season at San José, San José runs through July–November, when monthly rainfall exceeds the annual median of about 334 mm / 13.1 in. The wettest single month is September (433 mm / 17 in).
What is the driest month in San José?
The driest month in San José is February, averaging about 117 mm / 4.6 in of rainfall. Temperature that month averages 20.5°C / 68.9°F.
What months should I avoid visiting San José?
The least comfortable months for travel to San José — based on point-value climate at the city — are January, August, September, October, November, December. These are the wettest or coolest months at this location. Rainfall peaks at 433 mm / 17 in in September, and the coldest month averages 20°C / 68°F.
Is San José climate different from Costa Rica overall?
Yes, usually. Our San José figures are point-value climate normals sampled at the city itself, while our Costa Rica figures are area-weighted averages across the whole country. The two can diverge substantially in geographically diverse or elevation-varied countries. The month-by-month table below reflects San José specifically — usually the more actionable data for a traveller planning to spend time in the city.