Esparza weather in May

In May, Esparza sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 412 mm of rain across 29.9 wet days and about 12.5 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 4th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 3% of the time in May, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 18 min at the start of May to 12 h 30 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Esparza's 7th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Esparza's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
5th warmest
Overnight low
24°
12th coldest
Rainfall
412 mm
29.9 wet days
Daylight
12 h 30 min
5:21 AM – 5:49 PM
Cloud cover
86%
7th clearest
Wind
5 km/h
5th windiest
Solar energy
4.85 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.1
out of 10

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month.

A typical May day in Esparza reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 24°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 1°C cooler than April and on par with June.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12924
22924
32924
42924
52924
62924
72924
82924
92924
102924
112924
122824
132824
142824
152824
162824
172824
182824
192824
202824
212824
222824
232824
242824
252824
262824
272824
282824
292824
302824
312824

How May really feels in Esparza

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

May sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Esparza weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 5th-warmest and 4th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 23°24811.55.9
Feb31° / 23°164.511.75.7
Mar31° / 23°309.711.94.9
Apr30° / 24°12222.512.23.7
May28° / 24°41229.912.53.1
Jun28° / 24°41229.712.63.0
Jul28° / 24°36930.512.53.2
Aug28° / 23°41430.712.33.2
Sep28° / 23°40929.812.13.2
Oct27° / 23°47930.611.83.2
Nov28° / 23°28227.211.53.7
Dec28° / 23°8217.611.45.1

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 3% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 6% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 90%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12080
21981
31882
41684
51684
61585
71585
81486
91486
101387
111387
121288
131189
141189
15991
16991
17991
18892
19793
20694
21694
22496
23496
24496
25496
26496
27397
28397
29397
30397
31397

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Esparza gets around 412 mm of rain over 29.9 wet days in May. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 96% and peaks near 98% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
192
292
393
493
594
694
794
895
995
1095
1195
1296
1396
1496
1597
1697
1798
1898
1998
2098
2198
2298
2398
2498
2598
2698
2798
2898
2998
3098
3198

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of May feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, May lands in the oppressive band about 96% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
15932
24942
33952
43952
53952
62962
72962
82962
91972
101972
111963
121963
131963
141963
151963
161963
171963
181954
191954
201954
211963
221963
230973
240973
250973
260973
270973
280982
290982
300982
310982

Wind in May

Winds average 5 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 5 km/h on the calmest days to 6 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
65calm
75calm
85calm
95calm
105calm
115calm
125calm
135calm
145calm
155calm
165calm
175calm
185calm
195calm
205calm
215calm
225calm
235calm
245calm
255calm
265calm
275calm
285calm
295calm
305calm
315calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 18 min at the start of May to 12 h 30 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 12 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:25 AM to 5:20 AM, and sunset from 5:46 PM to 5:52 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.35:255:46
212.45:255:46
312.45:255:47
412.45:245:47
512.45:245:47
612.45:245:47
712.45:235:47
812.45:235:47
912.45:235:47
1012.45:235:48
1112.45:225:48
1212.45:225:48
1312.45:225:48
1412.45:225:48
1512.55:215:48
1612.55:215:49
1712.55:215:49
1812.55:215:49
1912.55:215:49
2012.55:215:49
2112.55:205:50
2212.55:205:50
2312.55:205:50
2412.55:205:50
2512.55:205:51
2612.55:205:51
2712.55:205:51
2812.55:205:51
2912.55:205:52
3012.55:205:52
3112.55:205:52

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 4.85 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4 kWh/m² to a high of 6.47 kWh/m² in March across the year — May's 4.85 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.5Bright
25.4Bright
35.4Bright
45.4Bright
55.3Bright
65.3Bright
75.2Bright
85.2Bright
95.2Bright
105.1Bright
115.1Bright
125.0Bright
135.0Bright
144.9Bright
154.9Bright
164.8Bright
174.8Bright
184.7Bright
194.7Bright
204.6Bright
214.6Bright
224.6Bright
234.6Bright
244.5Bright
254.5Bright
264.5Bright
274.5Bright
284.5Bright
294.5Bright
304.5Bright
314.5Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Esparza

In seasonPeak

In May, Esparza sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Esparza's rainy season runs May–November, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is May a good time to visit Esparza?

Our two travel scores rate May for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

3.1
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
3.7
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

May is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Esparza.

What to pack for Esparza in May

From May's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In May, Esparza sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 30 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Esparza in May

The nearest coast averages about 29°C in May — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 14 km away) is warmest in April at about 29°C and coldest in November near 28°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan29Tropical
Feb29Tropical
Mar29Tropical
Apr29Tropical
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct28Tropical
Nov28Warm
Dec28Tropical

UV index in Esparza in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Esparza peaks around March 12 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 10 (very high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highMar 12UV 13Dec 17UV 10
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct11Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec9Very high

Air quality in Esparza in May

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where May falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Esparza is worst in May — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (January, 9 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodMay 1617 µg/m³Jan 19 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb10Good
Mar11Good
Apr16Moderate
May18Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep14Moderate
Oct12Moderate
Nov11Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Esparza?

Esparza sits at 10.0°N, 84.7°W, 223 m above sea level, in Costa Rica. The nearest listed city is Chacarita, 12 km away.

San_Ramon_MonteverdeJacoSan Rafael AbajoQuesadaAlajuela

Topography around Esparza

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Esparza.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Esparza has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 320 m around an average of 182 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,452 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,891 m.

The land around Esparza is covered by trees (60%) and grassland (27%) within 3 km, trees (55%) and grassland (25%) within 16 km, and trees (54%) and water (25%) within 80 km.

3 km
320 m
16 km
1,452 m
80 km
2,891 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermangroves
May weather nearby: Chacarita 12 km · Puntarenas 19 km · San_Ramon_ 24 km · Monteverde 38 km · Jaco 42 km · San Rafael Abajo 45 km · Quesada 45 km · Alajuela 50 km

Costa Rica travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 59% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$19,970
2025
Happiness
7.4 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
81%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
17.7
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
14.8
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 516
Religion
Roman Catholic 48%none 27%Evangelical and Pentecostal 20%other 3%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Esparza (9.992°, -84.6663°, elevation 223 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).