Jaco in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Jaco sees average daytime highs around 27°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 167 mm of rain over about 25 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 27°C. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 63% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Winter is Jaco's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. Jaco has little temperature swing across the year, so its calendar seasons blur — the season framing matters less here than for a place with four distinct seasons. For the whole year in context, see Jaco's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 27°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 26°C
- Rainfall
- 167 mm
- 25 wet days
- Avg wind
- 9 km/h
- Travel score
- 7.1
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Jaco in Winter
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 27°C.
A typical winter day in Jaco reaches about 27°C and drops to 26°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Jaco weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27° / 26° | 28 | 6.3 | 11.5 | 7.4 |
| Feb | 28° / 27° | 16 | 3.4 | 11.7 | 7.9 |
| Mar | 28° / 27° | 23 | 5.8 | 11.9 | 7.3 |
| Apr | 28° / 26° | 108 | 18.4 | 12.2 | 5.1 |
| May | 28° / 26° | 405 | 28.3 | 12.4 | 3.6 |
| Jun | 27° / 26° | 430 | 28.4 | 12.6 | 3.4 |
| Jul | 27° / 26° | 456 | 29 | 12.5 | 3.4 |
| Aug | 27° / 26° | 506 | 29.4 | 12.3 | 3.4 |
| Sep | 27° / 25° | 470 | 29.1 | 12.1 | 3.4 |
| Oct | 27° / 25° | 571 | 29.3 | 11.8 | 3.5 |
| Nov | 27° / 25° | 371 | 25.6 | 11.6 | 4.1 |
| Dec | 27° / 26° | 123 | 15.2 | 11.4 | 5.9 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 63% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Jaco gets around 167 mm of rain over 25 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 9 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 30 min in early December to 11 h 48 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 5.4 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Jaco
None of Jaco's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Jaco's rainy season runs May–November, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Jaco?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is one of the better times to visit Jaco for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Jaco in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Jaco sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 25 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Jaco in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 29°C across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| Comfort | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm | Tropical |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | Tropical |
| Feb | 29 | Tropical |
| Mar | 29 | Tropical |
| Apr | 29 | Tropical |
| May | 29 | Tropical |
| Jun | 29 | Tropical |
| Jul | 29 | Tropical |
| Aug | 29 | Tropical |
| Sep | 29 | Tropical |
| Oct | 28 | Tropical |
| Nov | 28 | Warm |
| Dec | 28 | Tropical |
UV index in Jaco in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Jaco peaks around March 15 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 9 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 9 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Extreme |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 12 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 9 | Very high |
Air quality in Jaco in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Jaco 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).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 9 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 9 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Good |
| Feb | 10 | Good |
| Mar | 11 | Good |
| Apr | 16 | Moderate |
| May | 18 | Moderate |
| Jun | 16 | Moderate |
| Jul | 17 | Moderate |
| Aug | 15 | Moderate |
| Sep | 14 | Moderate |
| Oct | 12 | Moderate |
| Nov | 11 | Good |
| Dec | 9 | Good |
Where is Jaco?
Jaco sits at 9.6°N, 84.6°W, 0 m above sea level, in Costa Rica. The nearest listed city is Esparza, 42 km away.
Topography around Jaco
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Jaco.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Jaco has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 401 m around an average of 35 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 802 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,811 m.
The land around Jaco is covered by water (38%) and trees (31%) within 3 km, water (56%) and trees (35%) within 16 km, and trees (45%) and water (43%) within 80 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
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 Jaco (9.615°, -84.6298°, elevation 0 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.