La Fortuna weather in May

In May, La Fortuna sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 255 mm of rain across 24.6 wet days and about 12.5 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 6th-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 4% of the time in May, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 24 min at the start of May to 12 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is La Fortuna's 7th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see La Fortuna's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
21°
12th coldest
Rainfall
255 mm
24.6 wet days
Daylight
12 h 30 min
5:20 AM – 5:49 PM
Cloud cover
85%
7th clearest
Wind
6 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
4.63 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.7
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 La Fortuna reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 21°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs on par with April and about 1°C warmer than June.

15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12921
22921
32921
42921
52921
62921
72921
82921
92921
102921
112921
122921
132821
142821
152822
162822
172822
182822
192822
202822
212822
222822
232822
242822
252822
262822
272822
282822
292822
302822
312822

La Fortuna weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 2nd-warmest and 6th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 19°11015.311.56.1
Feb26° / 19°548.111.77.1
Mar28° / 20°326.611.97.0
Apr29° / 21°521012.25.5
May28° / 21°25524.612.53.7
Jun28° / 21°30428.812.63.3
Jul27° / 21°26028.112.63.6
Aug28° / 21°24328.512.33.5
Sep28° / 21°2882912.13.3
Oct27° / 21°31929.711.83.4
Nov26° / 20°2912611.53.9
Dec26° / 20°19721.911.44.9

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 4% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 9% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 87%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12674
22476
32476
42377
52179
62179
72179
81981
91882
101882
111783
121684
131585
141486
151387
161288
171189
181090
19991
20892
21892
22694
23694
24694
25694
26595
27595
28595
29595
30496
31496

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

La Fortuna gets around 255 mm of rain over 24.6 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 80% and peaks near 96% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
154
255
357
459
560
662
764
866
968
1070
1173
1275
1377
1480
1582
1684
1786
1887
1989
2090
2191
2292
2393
2493
2594
2694
2795
2895
2995
3095
3196

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 79% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
114851
214554
314356
414158
513960
613762
713564
813366
903169
1002971
1102773
1202575
1302377
1402080
1501882
1601783
1701585
1801486
1901288
2001189
2101189
2201090
230991
240991
250892
260892
270793
280793
290694
300694
310694

Wind in May

Winds average 6 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 5 km/h on the calmest days to 8 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
18calm
28calm
38calm
48calm
58calm
68calm
78calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
235calm
245calm
255calm
265calm
275calm
285calm
295calm
305calm
315calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 24 min at the start of May to 12 h 36 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 5:19 AM, and sunset from 5:47 PM to 5:53 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.45:255:47
212.45:245:47
312.45:245:47
412.45:245:47
512.45:235:47
612.45:235:47
712.45:235:48
812.45:225:48
912.45:225:48
1012.45:225:48
1112.45:225:48
1212.55:215:48
1312.55:215:49
1412.55:215:49
1512.55:215:49
1612.55:205:49
1712.55:205:49
1812.55:205:50
1912.55:205:50
2012.55:205:50
2112.55:205:50
2212.55:205:51
2312.55:195:51
2412.55:195:51
2512.55:195:51
2612.55:195:52
2712.55:195:52
2812.55:195:52
2912.65:195:52
3012.65:195:53
3112.65:195:53

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 4.63 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.65 kWh/m² to a high of 5.86 kWh/m² in March across the year — May's 4.63 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.3Bright
25.2Bright
35.2Bright
45.2Bright
55.1Bright
65.1Bright
75.0Bright
85.0Bright
94.9Bright
104.9Bright
114.8Bright
124.8Bright
134.7Bright
144.7Bright
154.6Bright
164.6Bright
174.5Bright
184.5Bright
194.5Bright
204.4Bright
214.4Bright
224.4Bright
234.3Bright
244.3Bright
254.3Bright
264.3Bright
274.3Bright
284.3Bright
294.3Bright
304.3Bright
314.3Bright
Planning a trip in May

Is May a good time to visit La Fortuna?

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

3.7
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
4.4
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

May is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in La Fortuna.

What to pack for La Fortuna in May

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

In May, La Fortuna sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 21°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 25 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near La Fortuna 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 66 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 La Fortuna in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 13 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in La Fortuna peaks around March 17 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 10 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeMar 17UV 14Dec 16UV 10
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec10Very high

Air quality in La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna is worst in May — around 23 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.5× the cleanest month (January, 10 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodMay 1623 µg/m³Jan 1210 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb11Good
Mar13Moderate
Apr21Moderate
May23Moderate
Jun21Moderate
Jul22Moderate
Aug20Moderate
Sep18Moderate
Oct15Moderate
Nov12Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is La Fortuna?

La Fortuna sits at 10.5°N, 84.6°W, 0 m above sea level, in Costa Rica. The nearest listed city is Monteverde, 26 km away.

MonteverdeQuesadaSan_Ramon_CañasEsparzaChacaritaPuntarenasEl Castillo

Topography around La Fortuna

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around La Fortuna has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 281 m around an average of 270 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,738 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,891 m.

The land around La Fortuna is covered by grassland (55%) and trees (42%) within 3 km, trees (63%) and grassland (35%) within 16 km, and trees (63%) and grassland (26%) within 80 km.

3 km
281 m
16 km
1,738 m
80 km
2,891 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswatermangroves
May weather nearby: Monteverde 26 km · Quesada 28 km · San_Ramon_ 47 km · Cañas 50 km · Esparza 53 km · Chacarita 56 km · Puntarenas 59 km · El Castillo 67 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 La Fortuna (10.4709°, -84.6453°, 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. 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).