Manuel Antonio weather in March

In March, Manuel Antonio sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 131 mm of rain across 24.5 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 1st-warmest and 11th-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 33% of the time in March, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 48 min at the start of March to 12 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Manuel Antonio's 2nd-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Manuel Antonio's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
1st warmest
Overnight low
24°
10th coldest
Rainfall
131 mm
24.5 wet days
Daylight
11 h 54 min
5:48 AM – 5:44 PM
Cloud cover
53%
2nd clearest
Wind
5 km/h
9th windiest
Solar energy
6.26 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.5
out of 10

Temperature in March

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

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

A typical March day in Manuel Antonio reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 24°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs on par with February and on par with April.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12724
22824
32824
42824
52824
62824
72824
82824
92824
102824
112824
122824
132824
142824
152824
162824
172824
182824
192824
202824
212824
222824
232824
242824
252824
262824
272824
282824
292824
302824
312824

Manuel Antonio weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 1st-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 23°21626.411.54.3
Feb27° / 23°12521.111.74.8
Mar28° / 24°13124.511.94.5
Apr27° / 24°34228.312.23.6
May27° / 24°80530.912.43.2
Jun27° / 24°81929.912.53.2
Jul27° / 23°9063112.53.2
Aug27° / 23°9583112.33.2
Sep27° / 23°80529.912.13.2
Oct26° / 23°96330.911.83.2
Nov26° / 23°8983011.63.3
Dec27° / 23°49129.711.53.7

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% of the time in March.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 31% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 36%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17327
27327
37327
47228
57228
67228
77228
87228
97129
107030
116931
126832
136733
146634
156535
166436
176337
186337
196238
206040
216040
225941
235842
245842
255743
265644
275644
285545
295545
305347
315347

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitation

Manuel Antonio gets around 131 mm of rain over 24.5 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 79% and peaks near 88% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
174
274
374
474
574
674
773
873
973
1074
1174
1274
1375
1476
1577
1678
1779
1880
1981
2082
2183
2284
2385
2486
2586
2687
2787
2888
2988
3088
3188

Humidity in March

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, March lands in the oppressive band about 93% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
15923
25914
34924
44924
54924
64924
73934
83934
93934
103934
113934
122944
132944
142944
152944
162944
172935
182935
192935
202935
211945
221945
231945
241945
251945
261945
271945
280955
290946
300946
310946

Wind in March

Winds average 5 km/h in March.

Across March, daily wind ranges from about 4 km/h on the calmest days to 5 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
15calm
25calm
35calm
45calm
55calm
65calm
75calm
85calm
95calm
105calm
115calm
125calm
135calm
145calm
155calm
165calm
175calm
185calm
194calm
204calm
214calm
224calm
234calm
244calm
254calm
264calm
274calm
284calm
294calm
304calm
314calm

Sunrise & sunset in March

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 48 min at the start of March to 12 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 18 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 5:56 AM to 5:40 AM, and sunset from 5:44 PM to 5:44 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.85:565:44
211.85:555:44
311.85:555:44
411.85:545:44
511.85:545:44
611.85:535:44
711.95:535:44
811.95:525:44
911.95:525:44
1011.95:515:44
1111.95:515:44
1211.95:505:44
1311.95:505:44
1411.95:495:44
1511.95:495:44
1611.95:485:44
1711.95:485:44
1812.05:475:44
1912.05:475:44
2012.05:465:44
2112.05:455:44
2212.05:455:44
2312.05:445:44
2412.05:445:44
2512.05:435:44
2612.05:425:44
2712.05:425:44
2812.05:415:44
2912.15:415:44
3012.15:405:44
3112.15:405:44

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 6.26 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.79 kWh/m² to a high of 6.26 kWh/m² in March across the year — March's 6.26 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.2Intense
26.2Intense
36.2Intense
46.2Intense
56.2Intense
66.2Intense
76.2Intense
86.3Intense
96.3Intense
106.3Intense
116.3Intense
126.3Intense
136.3Intense
146.3Intense
156.3Intense
166.3Intense
176.3Intense
186.3Intense
196.3Intense
206.3Intense
216.3Intense
226.2Intense
236.2Intense
246.2Intense
256.2Intense
266.2Intense
276.2Intense
286.2Intense
296.2Intense
306.2Intense
316.1Intense
Planning a trip in March

Is March a good time to visit Manuel Antonio?

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

4.5
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
4.7
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

March is a reasonable time to visit Manuel Antonio for sightseeing.

What to pack for Manuel Antonio in March

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

In March, Manuel Antonio sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 25 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Manuel Antonio in March

The nearest coast averages about 30°C in March — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in March at about 30°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°32°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan29Tropical
Feb29Tropical
Mar30Tropical
Apr30Tropical
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct28Tropical
Nov28Warm
Dec28Tropical

UV index in Manuel Antonio in March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 15 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Manuel Antonio peaks around March 16 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 10 (extreme).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeMar 16UV 15Dec 16UV 10
UV index (midday)Level
Jan12Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May14Extreme
Jun14Extreme
Jul13Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec10Extreme

Air quality in Manuel Antonio in March

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in Manuel Antonio is worst in May — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.1× the cleanest month (January, 9 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodMay 1718 µg/m³Jan 149 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb10Good
Mar11Good
Apr17Moderate
May19Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul18Moderate
Aug17Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct14Moderate
Nov12Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Manuel Antonio?

Manuel Antonio sits at 9.4°N, 84.2°W, 0 m above sea level, in Costa Rica. The nearest listed city is Tejar, 38 km away.

TejarSan Rafael AbajoSan IsidroAserríSan MiguelSan Rafael ArribaSan Juan de DiosPatarrá

Topography around Manuel Antonio

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Manuel Antonio has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 195 m around an average of 40 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 821 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,764 m.

The land around Manuel Antonio is covered by trees (58%) and water (36%) within 3 km, water (52%) and trees (39%) within 16 km, and trees (52%) and water (36%) within 80 km.

3 km
195 m
16 km
821 m
80 km
3,764 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswatermangroves
March weather nearby: Tejar 38 km · San Rafael Abajo 49 km · San Isidro 51 km · Aserrí 51 km · San Miguel 52 km · San Rafael Arriba 53 km · San Juan de Dios 53 km · Patarrá 54 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 Manuel Antonio (9.4087°, -84.1558°, 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).