Manuel Antonio weather in May

In May, Manuel Antonio sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 805 mm of rain across 30.9 wet days and about 12.4 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 0% 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 Manuel Antonio's 7th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Manuel Antonio's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
3rd warmest
Overnight low
24°
11th coldest
Rainfall
805 mm
30.9 wet days
Daylight
12 h 24 min
5:20 AM – 5:46 PM
Cloud cover
92%
7th clearest
Wind
5 km/h
6th windiest
Solar energy
4.51 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.2
out of 10

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month.

A typical May day in Manuel Antonio reaches about 27°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 26°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs on par with April and on par with June.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12724
22724
32724
42724
52724
62724
72724
82724
92724
102724
112724
122724
132724
142724
152724
162724
172724
182724
192724
202724
212724
222724
232724
242724
252724
262724
272724
282724
292724
302724
312724

Manuel Antonio weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 3rd-warmest and 7th-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 May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 0% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 3% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 97%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
11189
21090
3991
4892
5892
6793
7694
8694
9595
10496
11496
12397
13397
14397
15298
16298
17298
18199
19199
20199
21199
22199
23199
24199
250100
260100
270100
280100
290100
300100
310100

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Manuel Antonio gets around 805 mm of rain over 30.9 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 100% and peaks near 100% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
199
299
399
499
599
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

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 89% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1919
29010
38911
48812
58812
68713
78614
88515
98515
108416
118416
128416
138416
148416
158416
168515
178515
188614
198713
208812
219010
22919
23928
24937
25946
26946
27955
28955
29964
30964
31964

Wind in May

Winds average 5 km/h in May.

Across May, 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
14calm
24calm
34calm
44calm
54calm
64calm
74calm
84calm
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 5:24 AM to 5:19 AM, and sunset from 5:44 PM to 5:49 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.35:245:44
212.35:245:44
312.35:235:44
412.35:235:44
512.45:235:44
612.45:225:44
712.45:225:44
812.45:225:44
912.45:225:45
1012.45:215:45
1112.45:215:45
1212.45:215:45
1312.45:215:45
1412.45:205:45
1512.45:205:46
1612.45:205:46
1712.45:205:46
1812.45:205:46
1912.45:205:46
2012.55:195:47
2112.55:195:47
2212.55:195:47
2312.55:195:47
2412.55:195:47
2512.55:195:48
2612.55:195:48
2712.55:195:48
2812.55:195:48
2912.55:195:49
3012.55:195:49
3112.55:195:49

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 4.51 kWh/m².

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 — May's 4.51 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.1Bright
25.0Bright
35.0Bright
45.0Bright
54.9Bright
64.9Bright
74.8Bright
84.8Bright
94.7Bright
104.7Bright
114.7Bright
124.6Bright
134.6Bright
144.5Bright
154.5Bright
164.5Bright
174.5Bright
184.4Bright
194.4Bright
204.4Bright
214.3Bright
224.3Bright
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 Manuel Antonio?

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

3.2
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
3.3
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

May is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Manuel Antonio.

What to pack for Manuel Antonio in May

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

In May, Manuel Antonio sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 31 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Manuel Antonio 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 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 May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 14 (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 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 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
May 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).