Monteverde in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Monteverde sees average daytime highs around 27°C and overnight lows near 18°C, with 66 mm of rain over about 13 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 26°C in early December to 28°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels humid.
Winter is Monteverde's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Monteverde's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 27°C
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 18°C
- Rainfall
- 66 mm
- 13 wet days
- Avg wind
- 11 km/h
- Travel score
- 7.7
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Monteverde in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 26°C in early December to 28°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Monteverde reaches about 27°C and drops to 18°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
Monteverde 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 | 26° / 18° | 12 | 3.5 | 11.5 | 7.9 |
| Feb | 27° / 18° | 9 | 2 | 11.7 | 8.0 |
| Mar | 29° / 19° | 8 | 2.1 | 11.9 | 7.0 |
| Apr | 29° / 20° | 46 | 7.7 | 12.2 | 5.5 |
| May | 28° / 20° | 260 | 21.4 | 12.5 | 4.2 |
| Jun | 27° / 20° | 287 | 25.6 | 12.6 | 3.8 |
| Jul | 27° / 20° | 200 | 22.5 | 12.5 | 4.3 |
| Aug | 27° / 20° | 246 | 24.4 | 12.3 | 4.1 |
| Sep | 27° / 20° | 346 | 28.3 | 12.1 | 3.5 |
| Oct | 26° / 20° | 381 | 28 | 11.8 | 3.7 |
| Nov | 26° / 19° | 165 | 19.4 | 11.5 | 5.0 |
| Dec | 26° / 19° | 44 | 7.5 | 11.4 | 7.1 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Monteverde gets around 66 mm of rain over 13 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 11 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 24 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 5.2 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Monteverde
None of Monteverde's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Monteverde's rainy season runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Monteverde?
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 Monteverde for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Monteverde in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Monteverde sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 18°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection. About 13 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Monteverde 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 at the nearest coast (about 52 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.
| 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 Monteverde 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 Monteverde 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 11 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Extreme |
| Feb | 14 | Extreme |
| Mar | 14 | Extreme |
| Apr | 14 | Extreme |
| May | 13 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 10 | Very high |
Air quality in Monteverde 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 Monteverde 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).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 10 | 11 | 13 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 |
| Level | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10 | Good |
| Feb | 11 | Good |
| Mar | 13 | Moderate |
| Apr | 21 | Moderate |
| May | 23 | Moderate |
| Jun | 21 | Moderate |
| Jul | 22 | Moderate |
| Aug | 20 | Moderate |
| Sep | 18 | Moderate |
| Oct | 15 | Moderate |
| Nov | 12 | Good |
| Dec | 10 | Good |
Where is Monteverde?
Monteverde sits at 10.3°N, 84.8°W, 0 m above sea level, in Costa Rica. The nearest listed city is La Fortuna, 26 km away.
Topography around Monteverde
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Monteverde.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Monteverde has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,048 m around an average of 1,390 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,704 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,891 m.
The land around Monteverde is covered by trees (90%) within 3 km, trees (83%) within 16 km, and trees (60%) and grassland (25%) 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 Monteverde (10.3077°, -84.8106°, 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.