Nicoya in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Nicoya sees average daytime highs around 33°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 35 mm of rain over about 7 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 31°C in early December to 34°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 68% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels muggy.
Winter is Nicoya's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Nicoya's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 33°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 22°C
- Rainfall
- 35 mm
- 7 wet days
- Avg wind
- 14 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.5
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Nicoya in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 31°C in early December to 34°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Nicoya reaches about 33°C and drops to 22°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
How winter really feels in Nicoya
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 90 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Nicoya 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 | 33° / 22° | 6 | 1.3 | 11.5 | 4.6 |
| Feb | 34° / 23° | 7 | 1.9 | 11.7 | 3.9 |
| Mar | 35° / 23° | 7 | 2 | 11.9 | 3.1 |
| Apr | 36° / 24° | 38 | 7 | 12.2 | 2.2 |
| May | 33° / 24° | 251 | 20.5 | 12.5 | 2.4 |
| Jun | 31° / 23° | 319 | 26.2 | 12.6 | 2.6 |
| Jul | 31° / 23° | 226 | 22.4 | 12.5 | 3.0 |
| Aug | 31° / 23° | 257 | 24.4 | 12.3 | 2.8 |
| Sep | 31° / 23° | 347 | 28.1 | 12.1 | 2.5 |
| Oct | 30° / 23° | 359 | 28 | 11.8 | 2.8 |
| Nov | 30° / 22° | 143 | 15.6 | 11.5 | 4.1 |
| Dec | 31° / 22° | 21 | 3.6 | 11.4 | 5.1 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 68% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Nicoya gets around 35 mm of rain over 7 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 14 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 5.7 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Nicoya
None of Nicoya's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Nicoya's monsoon runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Nicoya?
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 a reasonable time to visit Nicoya for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Nicoya in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Nicoya sees daytime highs around 33°C and nights near 22°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. About 7 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Nicoya in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 28°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 32 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 Nicoya 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 Nicoya peaks around March 16 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 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 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 | 14 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 12 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 9 | Very high |
Air quality in Nicoya 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 Nicoya is worst in July — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.2× the cleanest month (December, 6 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) | 7 | 9 | 11 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 6 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7 | Good |
| Feb | 9 | Good |
| Mar | 11 | Good |
| Apr | 19 | Moderate |
| May | 19 | Moderate |
| Jun | 16 | Moderate |
| Jul | 20 | Moderate |
| Aug | 16 | Moderate |
| Sep | 12 | Good |
| Oct | 9 | Good |
| Nov | 7 | Good |
| Dec | 6 | Good |
Where is Nicoya?
Nicoya sits at 10.2°N, 85.5°W, 128 m above sea level, in Costa Rica. The nearest listed city is Tamarindo, 46 km away.
Topography around Nicoya
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Nicoya.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Nicoya has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 375 m around an average of 171 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 924 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,977 m.
The land around Nicoya is covered by trees (64%) and grassland (26%) within 3 km, trees (74%) and grassland (25%) within 16 km, and trees (41%) and water (41%) 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 Nicoya (10.1504°, -85.4509°, elevation 128 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.