Paraíso weather in May

In May, Paraíso sees average daytime highs of 22°C and overnight lows near 14°C, with 331 mm of rain across 24.9 wet days and about 12.4 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 22°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 1% of the time in May, and the air most often feels comfortable.

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 Paraíso's 7th-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Paraíso's year-round climate.

Daytime high
22°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
14°
11th coldest
Rainfall
331 mm
24.9 wet days
Daylight
12 h 24 min
5:18 AM – 5:45 PM
Cloud cover
92%
7th clearest
Wind
4 km/h
9th windiest
Solar energy
4.4 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.0
out of 10

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 22°C through the month.

A typical May day in Paraíso reaches about 22°C in the afternoon and slips back to 14°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 20°C and 23°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs on par with April and on par with June.

10°15°20°25°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12214
22214
32214
42214
52214
62214
72214
82214
92214
102214
112214
122214
132214
142215
152215
162215
172215
182215
192215
202215
212215
222215
232115
242115
252115
262115
272115
282115
292115
302115
312115

Paraíso weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 2nd-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan20° / 12°628.911.56.5
Feb20° / 12°457.111.76.8
Mar21° / 12°438.911.96.7
Apr22° / 13°6711.812.26.0
May22° / 14°33124.912.44.0
Jun21° / 15°29626.812.63.7
Jul21° / 14°21526.212.53.8
Aug21° / 14°25426.812.33.7
Sep21° / 14°34327.312.13.6
Oct21° / 14°42528.611.83.5
Nov20° / 14°27422.811.54.2
Dec20° / 13°11714.111.45.6

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 1% 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 96%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
1991
2991
3892
4793
5793
6694
7694
8694
9595
10595
11595
12496
13496
14496
15496
16397
17397
18397
19397
20397
21397
22298
23298
24298
25298
26298
27298
28397
29397
30397
31397

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Paraíso gets around 331 mm of rain over 24.9 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 80% and peaks near 91% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
160
262
363
465
567
668
770
871
973
1074
1176
1278
1379
1481
1582
1683
1784
1885
1986
2087
2188
2288
2389
2489
2590
2690
2791
2891
2991
3091
3191

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the comfortable band about 52% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
1216415
2196516
3186517
4166519
5156421
6146323
7136324
8126127
9116029
10105931
1195833
1285636
1375538
1465341
1555243
1645145
1744947
1834749
1934651
2034552
2124553
2224454
2324355
2424256
2514158
2614158
2714059
2814059
2913960
3013960
3113960

Wind in May

Winds average 4 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 3 km/h on the calmest days to 4 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
94calm
104calm
114calm
124calm
134calm
144calm
154calm
164calm
174calm
184calm
194calm
204calm
214calm
224calm
233calm
243calm
253calm
263calm
273calm
283calm
293calm
303calm
313calm

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 5:22 AM to 5:17 AM, and sunset from 5:43 PM to 5:49 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.35:225:43
212.45:225:43
312.45:225:43
412.45:215:43
512.45:215:43
612.45:215:44
712.45:205:44
812.45:205:44
912.45:205:44
1012.45:205:44
1112.45:195:44
1212.45:195:44
1312.45:195:45
1412.45:195:45
1512.45:185:45
1612.45:185:45
1712.55:185:45
1812.55:185:46
1912.55:185:46
2012.55:185:46
2112.55:185:46
2212.55:175:46
2312.55:175:47
2412.55:175:47
2512.55:175:47
2612.55:175:47
2712.55:175:48
2812.55:175:48
2912.55:175:48
3012.55:175:48
3112.55:175:49

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 4.4 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.75 kWh/m² to a high of 5.97 kWh/m² in March across the year — May's 4.4 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.0Bright
25.0Bright
34.9Bright
44.9Bright
54.8Bright
64.8Bright
74.7Bright
84.7Bright
94.6Bright
104.6Bright
114.5Bright
124.5Bright
134.5Bright
144.4Bright
154.4Bright
164.3Bright
174.3Bright
184.3Bright
194.2Bright
204.2Bright
214.2Bright
224.2Bright
234.2Bright
244.2Bright
254.2Bright
264.2Bright
274.2Bright
284.2Bright
294.2Bright
304.2Bright
314.2Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Paraíso

In seasonPeak

In May, Paraíso sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Paraíso's rainy season runs May–November, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is May a good time to visit Paraíso?

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

4.0
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
2.7
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Paraíso for sightseeing.

What to pack for Paraíso in May

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

In May, Paraíso sees daytime highs around 22°C and nights near 14°C. Pack rain gear. About 25 days see rain.

rain gear

Sea temperature near Paraíso 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 59 km away) 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 Paraíso 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 Paraíso peaks around March 19 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 19UV 15Dec 16UV 10
UV index (midday)Level
Jan12Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul13Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec10Extreme

Air quality in Paraíso 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 Paraíso 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 Paraíso?

Paraíso sits at 9.8°N, 83.9°W, 1,306 m above sea level, in Costa Rica. The nearest listed city is Cartago, 6.0 km away.

TurrialbaSan MiguelIpísPurral

Topography around Paraíso

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Paraíso has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 602 m around an average of 1,311 m above sea level; within 16 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,753 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,764 m.

The land around Paraíso is covered by trees (49%) and grassland (35%) within 3 km, trees (70%) and grassland (21%) within 16 km, and trees (75%) within 80 km.

3 km
602 m
16 km
2,753 m
80 km
3,764 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Cartago 6.0 km · San Diego 16 km · Patarrá 19 km · Curridabat 20 km · Turrialba 21 km · San Miguel 22 km · Ipís 22 km · Purral 22 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 Paraíso (9.8385°, -83.8666°, elevation 1,306 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).