Paraíso in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Paraíso sees average daytime highs around 20°C and overnight lows near 12°C, with 223 mm of rain over about 30 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 20°C. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 29% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Paraíso's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Paraíso's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 20°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 12°C
- Rainfall
- 223 mm
- 30 wet days
- Avg wind
- 6 km/h
- Travel score
- 6.3
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Paraíso in Winter
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 20°C.
A typical winter day in Paraíso reaches about 20°C and drops to 12°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
Paraíso 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 | 20° / 12° | 62 | 8.9 | 11.5 | 6.5 |
| Feb | 20° / 12° | 45 | 7.1 | 11.7 | 6.8 |
| Mar | 21° / 12° | 43 | 8.9 | 11.9 | 6.7 |
| Apr | 22° / 13° | 67 | 11.8 | 12.2 | 6.0 |
| May | 22° / 14° | 331 | 24.9 | 12.4 | 4.0 |
| Jun | 21° / 15° | 296 | 26.8 | 12.6 | 3.7 |
| Jul | 21° / 14° | 215 | 26.2 | 12.5 | 3.8 |
| Aug | 21° / 14° | 254 | 26.8 | 12.3 | 3.7 |
| Sep | 21° / 14° | 343 | 27.3 | 12.1 | 3.6 |
| Oct | 21° / 14° | 425 | 28.6 | 11.8 | 3.5 |
| Nov | 20° / 14° | 274 | 22.8 | 11.5 | 4.2 |
| Dec | 20° / 13° | 117 | 14.1 | 11.4 | 5.6 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 29% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Paraíso gets around 223 mm of rain over 30 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 6 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 30 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 5.0 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Paraíso
None of Paraíso's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Paraíso's rainy season runs May–November, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Paraíso?
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 Paraíso for sightseeing.
What to pack for Paraíso in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Paraíso sees daytime highs around 20°C and nights near 12°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 30 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Paraíso 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 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 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 | 30 | Tropical |
| Apr | 30 | 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 Paraíso in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 12 (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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12 | Extreme |
| Feb | 14 | Extreme |
| Mar | 15 | Extreme |
| Apr | 14 | Extreme |
| May | 13 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 13 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 12 | Extreme |
| Dec | 10 | Extreme |
Air quality in Paraíso 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 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).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 9 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Good |
| Feb | 10 | Good |
| Mar | 11 | Good |
| Apr | 17 | Moderate |
| May | 19 | Moderate |
| Jun | 17 | Moderate |
| Jul | 18 | Moderate |
| Aug | 17 | Moderate |
| Sep | 16 | Moderate |
| Oct | 14 | Moderate |
| Nov | 12 | Good |
| Dec | 10 | Good |
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.
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.
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 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.