Puerto Limón weather in December

In December, Puerto Limón sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 350 mm of rain across 26.4 wet days and about 11.4 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time in December, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 30 min at the start of December to 11 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Puerto Limón's 4th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Puerto Limón's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
11th warmest
Overnight low
24°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
350 mm
26.4 wet days
Daylight
11 h 24 min
5:46 AM – 5:11 PM
Cloud cover
58%
4th clearest
Wind
8 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
4.19 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.3
out of 10

Puerto Limón is district in Limón canton, and city of Limón province, Costa Rica.

Density
1,066/km²
people per km²
Founded
1992

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month.

A typical December day in Puerto Limón reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 24°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs on par with November and on par with January.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12724
22724
32724
42724
52624
62624
72624
82624
92624
102624
112624
122624
132624
142624
152624
162624
172624
182624
192624
202624
212624
222624
232624
242624
252624
262624
272624
282624
292624
302624
312624

Puerto Limón weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 23°2352311.55.0
Feb26° / 23°1371811.75.4
Mar27° / 24°12418.611.95.5
Apr27° / 25°11719.112.25.0
May28° / 25°27726.812.53.8
Jun28° / 25°30128.312.63.4
Jul27° / 25°3713012.53.4
Aug28° / 25°28729.112.33.5
Sep28° / 25°21627.312.13.6
Oct28° / 25°26427.811.83.7
Nov27° / 25°45127.211.53.8
Dec26° / 24°35026.411.44.3

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 49%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13763
23961
33961
44060
54060
64159
74258
84357
94357
104555
114555
124753
134852
144951
155050
165149
175248
185545
195644
205743
215842
225941
236040
246139
256139
266238
276238
286238
296238
306337
316238

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Puerto Limón gets around 350 mm of rain over 26.4 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 85% and peaks near 91% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
191
291
390
490
590
690
789
889
988
1088
1187
1286
1386
1485
1584
1684
1783
1883
1982
2082
2182
2282
2382
2482
2582
2682
2782
2882
2982
3082
3182

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the oppressive band about 92% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
14951
24951
34951
44951
54951
65941
75941
85941
95941
105941
116931
126931
136931
147921
157921
167921
178911
188911
198911
208920
219910
229910
239910
249910
2510900
2610900
2710900
2810900
2910900
3010900
3110900

Wind in December

Winds average 8 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 9 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
19calm
29calm
39calm
49calm
59calm
69calm
79calm
89calm
98calm
108calm
118calm
128calm
138calm
148calm
158calm
168calm
178calm
188calm
198calm
208calm
218calm
228calm
238calm
248calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 30 min at the start of December to 11 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 5:38 AM to 5:53 AM, and sunset from 5:06 PM to 5:18 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.55:385:06
211.55:395:06
311.55:395:06
411.45:405:06
511.45:405:07
611.45:415:07
711.45:415:07
811.45:425:08
911.45:425:08
1011.45:435:08
1111.45:435:09
1211.45:445:09
1311.45:445:10
1411.45:455:10
1511.45:455:10
1611.45:465:11
1711.45:465:11
1811.45:475:12
1911.45:475:12
2011.45:485:13
2111.45:485:13
2211.45:495:14
2311.45:495:14
2411.45:505:15
2511.45:505:15
2611.45:505:16
2711.45:515:16
2811.45:515:17
2911.45:525:17
3011.45:525:18
3111.45:535:18

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.19 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.91 kWh/m² to a high of 5.92 kWh/m² in April across the year — December's 4.19 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.0Moderate
24.0Moderate
34.0Moderate
44.0Bright
54.0Bright
64.0Bright
74.0Bright
84.1Bright
94.1Bright
104.1Bright
114.1Bright
124.1Bright
134.1Bright
144.1Bright
154.1Bright
164.2Bright
174.2Bright
184.2Bright
194.2Bright
204.2Bright
214.2Bright
224.3Bright
234.3Bright
244.3Bright
254.3Bright
264.3Bright
274.3Bright
284.4Bright
294.4Bright
304.4Bright
314.4Bright
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Puerto Limón?

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

4.3
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
4.2
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Puerto Limón for sightseeing.

What to pack for Puerto Limón in December

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

In December, Puerto Limón sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 24°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes. About 26 days see rain.

rain gearlight clothes

Sea temperature near Puerto Limón in December

The nearest coast averages about 28°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 18 km away) is warmest in September at about 29°C and coldest in January near 27°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar28Warm
Apr28Tropical
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul28Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec28Warm

UV index in Puerto Limón in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Puerto Limón peaks around March 19 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 13 at about 10 (very high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highMar 19UV 14Dec 13UV 10
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov10Extreme
Dec10Very high

Air quality in Puerto Limón in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Puerto Limón is worst in July — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1515 µg/m³Dec 217 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb8Good
Mar9Good
Apr13Moderate
May15Moderate
Jun14Moderate
Jul15Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct10Good
Nov7Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Puerto Limón?

Puerto Limón sits at 10.0°N, 83.0°W, 29 m above sea level, in Costa Rica. The nearest listed city is Puerto Viejo, 48 km away.

Puerto ViejoSiquirresTurrialbaChanguinolaGuápilesParaísoCartagoSan Isidro

Topography around Puerto Limón

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Puerto Limón has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 75 m around an average of 13 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 501 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,764 m.

The land around Puerto Limón is covered by water (44%), trees (29%) and artificial surfaces (23%) within 3 km, water (59%) and trees (36%) within 16 km, and trees (60%) and water (35%) within 80 km.

3 km
75 m
16 km
501 m
80 km
3,764 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: Puerto Viejo 48 km · Siquirres 53 km · Turrialba 72 km · Changuinola 84 km · Guápiles 86 km · Paraíso 93 km · Cartago 98 km · San Isidro 100 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 Puerto Limón (9.9907°, -83.036°, elevation 29 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).