Puerto Limón weather in May

In May, Puerto Limón sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 277 mm of rain across 26.8 wet days and about 12.5 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 6th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 7% of the time in May, and the air most often feels oppressive.

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 Puerto Limón's 7th-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Puerto Limón's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
25°
12th coldest
Rainfall
277 mm
26.8 wet days
Daylight
12 h 30 min
5:15 AM – 5:42 PM
Cloud cover
83%
7th clearest
Wind
7 km/h
11th windiest
Solar energy
4.98 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.8
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 May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month.

A typical May day in Puerto Limón reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs on par with April and on par with June.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12825
22825
32825
42825
52825
62825
72825
82825
92825
102825
112825
122825
132825
142825
152825
162825
172825
182825
192825
202825
212825
222825
232825
242825
252825
262825
272825
282825
292825
302825
312825

Puerto Limón weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 2nd-warmest and 6th-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 May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 7% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 9% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 84%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12278
22179
32179
42179
52080
62080
72080
81882
91882
101783
111783
121783
131783
141684
151585
161486
171486
181387
191387
201288
211387
221387
231387
241387
251387
261288
271288
281288
291288
301288
311288

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Puerto Limón gets around 277 mm of rain over 26.8 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 86% and peaks near 89% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
177
278
379
480
581
682
782
883
984
1085
1185
1286
1386
1487
1587
1688
1788
1888
1989
2089
2189
2289
2389
2489
2589
2689
2789
2889
2989
3089
3189

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the oppressive band about 81% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
118415
218514
318514
418514
518514
618514
718514
818514
918514
1018514
1108515
1208515
1308416
1408317
1508218
1608218
1708119
1808020
1907921
2007921
2107822
2207822
2307822
2407822
2507822
2607723
2707723
2807723
2907723
3007723
3107822

Wind in May

Winds average 7 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 6 km/h on the calmest days to 7 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
17calm
26calm
36calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm
316calm

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 5:19 AM to 5:13 AM, and sunset from 5:40 PM to 5:46 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.35:195:40
212.45:195:40
312.45:185:40
412.45:185:40
512.45:175:40
612.45:175:40
712.45:175:41
812.45:175:41
912.45:165:41
1012.45:165:41
1112.45:165:41
1212.45:165:41
1312.45:155:42
1412.45:155:42
1512.45:155:42
1612.55:155:42
1712.55:155:42
1812.55:145:42
1912.55:145:43
2012.55:145:43
2112.55:145:43
2212.55:145:43
2312.55:145:44
2412.55:145:44
2512.55:145:44
2612.55:145:44
2712.55:145:45
2812.55:135:45
2912.55:135:45
3012.55:135:45
3112.55:135:46

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 4.98 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 — May's 4.98 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.4Bright
25.4Bright
35.4Bright
45.3Bright
55.3Bright
65.2Bright
75.2Bright
85.1Bright
95.1Bright
105.1Bright
115.0Bright
125.0Bright
135.0Bright
144.9Bright
154.9Bright
164.9Bright
174.9Bright
184.8Bright
194.8Bright
204.8Bright
214.8Bright
224.8Bright
234.8Bright
244.9Bright
254.9Bright
264.9Bright
274.9Bright
284.9Bright
294.9Bright
304.9Bright
314.9Bright
Planning a trip in May

Is May a good time to visit Puerto Limón?

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

3.8
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
4.1
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

May is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Puerto Limón.

What to pack for Puerto Limón in May

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

In May, Puerto Limón sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 27 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Puerto Limón 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 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 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 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 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 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
May 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).