San José weather in April

In April, San José sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 63 mm of rain across 18.1 wet days and about 12.2 hours of daylight. It is the 1st-warmest and 12th-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 43% of the time in April, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 06 min at the start of April to 12 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, April is San José's 4th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see San José's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
1st warmest
Overnight low
23°
10th coldest
Rainfall
63 mm
18.1 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
5:33 AM – 5:48 PM
Cloud cover
51%
4th clearest
Wind
17 km/h
5th windiest
Solar energy
6.04 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.8
out of 10

San José is populated place in Upala district of Costa Rico.

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

Temperature in April

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

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

A typical April day in San José reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 5°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, April runs about 1°C warmer than March and on par with May.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12823
22823
32823
42823
52823
62823
72823
82823
92823
102823
112823
122923
132923
142923
152923
162923
172923
182923
192923
202923
212923
222923
232924
242924
252924
262824
272824
282824
292824
302824

San José weather by month

How April compares with the rest of the year at a glance. April is the 1st-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 22°17126.811.44.5
Feb27° / 22°11322.111.64.8
Mar28° / 23°8019.811.95.3
Apr28° / 23°6318.112.24.8
May28° / 24°22326.712.53.7
Jun27° / 24°28129.412.63.3
Jul27° / 23°30830.612.63.4
Aug27° / 23°25930.512.43.4
Sep27° / 23°26029.312.13.4
Oct27° / 23°29929.311.83.5
Nov26° / 23°26226.211.54.0
Dec26° / 22°21427.311.44.2

Cloud cover in April

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time in April.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of April, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 39%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17921
27723
37525
47525
57327
67228
77030
87030
96931
106832
116733
126634
136634
146535
156436
166238
176238
186040
195941
205743
215545
225446
235149
244852
254753
264555
274258
284159
294060
303862

Chance of precipitation in April

Any precipitation

San José gets around 63 mm of rain over 18.1 wet days in April, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 60% and peaks near 71% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
157
257
357
457
557
657
757
858
958
1058
1158
1258
1357
1457
1557
1657
1757
1857
1958
2059
2160
2261
2362
2464
2565
2666
2767
2869
2970
3071

Humidity in April

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, April lands in the oppressive band about 70% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
14852
24654
34456
44258
54159
63961
73862
83664
93565
103466
113367
123268
133169
143070
152971
162971
172872
182773
192674
202575
212476
222377
232278
242080
251981
261882
271684
281585
291486
301387

Wind in April

Winds average 17 km/h in April.

Across April, daily wind ranges from about 15 km/h on the calmest days to 18 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202530
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
118light breeze
218light breeze
318light breeze
418light breeze
518light breeze
618light breeze
718light breeze
818light breeze
917light breeze
1017light breeze
1117light breeze
1217light breeze
1317light breeze
1417light breeze
1517light breeze
1617light breeze
1717light breeze
1816light breeze
1916light breeze
2016light breeze
2116light breeze
2216light breeze
2316light breeze
2415light breeze
2515light breeze
2615light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3015light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in April

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 06 min at the start of April to 12 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 18 minutes over April. Sunrise moves from 5:42 AM to 5:27 AM, and sunset from 5:48 PM to 5:49 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.15:425:48
212.15:425:48
312.15:415:48
412.15:415:48
512.15:405:48
612.15:395:48
712.25:395:48
812.25:385:48
912.25:385:48
1012.25:375:48
1112.25:365:48
1212.25:365:48
1312.25:355:48
1412.25:355:48
1512.25:345:48
1612.25:335:48
1712.35:335:48
1812.35:325:48
1912.35:325:48
2012.35:315:48
2112.35:315:48
2212.35:305:48
2312.35:305:48
2412.35:295:49
2512.35:295:49
2612.35:285:49
2712.35:285:49
2812.45:285:49
2912.45:275:49
3012.45:275:49

Solar energy in April

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in April, about 6.04 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.98 kWh/m² to a high of 6.04 kWh/m² in April across the year — April's 6.04 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.2Intense
26.2Intense
36.2Intense
46.2Intense
56.2Intense
66.2Intense
76.2Intense
86.2Intense
96.1Intense
106.1Intense
116.1Intense
126.1Intense
136.1Intense
146.1Intense
156.1Intense
166.1Intense
176.0Intense
186.0Intense
196.0Intense
206.0Bright
216.0Bright
225.9Bright
235.9Bright
245.9Bright
255.9Bright
265.8Bright
275.8Bright
285.8Bright
295.7Bright
305.7Bright
Planning a trip in April

Is April a good time to visit San José?

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

4.8
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
5.7
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

April is a reasonable time to visit San José for sightseeing.

What to pack for San José in April

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

In April, San José sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 18 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near San José in April

The nearest coast averages about 29°C in April — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 65 km away) is warmest in May at about 29°C and coldest in February 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
Mar27Warm
Apr29Tropical
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct28Tropical
Nov28Warm
Dec27Warm

UV index in San José in April

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in April peaks around 14 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in San José peaks around March 18 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 9 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highMar 18UV 14Dec 16UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec9Very high

Air quality in San José in April

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in San José is worst in July — around 23 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.8× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1622 µg/m³Dec 166 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb8Good
Mar9Good
Apr19Moderate
May21Moderate
Jun19Moderate
Jul23Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is San José?

San José sits at 11.0°N, 85.1°W, 50 m above sea level, in Costa Rica. The nearest listed city is San Carlos, 44 km away.

San CarlosLiberiaCañasLa FortunaMonteverdeEl CastilloSan Juan del Sur

Topography around San José

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around San José has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 55 m around an average of 51 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 659 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,977 m.

The land around San José is covered by grassland (51%) and trees (48%) within 3 km, trees (59%) and grassland (36%) within 16 km, and trees (45%), water (27%) and grassland (24%) within 80 km.

3 km
55 m
16 km
659 m
80 km
1,977 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
April weather nearby: San Carlos 44 km · Liberia 48 km · Cañas 58 km · La Fortuna 76 km · Monteverde 80 km · El Castillo 81 km · San Juan del Sur 87 km · Rivas 93 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 San José (10.9519°, -85.1357°, elevation 50 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).