San Jose in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), San Jose sees average daytime highs around 23°C and overnight lows near 16°C, with 1023 mm of rain over about 86 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 2nd-wettest season.
Across summer, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 23°C. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 0% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels humid.
Summer is San Jose's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. San Jose has little temperature swing across the year, so its calendar seasons blur — the season framing matters less here than for a place with four distinct seasons. For the whole year in context, see San Jose's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 23°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 16°C
- Rainfall
- 1023 mm
- 86 wet days
- Avg wind
- 5 km/h
- Travel score
- 3.6
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in San Jose in Summer
Across summer, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 23°C.
A typical summer day in San Jose reaches about 23°C and drops to 16°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is June, the coolest August.
San Jose weather by month
How the three summer months (June, July and August) 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 | 21° / 14° | 104 | 13.3 | 11.5 | 6.0 |
| Feb | 22° / 14° | 68 | 11.9 | 11.7 | 6.2 |
| Mar | 23° / 14° | 65 | 13.9 | 11.9 | 6.1 |
| Apr | 23° / 15° | 102 | 18 | 12.2 | 5.3 |
| May | 23° / 16° | 357 | 27.8 | 12.4 | 3.8 |
| Jun | 23° / 16° | 385 | 28.8 | 12.6 | 3.5 |
| Jul | 23° / 16° | 293 | 28.2 | 12.5 | 3.7 |
| Aug | 23° / 16° | 345 | 28.5 | 12.3 | 3.7 |
| Sep | 23° / 16° | 391 | 29.1 | 12.1 | 3.5 |
| Oct | 22° / 16° | 430 | 30.1 | 11.8 | 3.4 |
| Nov | 22° / 15° | 312 | 25.5 | 11.5 | 4.0 |
| Dec | 21° / 15° | 170 | 17.8 | 11.4 | 5.3 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 0% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
San Jose gets around 1023 mm of rain over 86 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 5 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 12 h 30 min in early June to 12 h 12 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 4.3 kWh/m².
Is summer a good time to visit San Jose?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in San Jose.
What to pack for San Jose in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, San Jose sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 16°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes. About 86 days see rain.
Sea temperature near San Jose in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 29°C across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 60 km away) is warmest in April at about 29°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 | 29 | 29 | 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 | 29 | Tropical |
| Apr | 29 | 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 San Jose in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages 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 San Jose 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 |
Where is San Jose?
San Jose sits at 9.9°N, 84.1°W, 1,133 m above sea level, in Costa Rica. The nearest listed city is Calle Blancos, 2.0 km away.
Topography around San Jose
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of San Jose.
Within 3 km, the terrain around San Jose has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 153 m around an average of 1,139 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,702 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,722 m.
The land around San Jose is covered by artificial surfaces (84%) within 3 km, trees (57%) and artificial surfaces (27%) within 16 km, and trees (70%) 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 San Jose (9.9339°, -84.0849°, elevation 1,133 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.