San Rafael Arriba weather in March

In March, San Rafael Arriba sees average daytime highs of 23°C and overnight lows near 14°C, with 65 mm of rain across 13.9 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 23°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 19% of the time in March, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 48 min at the start of March to 12 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is San Rafael Arriba's 3rd-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see San Rafael Arriba's year-round climate.

Daytime high
23°
6th warmest
Overnight low
14°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
65 mm
13.9 wet days
Daylight
11 h 54 min
5:48 AM – 5:44 PM
Cloud cover
61%
3rd clearest
Wind
7 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
5.78 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.1
out of 10

Temperature in March

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 23°C through the month.

A typical March day in San Rafael Arriba reaches about 23°C in the afternoon and slips back to 14°C overnight — a 8°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 21°C and 24°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs about 1°C warmer than February and about 1°C cooler than April.

10°15°20°25°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12214
22214
32214
42214
52214
62214
72214
82214
92214
102214
112214
122214
132214
142214
152214
162214
172214
182314
192314
202314
212315
222315
232315
242315
252315
262315
272315
282315
292315
302315
312315

San Rafael Arriba weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 6th-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan21° / 14°10413.311.56.0
Feb22° / 14°6811.911.76.2
Mar23° / 14°6513.911.96.1
Apr23° / 15°1021812.25.3
May23° / 16°35727.812.43.8
Jun23° / 16°38528.812.63.5
Jul23° / 16°29328.212.53.7
Aug23° / 16°34528.512.33.7
Sep23° / 16°39129.112.13.5
Oct22° / 16°43030.111.83.4
Nov22° / 15°31225.511.54.0
Dec21° / 15°17017.811.45.3

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 19% of the time in March.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 27% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 54%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15347
25347
35446
45446
55446
65446
75248
85248
95248
105149
115149
124951
134951
144753
154654
164555
174555
184357
194258
204159
214159
224159
234060
244060
253961
264060
274060
283961
293961
303961
313961

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitation

San Rafael Arriba gets around 65 mm of rain over 13.9 wet days in March, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 45% and peaks near 49% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
143
242
342
442
541
641
741
841
941
1041
1141
1242
1342
1443
1543
1644
1745
1846
1947
2047
2148
2249
2349
2449
2549
2649
2749
2849
2949
3049
3148

Humidity in March

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, March lands in the comfortable band about 66% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
1246412
2246313
3246313
4236413
5236413
6236413
7226513
8226513
9226612
10216712
11216712
12216613
13216613
14216613
15206713
16206713
17206713
18196813
19196813
20186814
21186814
22176914
23176815
24176815
25166816
26166717
27166618
28166618
29166519
30156520
31156322

Wind in March

Winds average 7 km/h in March.

Across March, 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
27calm
37calm
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 March

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 48 min at the start of March to 12 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 18 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 5:56 AM to 5:39 AM, and sunset from 5:43 PM to 5:43 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.85:565:43
211.85:555:43
311.85:555:44
411.85:545:44
511.85:545:44
611.85:535:44
711.85:535:44
811.95:525:44
911.95:525:44
1011.95:515:44
1111.95:515:44
1211.95:505:44
1311.95:505:44
1411.95:495:44
1511.95:495:44
1611.95:485:44
1711.95:475:44
1812.05:475:44
1912.05:465:44
2012.05:465:44
2112.05:455:44
2212.05:445:44
2312.05:445:44
2412.05:435:44
2512.05:435:44
2612.05:425:44
2712.05:425:44
2812.05:415:44
2912.15:405:44
3012.15:405:43
3112.15:395:43

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 5.78 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.58 kWh/m² to a high of 5.78 kWh/m² in March across the year — March's 5.78 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.6Bright
25.6Bright
35.7Bright
45.7Bright
55.7Bright
65.7Bright
75.7Bright
85.7Bright
95.7Bright
105.7Bright
115.8Bright
125.8Bright
135.8Bright
145.8Bright
155.8Bright
165.8Bright
175.8Bright
185.8Bright
195.8Bright
205.8Bright
215.8Bright
225.8Bright
235.8Bright
245.8Bright
255.8Bright
265.9Bright
275.9Bright
285.9Bright
295.9Bright
305.9Bright
315.9Bright
Planning a trip in March

Is March a good time to visit San Rafael Arriba?

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

6.1
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
4.5
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

March is a reasonable time to visit San Rafael Arriba for sightseeing.

What to pack for San Rafael Arriba in March

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

In March, San Rafael Arriba sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 14°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 14 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near San Rafael Arriba in March

The nearest coast averages about 30°C in March — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 56 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.

26°28°30°32°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan29Tropical
Feb29Tropical
Mar30Tropical
Apr30Tropical
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct28Tropical
Nov28Warm
Dec28Tropical

UV index in San Rafael Arriba in March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 15 (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 Rafael Arriba 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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeMar 19UV 15Dec 16UV 10
UV index (midday)Level
Jan12Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul13Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec10Extreme

Air quality in San Rafael Arriba in March

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in San Rafael Arriba 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).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodMay 1718 µg/m³Jan 149 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb10Good
Mar11Good
Apr17Moderate
May19Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul18Moderate
Aug17Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct14Moderate
Nov12Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is San Rafael Arriba?

San Rafael Arriba sits at 9.9°N, 84.1°W, 1,180 m above sea level, in Costa Rica. The nearest listed city is San Juan de Dios, 1.0 km away.

Topography around San Rafael Arriba

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around San Rafael Arriba has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 421 m around an average of 1,242 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,840 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,764 m.

The land around San Rafael Arriba is covered by artificial surfaces (48%) and trees (43%) within 3 km, trees (61%) and artificial surfaces (24%) within 16 km, and trees (68%) within 80 km.

3 km
421 m
16 km
1,840 m
80 km
3,764 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
March weather nearby: San Juan de Dios 1.0 km · San Miguel 2.0 km · Aserrí 3.0 km · Patarrá 4.0 km · San Felipe 5.0 km · Curridabat 6.0 km · San Pedro 6.0 km · San Jose 6.0 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 Rafael Arriba (9.8765°, -84.0748°, elevation 1,180 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).