San Rafael in Spring
In spring (March, April and May), San Rafael sees average daytime highs around 26°C and overnight lows near 17°C, with 416 mm of rain over about 41 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the 3rd-wettest season.
Across spring, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 26°C. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 19% of the time across spring, and the air most often feels humid.
Spring is San Rafael's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see San Rafael's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 26°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 17°C
- Rainfall
- 416 mm
- 41 wet days
- Avg wind
- 6 km/h
- Travel score
- 6.0
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Mar · Apr · May
Temperature in San Rafael in Spring
Across spring, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 26°C.
A typical spring day in San Rafael reaches about 26°C and drops to 17°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is April, the coolest March.
San Rafael weather by month
How the three spring months (March, April and May) 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 | 25° / 16° | 29 | 5.8 | 11.5 | 7.8 |
| Feb | 25° / 16° | 20 | 4.1 | 11.7 | 8.0 |
| Mar | 26° / 17° | 20 | 5.2 | 11.9 | 7.5 |
| Apr | 27° / 17° | 62 | 11.2 | 12.2 | 6.2 |
| May | 25° / 18° | 333 | 24.7 | 12.4 | 4.2 |
| Jun | 25° / 18° | 390 | 27.3 | 12.6 | 3.8 |
| Jul | 24° / 18° | 267 | 25 | 12.5 | 4.3 |
| Aug | 25° / 18° | 352 | 26.4 | 12.3 | 4.0 |
| Sep | 24° / 17° | 424 | 28.3 | 12.1 | 3.7 |
| Oct | 24° / 17° | 444 | 28.8 | 11.8 | 3.8 |
| Nov | 24° / 17° | 224 | 21.5 | 11.5 | 4.8 |
| Dec | 24° / 17° | 72 | 10.8 | 11.4 | 6.9 |
Cloud cover in Spring
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 19% of the time across spring.
Chance of precipitation in Spring
San Rafael gets around 416 mm of rain over 41 wet days across spring. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Spring
Most of spring feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Spring
Winds average 6 km/h across spring.
Sunrise & sunset in Spring
Daylight runs from about 11 h 48 min in early March to 12 h 30 min by late May. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Spring
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across spring, about 5.4 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for San Rafael
In spring, San Rafael overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
San Rafael's rainy season runs May–November, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is spring a good time to visit San Rafael?
Our two travel scores rate spring for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
spring is a reasonable time to visit San Rafael for sightseeing.
What to pack for San Rafael in Spring
From spring's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In spring, San Rafael sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 17°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 41 days see rain.
Sea temperature near San Rafael in Spring
The nearest coast averages about 29°C across spring — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 54 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 Rafael in Spring
Clear-sky midday UV across spring averages 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 Rafael 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 |
Air quality in San Rafael in Spring
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where spring falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in San Rafael 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).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 9 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Good |
| Feb | 10 | Good |
| Mar | 11 | Good |
| Apr | 17 | Moderate |
| May | 19 | Moderate |
| Jun | 17 | Moderate |
| Jul | 18 | Moderate |
| Aug | 17 | Moderate |
| Sep | 16 | Moderate |
| Oct | 14 | Moderate |
| Nov | 12 | Good |
| Dec | 10 | Good |
Where is San Rafael?
San Rafael sits at 9.9°N, 84.1°W, 1,037 m above sea level, in Costa Rica. The nearest listed city is San Felipe, 4.0 km away.
Topography around San Rafael
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of San Rafael.
Within 3 km, the terrain around San Rafael has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 502 m around an average of 1,104 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,874 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,590 m.
The land around San Rafael is covered by artificial surfaces (55%) and trees (35%) within 3 km, trees (56%) and artificial surfaces (30%) within 16 km, and trees (67%) 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 Rafael (9.9283°, -84.1354°, elevation 1,037 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.