Costa Rica in Fall
In fall (September, October and November), Costa Rica sees average daytime highs around 32°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 256 mm of rain over about 25 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 2nd-wettest season.
Over the season highs ease from about 33°C in early September to 28°C by late November. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time across fall, and the air most often feels miserable.
Fall is Costa Rica's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Costa Rica's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 32°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 23°C
- Rainfall
- 256 mm
- 25 wet days
- Avg wind
- 7 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.7
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Sep · Oct · Nov
Temperature in Costa Rica in Fall
Over the season highs ease from about 33°C in early September to 28°C by late November.
A typical fall day in Costa Rica reaches about 32°C and drops to 23°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is September, the coolest November.
How fall really feels in Costa Rica
Once humidity and wind are folded in, fall brings about 71 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in fall is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Costa Rica weather by month
How the three fall months (September, October and November) 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 | 26° / 14° | 13 | 1.7 | 10.6 | 8.4 |
| Feb | 26° / 15° | 14 | 1.6 | 11.1 | 8.3 |
| Mar | 27° / 16° | 3 | 0.5 | 11.8 | 8.2 |
| Apr | 29° / 18° | 1 | 0.2 | 12.6 | 6.9 |
| May | 31° / 21° | 1 | 0.2 | 13.2 | 5.7 |
| Jun | 33° / 25° | 14 | 2 | 13.5 | 4.5 |
| Jul | 34° / 26° | 108 | 13.7 | 13.4 | 2.9 |
| Aug | 33° / 26° | 168 | 19.1 | 12.9 | 2.6 |
| Sep | 33° / 26° | 175 | 18.4 | 12.2 | 2.9 |
| Oct | 32° / 24° | 43 | 4.7 | 11.4 | 4.6 |
| Nov | 30° / 19° | 38 | 2.2 | 10.8 | 6.6 |
| Dec | 26° / 15° | 14 | 1.7 | 10.5 | 8.2 |
Cloud cover in Fall
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time across fall.
Chance of precipitation in Fall
Costa Rica gets around 256 mm of rain over 25 wet days across fall. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Fall
Most of fall feels miserable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Fall
Winds average 7 km/h across fall.
Sunrise & sunset in Fall
Daylight runs from about 12 h 30 min in early September to 10 h 36 min by late November. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Fall
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across fall, about 5.0 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Costa Rica
In fall, Costa Rica overlaps its pacific hurricane and rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Costa Rica sits in the eastern Pacific hurricane zone; the season peaks August–September.
Costa Rica's rainy season runs July–September, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is fall a good time to visit Costa Rica?
Our two travel scores rate fall for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
fall is a reasonable time to visit Costa Rica for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Costa Rica in Fall
From fall's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In fall, Costa Rica sees daytime highs around 32°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 25 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Costa Rica in Fall
The nearest coast averages about 28°C across fall — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 34 km away) is warmest in August at about 30°C and coldest in February near 21°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) | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 23 |
| Comfort | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm | Refreshing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21 | Refreshing |
| Feb | 21 | Refreshing |
| Mar | 21 | Refreshing |
| Apr | 22 | Refreshing |
| May | 25 | Warm |
| Jun | 28 | Warm |
| Jul | 29 | Tropical |
| Aug | 30 | Tropical |
| Sep | 30 | Tropical |
| Oct | 29 | Tropical |
| Nov | 26 | Warm |
| Dec | 23 | Refreshing |
UV index in Costa Rica in Fall
Clear-sky midday UV across fall averages around 8 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Costa Rica peaks around May 11 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 5 (high).
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) | 5 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
| Level | High | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | High |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 | High |
| Feb | 8 | Very high |
| Mar | 10 | Very high |
| Apr | 12 | Extreme |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 11 | Extreme |
| Sep | 10 | Extreme |
| Oct | 8 | Very high |
| Nov | 6 | High |
| Dec | 5 | High |
Air quality in Costa Rica in Fall
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where fall falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Costa Rica is worst in May — around 43 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 3.9× the cleanest month (January, 11 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) | 11 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 43 | 23 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 |
| Level | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Good |
| Feb | 11 | Good |
| Mar | 13 | Moderate |
| Apr | 18 | Moderate |
| May | 43 | Poor |
| Jun | 23 | Moderate |
| Jul | 17 | Moderate |
| Aug | 12 | Good |
| Sep | 13 | Moderate |
| Oct | 13 | Moderate |
| Nov | 11 | Good |
| Dec | 11 | Good |
Where is Costa Rica?
Costa Rica sits at 24.6°N, 107.4°W, 30 m above sea level, in Mexico. The nearest listed city is Licenciado Benito Juárez, 17 km away.
Topography around Costa Rica
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Costa Rica.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Costa Rica has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 21 m around an average of 25 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 401 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,932 m.
The land around Costa Rica is covered by cropland (64%) within 3 km, cropland (62%) within 16 km, and trees (39%), water (27%) and cropland (20%) within 80 km.
Mexico travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 / 127 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 54% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $13,889
- 2025
- Happiness
- 7.0 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 43%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 24.9
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.8
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- Very low
- EF EPI 440
- 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 Costa Rica (24.5907°, -107.3899°, elevation 30 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.