San Juan del Sur weather in May

In May, San Juan del Sur sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 153 mm of rain across 16.3 wet days and about 12.5 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 19% of the time in May, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 24 min at the start of May to 12 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is San Juan del Sur's 7th-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see San Juan del Sur's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
26°
12th coldest
Rainfall
153 mm
16.3 wet days
Daylight
12 h 30 min
5:24 AM – 5:55 PM
Cloud cover
69%
7th clearest
Wind
19 km/h
10th windiest
Solar energy
6 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.4
out of 10

San Juan del Sur is Town in Nicaragua, Seat of the San Juan del Sur Municipality, Rivas Department.

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

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month.

A typical May day in San Juan del Sur reaches about 29°C in the afternoon and slips back to 26°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 28°C and 31°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs on par with April and about 1°C warmer than June.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13026
23026
33026
43026
53026
63026
73026
83026
93026
103026
113026
123026
133026
143026
152926
162926
172926
182926
192926
202926
212926
222926
232926
242926
252926
262926
272925
282925
292925
302925
312925

How May really feels in San Juan del Sur

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 31 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
31
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in May is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

San Juan del Sur weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 2nd-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 24°103.411.48.0
Feb28° / 24°41.411.68.2
Mar29° / 24°30.911.97.4
Apr30° / 25°143.112.26.2
May29° / 26°15316.312.54.4
Jun28° / 25°19826.512.63.4
Jul28° / 25°15125.812.63.7
Aug28° / 25°16826.412.43.6
Sep28° / 25°25227.212.13.4
Oct28° / 25°29027.411.73.8
Nov28° / 25°10215.411.55.6
Dec27° / 24°246.311.47.3

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

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

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 66%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15149
25050
35050
44852
54753
64753
74555
84555
94258
104258
114060
123862
133664
143466
153367
163169
173070
182872
192872
202773
212674
222575
232575
242476
252476
262476
272476
282278
292179
302179
312080

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

San Juan del Sur gets around 153 mm of rain over 16.3 wet days in May. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 53% and peaks near 80% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
127
228
329
430
531
632
733
835
936
1038
1140
1243
1345
1447
1550
1653
1756
1858
1961
2063
2166
2268
2369
2471
2573
2674
2775
2877
2978
3079
3180

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the oppressive band about 75% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
128216
228216
328117
418217
518217
618217
718118
818118
918118
1018019
1118019
1217920
1317920
1417821
1517722
1617623
1717524
1817425
1917326
2017326
2117227
2217128
2317029
2407129
2507030
2606931
2706832
2806634
2906535
3006436
3106337

Wind in May

Winds average 19 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 16 km/h on the calmest days to 21 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
121breezy
221breezy
321breezy
421breezy
521breezy
621breezy
720breezy
820breezy
920breezy
1020breezy
1120light breeze
1220light breeze
1320light breeze
1419light breeze
1519light breeze
1619light breeze
1719light breeze
1818light breeze
1918light breeze
2018light breeze
2117light breeze
2217light breeze
2317light breeze
2417light breeze
2517light breeze
2616light breeze
2716light breeze
2816light breeze
2916light breeze
3016light breeze
3116light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 24 min at the start of May to 12 h 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 12 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:29 AM to 5:23 AM, and sunset from 5:52 PM to 5:59 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.45:295:52
212.45:285:53
312.45:285:53
412.45:285:53
512.45:275:53
612.45:275:53
712.45:275:53
812.55:265:54
912.55:265:54
1012.55:265:54
1112.55:255:54
1212.55:255:54
1312.55:255:55
1412.55:255:55
1512.55:245:55
1612.55:245:55
1712.55:245:55
1812.55:245:56
1912.55:245:56
2012.55:245:56
2112.55:235:56
2212.65:235:57
2312.65:235:57
2412.65:235:57
2512.65:235:57
2612.65:235:58
2712.65:235:58
2812.65:235:58
2912.65:235:58
3012.65:235:59
3112.65:235:59

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 6 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.95 kWh/m² to a high of 6.93 kWh/m² in April across the year — May's 6 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.6Intense
26.6Intense
36.5Intense
46.5Intense
56.5Intense
66.5Intense
76.4Intense
86.4Intense
96.3Intense
106.3Intense
116.3Intense
126.2Intense
136.2Intense
146.1Intense
156.1Intense
166.0Intense
176.0Bright
185.9Bright
195.8Bright
205.8Bright
215.8Bright
225.7Bright
235.7Bright
245.6Bright
255.6Bright
265.6Bright
275.5Bright
285.5Bright
295.5Bright
305.5Bright
315.5Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for San Juan del Sur

In seasonPeak

In May, San Juan del Sur sits inside its monsoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

San Juan del Sur sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

San Juan del Sur's monsoon runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.

Atlantic hurricane
Monsoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is May a good time to visit San Juan del Sur?

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

4.4
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
5.8
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit San Juan del Sur for sightseeing.

What to pack for San Juan del Sur in May

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

In May, San Juan del Sur sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 16 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near San Juan del Sur in May

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

The sea at the nearest coast (about 14 km away) is warmest in September at about 29°C and coldest in February near 26°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan26Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr28Warm
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul28Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct28Tropical
Nov27Warm
Dec27Warm

UV index in San Juan del Sur in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 12 (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 Juan del Sur peaks around March 20 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 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 20UV 14Dec 15UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct11Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec9Very high

Air quality in San Juan del Sur in May

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur?

San Juan del Sur sits at 11.3°N, 85.9°W, 0 m above sea level, in Nicaragua. The nearest listed city is Rivas, 21 km away.

NandaimeJinotepeGranadaDiriambaMasatepeSan MarcosLiberia

Topography around San Juan del Sur

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around San Juan del Sur has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 234 m around an average of 39 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 430 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,874 m.

The land around San Juan del Sur is covered by trees (45%) and water (37%) within 3 km, water (46%) and trees (39%) within 16 km, and water (62%) and trees (29%) within 80 km.

3 km
234 m
16 km
430 m
80 km
1,874 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
May weather nearby: Rivas 21 km · Nandaime 59 km · Jinotepe 75 km · Granada 76 km · Diriamba 78 km · Masatepe 79 km · San Marcos 82 km · Liberia 83 km

Nicaragua travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 34% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$3,173
2025
Happiness
6.3 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
11.3
per 100k, 2021
Road deaths
16.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 512
Religion
Roman Catholic 45%Protestant 39%none 14%other 1%

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 Juan del Sur (11.2529°, -85.8705°, elevation 0 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. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). 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).