The best times to visit San Jose for ideal weather are
October 22nd to April 1st
based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.
San Jose Travel Guide
Other San Jose Travel Info
Weather in San Jose
Temperature
Average temperatures in San Jose vary barely at all. Considering humidity, temperatures feel nice most of the year, excluding some hot weeks in the summer, with a fair chance of precipitation about half of the year. The area is somewhat temperate — in the 59th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit San Jose, the hottest months are April, May, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early May where highs are regularly around 84.2°F (29°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 66.3°F (19.1°C) at night.
San Jose Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
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San Jose Temperatures (Celsius)
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“Feels-Like” Temperatures
The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.
San Jose Perceived Temperature (F)
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San Jose Perceived Temperature (C)
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Average San Jose Temperatures by Month
Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.
Show Fahrenheit
| Month | Avg. High (°F) | Avg. Mean (°F) | Avg. Low (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79.4 | 73.2 | 65.3 |
| Feb | 80.9 | 74 | 64.4 |
| Mar | 81.9 | 74.7 | 64.8 |
| Apr | 83.6 | 76.1 | 66.6 |
| May | 82.9 | 75.5 | 66.6 |
| Jun | 82.6 | 75.2 | 66.7 |
| Jul | 81.5 | 74.8 | 67.4 |
| Aug | 82.2 | 74.8 | 65.8 |
| Sep | 82.5 | 74.2 | 65.2 |
| Oct | 81.6 | 73.7 | 64.8 |
| Nov | 80.7 | 73.7 | 65 |
| Dec | 80.1 | 73.9 | 65.8 |
Show Celsius
| Month | Avg. High (°C) | Avg. Mean (°C) | Avg. Low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26.3 | 22.9 | 18.5 |
| Feb | 27.2 | 23.3 | 18 |
| Mar | 27.7 | 23.7 | 18.2 |
| Apr | 28.7 | 24.5 | 19.2 |
| May | 28.3 | 24.2 | 19.2 |
| Jun | 28.1 | 24 | 19.3 |
| Jul | 27.5 | 23.8 | 19.7 |
| Aug | 27.9 | 23.8 | 18.8 |
| Sep | 28.1 | 23.4 | 18.4 |
| Oct | 27.6 | 23.2 | 18.2 |
| Nov | 27.1 | 23.2 | 18.3 |
| Dec | 26.7 | 23.3 | 18.8 |
Precipitation (Rain or Snow)
If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in San Jose are January, March, and then February. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early January. For example, on the week of January 1st there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late September with an average of 4 days of significant precipitation the week of September 24th.
When can you find snow in San Jose? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.
Chance of Precipitation
The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in San Jose.
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Snow on the Ground
The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in San Jose (in).
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Average Rain and Snow by Month
Show Inches
| Month | Daily Chance of Rain | Average Snow Depth (in) | Total Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| Feb | 2% | 0 | 0.2 |
| Mar | 2% | 0 | 0.5 |
| Apr | 12% | 0 | 2.1 |
| May | 31% | 0 | 6.4 |
| Jun | 35% | 0 | 5.1 |
| Jul | 28% | 0 | 5.3 |
| Aug | 36% | 0 | 7.2 |
| Sep | 55% | 0 | 12.3 |
| Oct | 38% | 0 | 8.1 |
| Nov | 32% | 0 | 6 |
| Dec | 9% | 0 | 1.3 |
Show Centimeters
| Month | Daily Chance of Rain | Average Snow Depth (cm) | Total Precipitation (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb | 2 | 0 | 0.5 |
| Mar | 2 | 0 | 1.3 |
| Apr | 12 | 0 | 5.3 |
| May | 31 | 0 | 16.3 |
| Jun | 35 | 0 | 13 |
| Jul | 28 | 0 | 13.5 |
| Aug | 36 | 0 | 18.3 |
| Sep | 55 | 0 | 31.2 |
| Oct | 38 | 0 | 20.6 |
| Nov | 32 | 0 | 15.2 |
| Dec | 9 | 0 | 3.3 |
Humidity and Wind
San Jose has some slightly muggy months, with moderately humid months on the other side of the year. The least humid month is February (47% relative humidity), and the most humid month is October (68.1%).
Wind in San Jose is usually moderate. The windiest month is January, followed by March and February. January’s average wind speed of around 14.6 knots (16.7 MPH or 26.9 KPH) is considered “a moderate breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in late January and early February where average top sustained speeds reach 19.1 knots, which is considered a fresh breeze.
Relative Humidity (%)
The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in San Jose.
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Wind
The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.
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Average Wind Speeds
Show Wind Speeds
All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.
| Month | Avg. Wind | Avg. Wind Feel | Sustained High Wind | High Wind Feel |
| Jan | 14.6 | Significant breeze | 18.6 | Strong breeze |
| Feb | 13.4 | Significant breeze | 17.3 | Strong breeze |
| Mar | 13.8 | Significant breeze | 18.1 | Strong breeze |
| Apr | 11.1 | Significant breeze | 15.8 | Significant breeze |
| May | 9.4 | Gentle breeze | 14.4 | Strong breeze |
| Jun | 8.6 | Gentle breeze | 13.3 | Significant breeze |
| Jul | 10.4 | Gentle breeze | 15.1 | Strong breeze |
| Aug | 8.6 | Gentle breeze | 13.6 | Significant breeze |
| Sep | 7.2 | Gentle breeze | 12.2 | Strong breeze |
| Oct | 6.7 | Light breeze | 12.2 | Significant breeze |
| Nov | 9.4 | Gentle breeze | 14 | Strong breeze |
| Dec | 12 | Significant breeze | 16.1 | Significant breeze |
Show Relative Humidity by Month
| Month | Avg. Relative Humidity |
|---|---|
| Jan | 49.8% |
| Feb | 47% |
| Mar | 47.2% |
| Apr | 50.9% |
| May | 58% |
| Jun | 62.8% |
| Jul | 59.1% |
| Aug | 60.2% |
| Sep | 64.9% |
| Oct | 68.1% |
| Nov | 61.5% |
| Dec | 54.7% |
Is it Safe to Travel to San Jose?
Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are travel warnings for Costa Rica; exercise a high degree of caution. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Nov 14, 2023.
The Busiest and Least Crowded Months
The busiest month for tourism in San Jose, Costa Rica is January, followed by February and March. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit San Jose in September. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.
Estimated Tourism by Month
Most Popular Months to Visit
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Overall San Jose Travel Experience by Season
Spring (March through May)
Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel warm. Highs range from 84.2°F (29°C) and 80.8°F (27.1°C) with similar temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 1 to 10 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.
Summer (June through August)
The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see moderate precipitation with 9 to 11 days of precipitation per month. June – August is fairly slow season for tourism in San Jose, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly less.
Fall (September through November)
Fall daily highs range from 82.7°F (28.2°C) and 79.3°F (26.3°C), which will feel very nice given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a good amount: 10 to 16 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.
Winter (December through February)
Weather is perfect this time of year in San Jose to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 81.3°F (27.4°C) and 79.1°F (26.2°C). On average, it rains or snows a smalll amount: 0 to 3 times per month. These times of year are the busiest with tourists.
Best Times to Travel› Central Pacific Coast, Costa Rica › San Jose, Costa Rica