Costa Rica
Costa Rica in May
🌧️ Rainy seasonPleasant, a little humid and very wet. Watch for flood risk.
🎒 Pack: compact umbrella or rain jacket · waterproof sandals
Why May scores 7.7What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort6.8
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (25.3°C highs / 18.2°C lows)
- !Humid (dew point 19.2°C)
- !Wet: ~358 mm rain, ~11 heavy-rain days
- Air quality9.3
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~9 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards8.5
- !Flood: ~11 heavy-rain days (≥10 mm) in an average May
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| May | Jan | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.7 Very good | 9.6 Excellent |
| Season | 🌧️ Rainy season | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 25° / 18° | 24° / 16° |
| Rain | 358 mm | 37 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 19° | dew pt 17° |
| PM2.5 | 9 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
Other public holidays: International Labor Day (1 May)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore Costa RicaEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyA Central American country known for rainforests, volcanoes, wildlife, two coastlines and eco-tourism.
No major events on our calendar for May.
Coming up later
Green sea turtle nestingDate variesUsually July to October
Green turtles come ashore to lay eggs at night.
Why go: Night beach visits are only allowed with licensed guides.
Where: Tortuguero
Independence DayEvery year15 September every year, with lantern parades on the evening of the 14th
Children's lantern parades and marching bands celebrate independence.
Why go: Expect road closures in town centres.
Where: Nationwide
Fiestas de PalmaresDate variesUsually January
A large festival with concerts, bullfighting and a horse parade.
Why go: Very crowded and loud.
Where: Palmares, Alajuela
Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna
A conical volcano with hot springs, hiking trails and waterfalls.
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Misty forest reserves with hanging bridges and quetzals.
Manuel Antonio National Park
A small park with beaches, monkeys and sloths.
💡 Arrive early, as daily visitor numbers are limited.
Tortuguero National Park
A canal-laced Caribbean park known for sea turtle nesting.
💡 Green turtle nesting is mainly in the second half of the year.
Corcovado National Park
Remote rainforest on the Osa Peninsula with very rich wildlife.
💡 Visits require a certified guide.
Marino Ballena National Park
A marine park near Uvita where humpback whales visit.
💡 Whale watching has two seasons, from both hemispheres.
Gallo pinto
Rice and beans fried together, the classic breakfast.
Casado
A set plate of rice, beans, salad, plantain and meat or fish.
💡 Sodas (small local restaurants)
Chifrijo
Rice, beans, fried pork and pico de gallo, a bar snack.
Ceviche
Fish marinated in lime with onions and coriander.
Salsa Lizano
A mild, tangy brown sauce served with many dishes.
Costa Rican coffee
Beans from regions such as Tarrazú.
💡 Supermarkets and coffee shops
Sarchí oxcart crafts
Painted oxcart souvenirs from the town of Sarchí.
💡 Sarchí and craft shops
Boruca masks
Hand-carved masks by the Boruca Indigenous community.
💡 Craft shops and galleries
Salsa Lizano
Bottles of the national sauce.
💡 Supermarkets
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
Partner links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects scores.