Costa Rica · WinterMonth summary
Costa Rica weather in December
✅ Good
🌡️ Temperature min / max
16°C – 24°C
🌧 Rainy days
37% of days
☀️ Sunshine
10.8h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Winter
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
7.7/10
📅 📅 Best month
February (8.6/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Costa Rica in December?
✅ Good
✅ Yes if: you want to explore cultural sites and local food.
❌ No if: you need guaranteed sunshine for photos or outdoor activities.
Our take: Favourable conditions in December (7.7/10). February scores higher but the gap is small.
By trip type
Costa Rica in December by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ✅ Good
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ✅ Good
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : ⚠️ Possible
- 💰 💰 Budget : 💸 Peak season
Local context
What to expect in December
🎯 Peak season — book ahead for best rates. Accommodation prices at their highest Even in winter, Costa Rica enjoys 24°C. A real asset for escaping the European cold. Expect rain on 37% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended. A good balance between weather and crowds, even if February (8.6/10) remains theoretically better.
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All months for Costa Rica
Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ January | 16°C | 25°C | 24% | 1.3 | 10.7h | 8.2/10 |
| ☀️ February | 16°C | 26°C | 18% | 1.0 | 10.9h | 8.6/10 |
| 🌤️ March | 16°C | 27°C | 25% | 1.1 | 11.1h | 8.6/10 |
| 🌤️ April | 17°C | 27°C | 54% | 3.8 | 11.0h | 7.6/10 |
| 🌧️ May | 17°C | 26°C | 86% | 12.1 | 8.6h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌧️ June | 17°C | 24°C | 94% | 13.0 | 7.8h | 5.3/10 |
| ⛅ July | 17°C | 25°C | 76% | 9.7 | 8.6h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌧️ August | 17°C | 25°C | 85% | 12.6 | 8.9h | 6.9/10 |
| 🌧️ September | 16°C | 25°C | 96% | 14.6 | 8.1h | 5.5/10 |
| 🌧️ October | 16°C | 24°C | 94% | 17.7 | 7.9h | 5.2/10 |
| 🌧️ November | 17°C | 24°C | 81% | 11.3 | 8.7h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌤️ December | 16°C | 24°C | 37% | 2.8 | 10.8h | 7.7/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In December, Costa Rica averages 24°C, 37% rainy days and 10.8h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 7.7/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
December vs February (best month)
The best month is February (score 8.6/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +2°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : -19%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +0.1h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Costa Rica in December
Is December a good time to visit Costa Rica?
December is an excellent time to visit Costa Rica (score 7.7/10). With 24°C, 10.8h of sunshine and 37% rain, conditions are very favourable.
What to do in Costa Rica in December?
With 24°C max and 10.8h of sunshine, focus on cultural sites, museums and local gastronomy.
Accommodation
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Activities & tours
Activities and tours in Costa Rica
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