Costa Rica · WinterMonth summary
Costa Rica weather in January
✅ Good
🌡️ Temperature min / max
16°C – 25°C
🌧 Rainy days
24% of days
☀️ Sunshine
10.7h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Winter
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
8.2/10
📅 📅 Best month
February (8.6/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Costa Rica in January?
✅ Good
✅ Yes if: you want great weather for all activities.
❌ No if: you're on a tight budget — prices are higher during peak season.
Our take: Favourable conditions in January (8.2/10). February scores higher but the gap is small.
By trip type
Costa Rica in January by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ✅ Good
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ✅ Good
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : ✅ Good
- 💰 💰 Budget : 💸 Peak season
Local context
What to expect in January
🎯 Ideal beach temperature (26°C) — crowds still moderate Even in winter, Costa Rica enjoys 25°C. A real asset for escaping the European cold. Rain risk remains low (24% of days), leaving good room for outdoor activities. A good balance between weather and crowds, even if February (8.6/10) remains theoretically better.
Browse by month
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 January, Costa Rica averages 25°C, 24% rainy days and 10.7h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 8.2/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
January vs February (best month)
The best month is February (score 8.6/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +1°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : -6%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +0.2h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Costa Rica in January
Is January a good time to visit Costa Rica?
January is an excellent time to visit Costa Rica (score 8.2/10). With 25°C, 10.7h of sunshine and 24% rain, conditions are very favourable.
What to do in Costa Rica in January?
With 25°C and 10.7h of sunshine, all outdoor activities are possible: hiking, sightseeing and terraces.
Accommodation
Find a place to stay in Costa Rica
Find places to stay in Costa Rica in January
Search on Hotels.com
Activities & tours
Activities and tours in Costa Rica
Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and local experiences.
Browse activities on GetYourGuide
Flights
Find a flight to Costa Rica
Compare flights from all airlines.
Search flights
←
Explore also
Similar destinations in January
Panama
Cartagena🌍 Top destinations
Other top destinations in January
Honolulu
Turks and Caicos
Hurghada
Guanajuato
AgadirWeather rankings
Compare destinations by weather
Best in EuropeGuides & comparisons