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San José, Costa Rica · Equatorial tropical

San José in March: go or not?

Excellent time. San José in March scores 8.7/10.

📅 Updated August 2026 🛰️ ERA5 · 10 years 📍 9.93°N · 84.08°W
⚡ This month's verdict
Go for it
San José · March
8.7
16–27°
Temperature
25%
Rain
9h
Sun
🌊 Seaside☀️ Bright🍴 Gastronomy
Photo : Lisa van Vliet via Unsplash
The month in detail

What to expect in March

Spring marks the start of the good season in San José. Temperatures rise (27.0°F) and tourists have not yet arrived en masse. Rain risk remains low (25.0% of days), leaving good room for outdoor activities. A good balance between weather and crowds, even if February (8.8/10) remains theoretically better.

March ranks 2 out of 12 months in San José. Compared to February: +2°F daytime, 7 pts more rainy days.

This month's conditions

What it's like in March

UV index
10 · very high
protection essential
Feels like
comfortable
14°
Daylight
11.9h of daylight
Air quality
good
AQI 27
Compare

Is March the right month?

The best month in San José is February (8.8/10), 0.1 pt higher than March.

See February →See all 12 months →
Context

Our verdict

San José, capital of Costa Rica on the central plateau at 3,800 ft altitude: 340,000 inhabitants intra-muros, 2.5 million in urban area (50% of the total Costa Rican population in the " Gran Área Metropolitana ").

Read Gilles' full review →

Book

Plan your trip

Hotels at their lowest outside peak season, highest on comfortable months. Shoulder seasons offer a good price/climate compromise.

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Stay
Hotels & rentals · San José
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Activities
Tours, tickets, experiences
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Flights
Multi-airline comparator
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🎟️ Activities & tours · San José

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Practical info

What you need to know before you go

Three angles: the country (language, currency, safety, budget), the year-round climate, and the specifics of a beach trip.

Country · Costa Rica

🗣️LanguageSpanish
💶CurrencyColón costaricain (₡)
🚗DrivingRight-hand
🛡️Safety ⓘVery safe · 1/5
💰Cost of living ⓘModerate · 3/5

🌡️ Climate

🌍Climate typeEquatorial tropical
📈Climate trend ⓘStable
🔥Hottest monthMarch · 81°F
❄️Coolest monthJune · 75°F
🌧️Rainiest month ⓘSeptember · 96%

🏖️ Beach trip

📅Peak seasonJuin → Sept
🏖️Swell (Sept–Mar) ⓘModérée
Explore

Other destinations in March

If March doesn't convince you for this destination, compare with others.

Similar climate
Costa RicaCosta RicaPanamaPanamaSan Cristóbal de las CasasMexicoCartagenaColombiaGranadaNicaragua
Nearby
MonteverdeCosta Rica91 kmGranadaNicaragua303 kmNicaraguaNicaragua340 kmProvidenciaColombia481 km
Other top picks
NamibiaNamibia8.6Cape VerdeCape Verde8.8SalCape Verde8.8WindhoekNamibia8.8Canary IslandsSpain8.5
← FebruaryApril →
🗺️ See all 754 destinations on the map
Location

Where is San José ?

Global position + regional geographic context.

🌍 World
🔍 Geographic context
Costa Rica
Equatorial tropical climate with a 8.8 → 4.3 gap between best and worst month. 10 years of ERA5 data to choose by project.
9.93°N · 84.08°W
Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit San José?
February is the best month with 79°F highs, 61°F lows, 9.4h of sunshine and 18.0% rainy days. The months of February & March offer comparable conditions.
How many hours of sunshine does San José get in February?
San José averages 9.4 sunshine hours per day in February. It is the sunniest month with a climate score of 8.4/10.
What is the rainiest month in San José?
June is the most unfavourable month with June has the lowest climate score of the year and the lowest climate score of the year.
What are the temperatures at night in San José in February?
In February, overnight lows reach 61°F, while afternoon highs average 79°F.
Is San José good in winter?
In winter (December-February), San José scores 7.9/10 on average — Acceptable conditions for cultural visits.. The best month overall remains February with a score of 8.4/10.
When should you avoid San José?
June is the most difficult month to visit San José, with June has the lowest climate score of the year. Climate conditions are at their lowest of the year during this period.
Do you need sun protection in San José in March?
The average UV index reaches 10 in March in San José (very high), with about 11.9h of daylight. Protection essential.