Costa Rica · Costa Rica
May
Green season opens — prices drop 30–50%, Pacific surf improves, and the lush transformation begins.
Best match
#4 of 12 months
There are better months for Costa Rica — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
27°C
Low
18°C
Rain
229mm
Sun
5.5hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How May scores in Costa Rica
Weather
Above average
Value
Excellent
Crowds
Excellent
Events
Good
Atmosphere
Very good
What you gain in May
- ↑Accommodation prices fall sharply as green season begins — 30–50% below peak rates, with no compromise on the quality of nature, food, or infrastructure
- ↑Pacific surf season awakens: south swells begin arriving in May, making Playa Hermosa, Pavones, and Nosara genuinely excellent for experienced surfers through November
- ↑Vegetation transforms almost overnight — waterfalls run at full power, forests are vivid green, and the landscape becomes the lush version most people picture when they imagine Costa Rica
What you sacrifice
- ↓229mm of rainfall means serious rain — typically afternoon downpours lasting 2–4 hours; mornings are generally clear and usable, but flexibility is essential
- ↓Some Pacific beach days are compromised by wind and swell; calm swimming conditions are less predictable than dry season
- ↓Arenal Volcano cloud cover increases significantly — waiting days for a volcano view is normal; the hot springs and hanging bridges are enjoyable rain or shine
How May compares to July (best month)
| Factor | May | July ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 5 | 5 |
| Value | 8 | 8 |
| Crowds | 8 | 8 |
May in other destinations
Lisbon (20.7°C)Barcelona (20.8°C)Tokyo (23.8°C)Bali (31.2°C)Santorini (19.8°C)Paris (18.1°C)New York (20.4°C)Marrakech (26.4°C)Amsterdam (16.4°C)Maldives (31.5°C)Rome (21.7°C)Bangkok (32.6°C)Istanbul (20.7°C)Vienna (19.7°C)Seoul (21.4°C)Dubrovnik (20.9°C)Rio de Janeiro (26.2°C)Kyoto (25.2°C)Phuket (32.6°C)Cape Town (18.9°C)Prague (21°C)Amalfi Coast (23°C)Mexico City (27°C)Medellín (27°C)Fiji (28°C)London (18°C)Sydney (19°C)Iceland (10°C)Tulum (32°C)Dubai (38°C)Singapore (33°C)Hoi An (33°C)Chiang Mai (33°C)Miami (30.6°C)Florence (23.1°C)Queenstown (11°C)Madrid (21.7°C)Porto (21°C)Edinburgh (15°C)Copenhagen (16°C)Budapest (22°C)Kraków (20°C)Tbilisi (23°C)Palawan (32°C)Hanoi (31°C)Osaka (25°C)Goa (33°C)Cusco (20°C)Buenos Aires (19°C)Mykonos (23°C)Zanzibar (28°C)Sri Lanka (31°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Costa Rica, not across destinations. Methodology →