Route Pura Vida

Dry season

Costa Rica weather in January

Yes. January is peak dry season, with reliable sunshine on the Pacific and in the Central Valley. The trade-off is price and crowds, especially the first week while the Christmas–New Year rush winds down.

By Aaron Bailey

Daytime highs

54–92°F

12–33°C depending on altitude

Driest

Guanacaste Airport (LIR)

0.2 in (5 mm) of rain

Wettest

Tortuguero National Park

11.8 in (300 mm) of rain

What January is like

January is the month the brochures are photographed in. The Pacific coast from Guanacaste down to Manuel Antonio is dry, sunny, and hot, and the Central Valley sits in the high 70s with cool, clear mornings. If your trip is mostly beaches, this is about as safe a bet as Costa Rica gets.

The exceptions are worth knowing. The Caribbean side (Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Tortuguero) is still coming out of its own wet spell, so expect showers there. Arenal and Monteverde get regular drizzle and strong wind, and Guanacaste gets the gusty Papagayo winds that make afternoons on the water choppy.

In January, average daytime highs in Costa Rica range from 54°F (12°C) at Irazú Volcano National Park to 92°F (33°C) at Rincón de la Vieja National Park. Rainfall ranges from about 0.2 in (5 mm) at Guanacaste Airport (LIR) to 11.8 in (300 mm) at Tortuguero National Park.

Crowds and prices

The first week of January is still holiday-peak pricing. After about January 6, crowds thin a little, but it's high season through April, so book cars and popular hotels well ahead.

Happening in January

  • Northern-hemisphere humpback whales are around Uvita and Marino Ballena (December–March).
  • The Fiestas de Palmares take over the town of Palmares in the Central Valley for about two weeks in mid-to-late January.
  • Windy season in Guanacaste. Great for kitesurfing, less great for boat tours.

Towns and airports in January

Long-term monthly averages, driest first.

Destination High Low Rain
Guanacaste Airport (LIR) 91°F / 33°C 70°F / 21°C 0.2 in / 5 mm
San José 75°F / 24°C 58°F / 14°C 0.2 in / 5 mm
Tamarindo 91°F / 33°C 71°F / 22°C 0.2 in / 5 mm
Santa Teresa 90°F / 32°C 72°F / 22°C 0.2 in / 5 mm
Nosara 91°F / 33°C 71°F / 22°C 0.2 in / 5 mm
Samara 90°F / 32°C 71°F / 22°C 0.2 in / 5 mm
San José Airport (SJO) 77°F / 25°C 60°F / 16°C 0.3 in / 8 mm
Jaco 89°F / 32°C 73°F / 23°C 0.3 in / 8 mm
Manuel Antonio 87°F / 31°C 72°F / 22°C 1 in / 25 mm
Uvita 87°F / 31°C 72°F / 22°C 1.4 in / 36 mm
Dominical 86°F / 30°C 72°F / 22°C 1.8 in / 46 mm
Monteverde 70°F / 21°C 58°F / 14°C 2.8 in / 71 mm
La Fortuna 82°F / 28°C 66°F / 19°C 6.7 in / 170 mm
Puerto Viejo 83°F / 28°C 72°F / 22°C 10.6 in / 269 mm

National parks in January

Long-term monthly averages, driest first.

Destination High Low Rain
Rincón de la Vieja National Park 92°F / 33°C 71°F / 22°C 0.4 in / 10 mm
Manuel Antonio National Park 87°F / 31°C 72°F / 22°C 1 in / 25 mm
Irazú Volcano National Park 54°F / 12°C 38°F / 3°C 1.2 in / 30 mm
Marino Ballena National Park 87°F / 31°C 72°F / 22°C 1.4 in / 36 mm
Corcovado National Park 88°F / 31°C 70°F / 21°C 2.2 in / 56 mm
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve 70°F / 21°C 58°F / 14°C 2.8 in / 71 mm
Poás Volcano National Park 60°F / 16°C 45°F / 7°C 2.8 in / 71 mm
Cahuita National Park 82°F / 28°C 73°F / 23°C 4.9 in / 124 mm
Arenal Volcano National Park 82°F / 28°C 66°F / 19°C 6.7 in / 170 mm
Tortuguero National Park 84°F / 29°C 73°F / 23°C 11.8 in / 300 mm

Check your own itinerary

Add each stop on your trip and see the January weather, rainfall, and what to pack for each one.

Open the January weather planner

January in Costa Rica: quick answers

Is January a good time to visit Costa Rica?
Yes. January is peak dry season, with reliable sunshine on the Pacific and in the Central Valley. The trade-off is price and crowds, especially the first week while the Christmas–New Year rush winds down.
Does it rain in Costa Rica in January?
It depends on where you are. In January, average daytime highs in Costa Rica range from 54°F (12°C) at Irazú Volcano National Park to 92°F (33°C) at Rincón de la Vieja National Park. Rainfall ranges from about 0.2 in (5 mm) at Guanacaste Airport (LIR) to 11.8 in (300 mm) at Tortuguero National Park.
Where is the best weather in Costa Rica in January?
The driest places in January are Guanacaste Airport (LIR), San José, and Tamarindo, each averaging 0.2 inches of rain or less for the month. The wettest are Tortuguero National Park, Puerto Viejo, and La Fortuna.
How hot is Costa Rica in January?
The hottest spot is Rincón de la Vieja National Park, averaging highs of 92°F (33°C). San José in the Central Valley averages 75°F (24°C). The volcano summits and cloud forest are much cooler, with Irazú Volcano National Park averaging 54°F (12°C). Nights are cooler everywhere, especially at altitude.

Planning a January trip?

I'll build your route around January's weather: which coast to favor, where to stay, and how to get between stops.

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