When to go · San José
San José in December
Great month. Dry season begins; Christmas crowds.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Temperature
- 25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C) / 16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 6
- Crowds
- High
- Costa Rica overall
- Prices
- High
- Costa Rica overall
Verdict
Dry season begins; Christmas crowds.
All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.
Is another month better than December?
No other month rates higher than December for San José in this guide.
Weather in December
- San JoséHighs around 25 °C (77 °F), lows around 16 °C (61 °F), rain on about 6 daysHighs around 77 °F (25 °C), lows around 61 °F (16 °C), rain on about 6 days
- Central Valley and mountains, Costa Rica · San José, Monteverde, Poás, Irazúbest weather
Spring-like 18–26 °C (64–79 °F); Monteverde is cool, windy and misty — pack a fleece.Spring-like 64–79 °F (18–26 °C); Monteverde is cool, windy and misty — pack a fleece.
Dry season season
Clear mornings and blue skies; best volcano views.
Watch: Higher prices and busy shuttles at Christmas and Easter.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Festival de la Luz and Christmas check
Early to mid December; 25 December · Downtown parade route
Crowded pavements; most shops close on 25 December.
Fiestas de Zapote
26 December – early January
Fairground, bull rides and concerts in Zapote, south of the centre; heavy evening traffic.
Christmas big impact
25 Dec · Costa Rica
Peak season with the New Year week.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Costa Rica overall
- High
- Prices · Costa Rica overall
- High
Costa Rica overall: Dry season returns; Christmas–New Year sells out — book months ahead.
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in San José, side by side.
Verdict
Dec: Great
Jan: Great
Daytime high
Dec: 25 °C (77 °F)77 °F (25 °C)
Jan: 26 °C (79 °F)79 °F (26 °C)
Night low
Dec: 16 °C (61 °F)61 °F (16 °C)
Jan: 16 °C (61 °F)61 °F (16 °C)
Rain days
Dec: 6
Jan: 3 (better)
Crowds
Dec: High
Jan: High
Prices
Dec: High
Jan: High
Festivals listed
Dec: 3
Jan: 2
December: Dry season begins; Christmas crowds.
January: Dry and sunny; mornings cool.
San José: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.