On the first afternoons of May, the sky over Jaco turns slate gray, thunder rolls down from the hills, and vendors pull tarps over their carved wooden masks and sarongs while surfers keep paddling out in the warm rain. By morning the mountains behind town look freshly washed and the dark sand is smooth again. May is when the green season begins on this stretch of the central Pacific coast, with a quieter town, a very warm sea and a rainforest in full leaf.
What is the weather like in Jaco in May?
May in Jaco is hot, humid and wet: mornings are often bright, and showers or thunderstorms arrive most afternoons as the green season settles in.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days | Sea (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 83.8 | 77.0 | 21.5 | 87.9 |
| May | 82.3 | 76.5 | 29.6 | 88.0 |
| June | 81.8 | 76.1 | 29.1 | 85.9 |
The rhythm of the day matters more than the monthly picture. Mornings usually start clear and steamy, with soft light on the beach and the best hours for walking, surfing or a hike. Clouds tend to stack up over the hills around midday, and the rain, when it comes, can be a hard downpour that lasts an hour or two before easing to drizzle.
Some rain falls on nearly every day of the month, but that rarely means a gray day from dawn to dusk. Plan the outdoor things early, keep the afternoon for lunch, a nap, a café or a market, and treat the shower as part of the scenery. Days run a little past twelve hours long, so there is still a soft golden evening once the clouds break.
Nights are warm and sticky, comfortable in shorts and a light shirt, and a ceiling fan or air conditioning makes a real difference for sleep. Clothes dry slowly in the humidity, so quick-dry fabrics earn their place. Lightning in the afternoon is a reason to leave the water and the open beach, even if the sky overhead still looks half blue.
Can you swim in Jaco in May?
Yes, the sea is as warm as it gets here, so a long swim never feels like a shock, but the surf and the currents decide whether you should go in.
Jaco beach is long, wide and open to the Pacific, and its waves are the reason surfers come. In the green season the swell often builds and the water can look brown after heavy rain. Along this coastline, rip currents are a grave danger that cause several U.S. tourist drownings every year, and at most beaches there are no lifeguards or cautions about hazardous conditions.
May can suit surfers who check conditions with a reputable local school, but rough surf and rip currents can make even shallow water dangerous. A reputable surf school can help you assess conditions, but rip currents remain dangerous.
Nervous swimmers and families with small children may prefer the hotel pool, with the beach saved for sandcastles and walks at the tide line. Look for any posted flags before you step in, never swim alone, and get out when thunder is close. Sunscreen and a rash guard help in the strong tropical sun of the morning.
What to do in Jaco in May
May has one fixed date on the calendar, May 1, Labor Day, a national holiday when Costa Rican families head for the coast and the beachfront restaurants fill with long lunches and music. After that the month belongs to the first rains, the surf and the forest. There is no big festival to plan around, which suits the town: it feels like a place where people live, not a stage set.
The mood in the streets is relaxed. Surfboards ride on the roofs of pickups, the main strip fills with the smell of grilled meat and fried plantain at dusk, and bars put out their stools once the afternoon storm has passed.
At a small soda, which is a family-run local diner, have a casado: rice, beans, salad, plantain, plus your pick of fish, chicken or beef. Try gallo pinto, the rice and beans mixed together, at breakfast with fresh fruit and strong coffee, and drink a cold coconut or a fresco made with seasonal fruit when the humidity hits.
Surfing and the beach town
Surfing is the center of Jaco life, and May is a good month to try it. Beginners paddle out in the early morning on the forgiving breaks near town, where the waves are rolling and the water is warm enough that you never need a wetsuit. Experienced surfers often find the swell more lively as the green season gathers, and they chase the best waves along the coast.
Book a lesson for the first hours of daylight, when the wind is lightest and the thunderheads have not yet arrived. Rental boards and rash guards are easy to find along the beachfront.
Should surfing not be your thing, grab a cold drink at a table by the beach and keep an eye on the lineup, or take a walk on the sand at low tide, when it is at its firmest. Rip currents are a real danger here, so follow the instructors, stay near the others and ask about conditions before you go out.
Carara National Park and the Tarcoles River
Carara National Park is a patch of rainforest where trails wind under tall trees, and the green season makes it feel thick and alive. Birds are the main draw, and you may spot scarlet macaws, trogons and toucans, along with monkeys and the odd sloth. A guide helps a great deal in finding wildlife, and morning is when the forest is busiest.
The Tarcoles River, close by, is known for its large American crocodiles, which you can see from the road bridge and on boat trips through the mangroves, where herons, egrets and other water birds often feed. Wildlife is always a chance, never a promise. After rain, paths may turn muddy, so choose footwear that grips, and because access and park rules can change, look at the park’s official page before heading out.
Playa Hermosa and quieter beaches
South of town, Playa Hermosa has a long stretch of dark sand with a reputation for powerful waves, and it is a place to watch skilled surfers rather than to learn. Its beach is wide and less crowded, with a few restaurants and a calmer feeling than central Jaco. The water here can be rough, so most visitors stay on the sand and in the shallows.
Sunset is the reason to go. When the afternoon rain clears, the western sky often turns orange and pink and the wet sand reflects it like a mirror. Bring a towel, a light jacket for the walk back and an umbrella in case a late shower catches you. Wherever you walk, remember that most beaches here have no lifeguards, so keep your swimming close to shore.
On days when the rain sets in early, the town offers a few good indoor options. Browse the craft stalls and shops along the main street for hand-painted ceramics, wooden carvings and coffee to take home, and take a long lunch while the weather passes. Yoga studios, spas and cafés with good coffee fill the rest of a gray afternoon.
A two-day itinerary for Jaco in May
Day 1 is for the beach and the town. Start early, when the air is warm but not yet heavy and the sky is usually at its clearest. Eat gallo pinto and fruit at a small breakfast spot, then book a surf lesson or walk the sand while the waves are still gentle. Be out of the water by late morning, before the clouds build.
Come noon, have fresh fish or a casado at a beachfront place or a soda, then take it easy during the most sweltering and tempestuous stretch of the day. If the rain comes, wander the craft stalls and shops on the main street, or settle into a café with a coffee and a book. When the sky clears, drive south for sunset at Playa Hermosa, with a drink on the sand and the surfers still in the water.
Back in town, dinner can be tacos, grilled seafood or a pizza at one of the lively places along the strip. The town stays warm and busy after dark, with live music at some bars, so a stroll on the main street afterward is a pleasant way to end the evening.
Day 2 is for the rainforest and the river. Leave early for Carara National Park, since morning is when birds and monkeys are most active and the trails are still cool. Walk with a guide if you can, take your time and listen for macaws overhead. Wear shoes with grip, and carry water and a light rain layer.
Continue to the Tarcoles River for a mangrove boat trip, where crocodiles, herons and other birds are often seen near the banks. Have a late lunch at a roadside restaurant on the way back, and expect the afternoon rain to catch up with you. Return to Jaco to shower, nap and watch the storm from a covered terrace.
If the weather turns bad on either day, swap the activities: spend the wet afternoon at a spa, a yoga class, or a long lunch, and save the beach for the next clear morning. Evenings are for a last seafood dinner and a walk on the sand once the rain has passed.
Is Jaco busy in May?
Not especially, since May is the start of the green season and the town is quieter than in the dry months, apart from the Labor Day holiday.
Most of the visitors in May are surfers, backpackers, Costa Rican families on a holiday and travelers who have chosen the green season for its lower rates and its lush scenery. The beachfront is lively on weekends and on May 1, when locals fill the restaurants and the sand. On weekdays you may have a breakfast spot or a surf lesson almost to yourself.
Rooms are generally easy to find, and rental cars and restaurant tables rarely run short. For the holiday weekend around May 1, book earlier, since families and groups head to the coast and the best places go first.
Check Carara National Park’s official page before you go. For a guided tour or boat trip on the Tarcoles, confirm availability directly with the operator, and keep your plans flexible around the weather.
What to pack for Jaco in May
Pack for heat, humidity and a daily shower, with light clothes that dry quickly and a few things for the water and the forest.
- A light rain jacket or compact umbrella, for the afternoon storms.
- Quick-dry shirts and shorts, since clothes dry slowly in the humidity.
- Sandals and shoes with good grip, for muddy forest trails and wet streets.
- A rash guard and sunscreen, for surf lessons and the strong sun.
- Insect repellent, for the forest and the evenings after rain.
- A dry bag or waterproof case, to protect phones and cameras from downpours.
Good to know before you go
The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2, ‘Exercise increased caution,’ due to crime; it says petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica and that violent crime also affects tourists, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault.
May is the first month of the green season, so plan the day around the weather: outdoor things in the morning and a flexible afternoon. Labor Day on May 1 is a national holiday, and the coast is busier around it, so book rooms and tours for that weekend first.
Getting from San Jose to Jaco normally takes about two hours, though serious rain may stretch that out, so give yourself extra time. For entry, you need a valid passport for your whole stay and a return ticket or proof of onward travel.
Jaco in May vs April and June
Moving the trip to April means a drier town, with more sunshine and fewer afternoon storms, and the sea is just as warm. The trade-off is that rain comes in short showers and a wetter spell here and there, yet visitors still crowd in, so the beach, the restaurants and the surf lessons are busier. You also miss the first fresh greening of the hills that makes May look so lush.
June is wetter and a touch cooler, and the sea is slightly less warm, though still pleasant. The rain is a fixture of most days, the forest is at its greenest and the town is at its quietest, so it suits travelers who care more about space and scenery than about sunshine. Showers may be longer and the mud on the trails deeper.
Choose April if you want long dry beach days and don’t mind company. Choose May if you want a balance, with bright mornings, a warm sea, thinner crowds and the green season just beginning. Choose June if you love the rainforest and a quiet town, and are happy to plan around the weather.
Is May a good time to visit Jaco?
Sure, May suits travelers seeking surf, warm water and green hills minus the dry-season crowds, and who do not mind planning the day around an afternoon storm.
It suits surfers, wildlife lovers, budget-minded travelers and anyone who likes a relaxed beach town. Families with older children will enjoy the surf lessons and the river boat trips. Anyone who needs guaranteed sunshine all day, or who is nervous around strong surf and currents, may prefer a drier month or a calmer beach elsewhere.
On arrival, spend the first morning on the sand, learn how the water is behaving, and plan the forest and river day for an early start. Keep one afternoon free for the storm, because it can turn into the best part of the day, with thunder over the hills and the town washed clean. What makes May special in Jaco is the moment the season turns: the first regular rains greening the hills behind a beach where the surf is still warm and the evenings golden.
Sources
- Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 9.6145N 84.6285W, checked October 8, 2026
- Open-Meteo Marine API, average 2015-2024, checked October 8, 2026
- sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked October 8, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Information, Safety and security (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/CostaRica.html), checked October 8, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Advisory, issued April 1, 2026 (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/costa-rica-travel-advisory.html), read via the State Department open data API on October 8, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Information, Entry and exit requirements (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/CostaRica.html), checked October 8, 2026