In May, the first afternoon clouds stack up over the Nicoya Peninsula, the hills turn a fresher green, and the surfers at Playa Guiones paddle out under a sky that can change within the hour. The yoga studios open their doors to a warm breeze, and the smoothie bars fill up after the morning classes. This is Nosara as the green season begins, a good month for travelers who like warm water, a slower town and a little weather.
What is the weather like in Nosara in May?
May is hot, humid and rainy, with showers on most days as the green season takes hold. The table puts it between a hotter April and a wetter June.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days | Sea (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 90.8 | 77.8 | 11.7 | 86.8 |
| May | 86.6 | 77.3 | 25.0 | 87.7 |
| June | 84.8 | 76.7 | 27.2 | 85.9 |
Rain falls on nearly every day of the month, so plan around it rather than hoping to dodge it. The first regular afternoon rains arrive at the start of the month, and many days follow that rhythm: a warmer morning, clouds building toward midday, then a downpour or a gray, wet spell.
Some days are wetter from start to finish, and a few bring heavy rain. The best habit is to do your beach time, surf and walking early.
You can still wear a T-shirt and sandals in the evening, and instead of turning cool, the nights feel muggy. The light is long, with daylight lasting a little over twelve hours in mid-May, so there is still time for a late walk or sunset on the sand once the rain clears. Between showers the air feels washed and the forest edges look noticeably greener than they did a few weeks earlier.
Dress for heat and wet: breathable clothes that dry quickly, a light rain jacket and shoes you do not mind soaking. Dirt roads around town can turn muddy after a heavy afternoon, which is worth remembering if you ride a bike or an ATV.
Can you swim in Nosara in May?
The water is warm enough for a long swim, but steady surf and dangerous rip currents can make Playa Guiones demanding for casual swimmers. The surface is in the high 80s this month, so it feels like soft bathwater even early in the morning.
Temperature is the easy part. Playa Guiones is a long beach with steady surf, which makes it a favorite for learning to surf and a demanding place for casual swimming.
In Costa Rica, rip currents pose a serious threat and cause several drownings of American visitors each year, while most beaches lack lifeguards or warnings about unsafe conditions. One day the ocean may be smooth and the next it could turn wild, and the tides change it as well, so before you go in, ask your hotel or a surf school what the conditions are right now, follow any flags that are up, and keep your kids within arm’s reach at all times.
Surfers will like May, with the water warm and lessons easy to find. Pack a rash guard to guard against sun and chafing from your board, along with lots of sunscreen and a dry bag for your phone, since rain can show up while you are on the sand.
What to do in Nosara in May
May begins with Labor Day on May 1, a national holiday when Costa Ricans take to the coast and the town feels a bit more lively than usual. After that the green season settles in, and the mood in Nosara turns relaxed. Mornings belong to yoga, surf and coffee, and afternoons belong to porches, books and the sound of rain on tin roofs.
Surfing and the beach at Playa Guiones
Playa Guiones is the reason most people come. This beach stretches out long and broad, with dependable waves that fit new and mid-level riders better than veterans chasing a heavy barrel. Along the road behind the beach, you can easily track down lessons and board rentals, and instructors teach every level.
Go early. The morning air is the least heavy, the sand is quiet, and the clouds have not yet built up. Walk the long shoreline at low tide when the sand is firm, watch the pelicans and frigatebirds, and leave the afternoon for shelter. Because rip currents are a real concern, check with your surf school about the day’s conditions and keep children close.
If you do not surf, a morning walk, a bodyboard or a paddle in the warm shallows with a sensible eye on the waves is a pleasant way to spend the early hours. A hat and sunscreen matter more here than you might expect on a cloudy day.
Yoga, wellness and slow mornings
Yoga studios and a wellness culture give Nosara its reputation, and that side of town fits perfectly with the wet afternoons of May. Drop-in classes, open-air shalas under tall trees and juice bars with hammocks fill the hours when the sky is dull. Many visitors build a day around a morning surf, a late breakfast and an afternoon class.
The mood is quiet and a little barefoot. You will see people walking with mats and surfboards in the same hour, and the cafés serve bowls, fresh fruit, gallo pinto (rice and beans, the Costa Rican breakfast staple) and strong local coffee. When the rain comes, there is a good excuse to stay put.
Eating in town and the green season
Food in Nosara runs from simple sodas serving a casado, the plate of rice, beans, salad and a choice of meat or fish, to restaurants with wood-fired pizza, fresh ceviche and international menus. Tropical fruit is plentiful this time of year, and mango season runs into the early green months, so fruit stands and smoothies are an easy pleasure.
After a rainy afternoon, locals and visitors drift toward the open-air restaurants and bars near the beach roads. Order a cold agua de pipa, a coconut water drunk from the fruit, and a plate of fresh fish for a simple dinner as the sky clears. Wildfires commonly occur between January and the end of May in Guanacaste and the northern region, so the first weeks of the month can still feel dry at the edges of the countryside before the rains settle in.
A two-day itinerary for Nosara in May
Day 1 begins early at Playa Guiones, with the surf lesson or a long beach walk before the clouds build. Have breakfast at a café in town, a bowl of fruit and gallo pinto, and then spend the late morning with a rinse, a nap or a first yoga class. The hours around midday are for lunch at a casual spot, since heat and humidity peak before the rain.
When the afternoon showers come, the plan is indoors: a yoga class, a massage, a long coffee with a book or a browse through the small shops. If the rain eases, head back toward the sand for the golden hour and sunset, and then have dinner at an open-air restaurant with fresh fish.
Day 2 is for a different stretch of coast and a slower rhythm. Start with a walk along a quieter part of the shore at first light, with the sun rising in a washed sky, and then have a long breakfast. The late morning suits a bike ride or a drive along the town’s back roads, with stops for a smoothie and the sight of howler monkeys in the trees.
Spend the afternoon on a rain card: a yoga or wellness session, a long lunch or a coffee with a book while the downpour passes. Return to the beach near dusk if the sky clears, then end with a casual dinner at a family-run soda for a plate of casado.
Is Nosara busy in May?
No, May is a quiet month, and the town feels more relaxed than in the dry winter months. The first days bring holiday visitors around Labor Day, and rooms around that date fill earlier than the rest of the month.
After that the crowds thin out. Beaches have more room, and surf lineups are easier to share. Rental cars and rooms are easier to find than in the high season, and the quieter pace is part of the appeal.
Who comes in May? Surfers who like warm water and fewer people, yoga students on retreat, families with flexible plans and travelers who prefer green hills to dry ones. Some businesses slow down or close for a few weeks in the green season, so it is wise to confirm that your favorite studio, tour or restaurant is open before you arrive.
What to pack for Nosara in May
Pack for heat, humidity and sudden rain, and keep everything light and quick to dry.
- A light rain jacket, because afternoon showers are frequent
- Quick-dry clothes, since damp air slows ordinary cotton
- A rash guard and swimsuit for surf and warm water
- Sunscreen and a hat, even on cloudy mornings
- Sandals and a pair of closed shoes that can get wet and muddy
- A dry bag for your phone and documents on the beach
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 start of the green season, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs through the year’s later months, though Costa Rica’s Pacific side follows its own weather rhythm of afternoon rain. Labor Day on May 1 is a national holiday.
A passport valid for the whole trip is required, along with a return ticket or evidence of onward travel.
Nosara in May vs April and June
Moving the trip four weeks earlier, to April, brings hotter weather and noticeably less rain, with showers on far fewer days. The sea is a touch cooler, the landscape is browner and the town is closer to the dry-season rhythm. If you want more sun for the beach and fewer wet afternoons, April is the better pick.
Moving four weeks later, to June, adds more rain and a slightly cooler feel, with showers on nearly every day and a greener, wetter landscape. The sea cools a little, and the town grows quieter still. Travelers who enjoy lush scenery and empty beaches and do not mind the rain will find June rewarding.
May sits in the middle: warm sea, the first green after the dry months and a calmer town than in winter. Choose April for dry-season sun, May for a balance of both, and June if you want the full green season.
Is May a good time to visit Nosara?
Sure, May works well for travelers seeking warm water, surf, yoga and a quiet town, as long as they don’t mind that rain will show up on most days. It suits surfers, wellness travelers and anyone who likes a green landscape and slower pace.
It is a poorer fit for travelers who want a reliably sunny week of beach time or who plan long outdoor days away from shelter. If that is you, choose a drier month. Everyone else should arrive with a flexible plan, rain gear and a willingness to move the day’s activities around the weather.
As soon as you arrive, make Playa Guiones your first morning stop, and ask your hotel or a surf school what the water is like that day. Then let the afternoons fall into their rhythm of rain, rest and a late golden walk. What is special about May in Nosara is that moment when the first rains arrive and the dry hills turn green again, with the town almost to yourself.
Sources
- Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 9.9792N 85.6531W, 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
To plan your stay
- Things to Do in Nosara: Surf at Playa Guiones, Yoga, Ostional Turtles and Where to Eat
- Where to Stay in Nosara: Playa Guiones, Pelada, Garza and the Village
- Best Time to Visit Nosara: Dry Season, Green Season, Surf and Turtles
- Nosara in April: Weather, Surf at Playa Guiones, Ostional Turtles and Two Days of Plans