In June, the afternoon sky over Jaco turns slate gray, the first fat drops hit the hot sand, and surfers keep paddling out anyway while vendors drag their tables under awnings. By morning everything is rinsed and bright, the hills behind town are a deeper green, and the beach is wide and nearly empty. It is the start of the green season on the central Pacific coast, a good moment for surf, wildlife outings and easy days in a lively beach town.
What is the weather like in Jaco in June?
June in Jaco is hot, humid and wet, with clear mornings and showers that usually arrive in the afternoon. It is the green season, and almost every day sees some rain, though not always for long.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days | Sea (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | 82.3 | 76.5 | 29.6 | 88.0 |
| June | 81.8 | 76.1 | 29.1 | 85.9 |
| July | 81.4 | 75.8 | 30.2 | 85.4 |
Plan the day around the sky. Mornings are the clearest part, with strong sun and a soft, steamy warmth, so beach walks, surf lessons and wildlife outings fit best before lunch. Clouds tend to build through the early afternoon, and the rain often comes as a heavy shower that can last a while, sometimes with thunder over the hills.
Heavy rain is part of the month, and a few days bring an inch or more, so treat it as a normal part of the day rather than a surprise. Evenings stay warm enough for shorts and sandals, and the nights never cool down much. Light, quick-drying clothes work better than anything heavy, and a thin rain jacket is more useful than an umbrella on a windy beach.
The light is long, with about twelve and a half hours of daylight in mid-June, so there is time for a morning outing and a slow evening. The sea stays bathtub warm, which makes a rainy afternoon on the shore less unpleasant than it sounds.
Can you swim in Jaco in June?
Yes, the water is warm enough for a long swim, though Jaco is a surf beach first and a swimming beach second. Waves are a regular feature of the long dark-sand shore, and in the green season the swell often picks up, which draws surfers of every level.
Each year, rip currents here prove deadly and lead to multiple U.S. tourist drownings. In Costa Rica, the majority of beaches lack lifeguards and any alerts about dangerous conditions, so you should not expect to find either. Ask your hotel or a surf school what the conditions are like that day, stay where the water is shallow enough that you can stand comfortably, and have an adult in the water beside the kids, keeping them close to shore.
If you are nervous in the water, stay out of the surf: rip currents are dangerous, most beaches lack lifeguards and warnings, and children need close adult supervision. Bring a rash guard or light shirt, because the sun is strong even through cloud, and reapply sunscreen after every dip. Snorkeling is not the main draw on this stretch of coast, and rainy-season runoff can cloud the water.
What to do in Jaco in June
June’s real appeal is the green. The hills turn lush, the rivers fill, and the forest is loud with birds and insects. Mornings are for getting outside, and afternoons are for the kinds of things that do not mind a downpour: a long lunch, a café table, a nap with the rain on the roof.
Surfing is the town’s trademark, and the green-season swell makes June a busy month for the surf schools along the beach. Even if you never stand on a board, watching the early-morning sets from the sand, with a cup of Costa Rican coffee, is a pleasant way to begin a day. Beginners usually go out in the morning, when the wind is lighter.
Carara National Park and the scarlet macaws
Just north of Jaco, a quick drive lands you at Carara National Park, known for its scarlet macaws, big red, yellow and blue parrots that you typically hear before you see them. The park is a patch of transitional forest, so the trails mix tall trees, shaded paths and the chance of monkeys, coatis, lizards and a long list of birds.
Go early. Mornings are the clearest part of a June day, and animals are most active before the heat and the afternoon rain.
A guide helps a great deal, because most wildlife is spotted by trained eyes and ears, and sightings are chances, never promises. Wear closed shoes, carry water and bring a rain jacket in case the sky turns early.
The Tarcoles River bridge and its crocodiles
If you want to peer down at crocodiles, which frequently rest on the muddy banks underneath, the Tarcoles River bridge is a famous place to do it. The Tarcoles River bridge is a well-known spot to look down on crocodiles. Traffic rushes past on the road, so keep children close and watch your step on the narrow walkway.
After rain the river runs brown and full, and the animals can be harder to spot, but the reptiles are often still there, still and heavy, and worth a look. Bring a camera with a zoom, since you are looking down from above, not close up. Pair this stop with the park.
Eating and drinking in the green season
A rainy afternoon is a good excuse for a casado, the classic plate of rice, beans, plantains, salad and a choice of fish, chicken or beef. Many beach restaurants in Jaco also serve fresh ceviche, grilled fish and tropical fruit, and a cold fruit smoothie after a morning in the sun is hard to beat.
Gallo pinto, the rice-and-beans mix cooked with onion and peppers, is the standard breakfast, often with eggs and fried plantain. The town has plenty of bars and restaurants, and in a quieter month the evening scene is relaxed, with open-air tables, live music in some places and a warm night air.
When a heavy shower sets in, wait it out under a roof and order another coffee. The rain tends to pass, and the street often looks freshly washed afterward. Evenings are a good time for a stroll along the main strip, where shops, bars and food stands stay open late.
A two-day itinerary for Jaco in June
Day 1 starts on the beach. Be on the sand early, when the morning is clear and the light is soft, and take a surf lesson or simply walk the long shore. Have breakfast at a casual spot serving gallo pinto and fruit, then spend the late morning in the water before the clouds build.
At midday, eat a slow lunch at a beachfront restaurant, ideally with a roof. When the afternoon shower arrives, take it as a break: a café, a hammock, a browse through the souvenir shops along the main street. As the sky clears, walk back to the sand for the evening light, then have dinner at an open-air restaurant, with fresh fish or a casado.
Day 2 is for wildlife. Leave early for the drive north to Carara National Park, about a short drive from town, and walk the trails in the clear morning with a guide if you can. Stop at the Tarcoles River bridge on the way back to look down on the crocodiles.
Return to Jaco for a late lunch and a rest while the afternoon rain passes. If the weather turns heavy, use the time for a long meal, a massage or a quiet hour at a café. Finish with a last walk along the beach as the day cools and the surfers come in.
Is Jaco busy in June?
June is quieter than the dry-season months, though Jaco is a lively town that never fully empties. The green season brings fewer crowds, so the beach has room, restaurant tables are easier to find and rooms are usually less hard to get than in the peak months.
Surfers and weekend visitors keep the town moving, and the bars and restaurants stay open into the evening. Weekends tend to feel busier than weekdays, and a popular restaurant may fill up on a Saturday night.
Make it a rule to reserve lodging well ahead when your trip lands on a weekend or during a holiday week, and to wait a bit longer when you are away midweek in a calm season. Carara National Park lies a short drive north of Jaco. For any park or trail, check the official page for current rules and reservations, since they can change.
What to pack for Jaco in June
Pack for heat, humidity and sudden rain, with light layers that dry fast and shoes that can get wet.
- A light rain jacket, because afternoon showers can be heavy and sudden.
- Quick-drying shirts and shorts, since the air stays humid and clothes dry slowly.
- Sandals that can get wet, for the beach and the rainy street.
- Closed shoes for the Carara trails, which can be muddy.
- Sunscreen and a hat, as the morning sun is strong even through haze.
- Insect repellent for forest walks and the evenings.
- To keep a phone and camera safe, bring a waterproof case or dry bag.
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.
June falls within the Atlantic hurricane season, and the Pacific side has its own wet months, so expect a green, showery month and keep plans flexible for rain. Stay alert around town and keep plans for Carara flexible. Book the park outing and any surf lessons first, since they fill the best morning hours. Stow your valuables where they cannot be seen at the beach and in cars you have parked.
Jaco in June vs May and July
Moving earlier to May puts you at the very start of the rains, with a slightly warmer sea and a little less rain overall. The shift is gentle, so the mornings are still clear and the afternoons are still wet, and you give up very little if May suits your calendar better.
July is the wetter step. Rain falls on almost every day, the sea cools a touch, and the green is at its thickest. The crowds are thin in the quiet stretches, though school vacations can bring families to the coast, so rooms in some weeks may fill earlier than you expect.
Travelers who want the warmest sea and a softer start to the green season may prefer May. Those who enjoy the lushest forest and do not mind more rain can choose July. June sits comfortably between them, with clear mornings, warm water and a relaxed town.
Is June a good time to visit Jaco?
Yes, June is a good month for travelers who like green landscapes, warm water and a relaxed beach town, and who do not mind afternoon rain. It suits surfers, wildlife lovers and anyone happy to spend mornings outdoors and afternoons at a café.
People who need guaranteed sunshine all day, or who want to swim in flat, calm water, may prefer another month. Families with small children should be careful with the surf and the rip currents, and stay close to shore.
Plan the Carara outing and a surf lesson for a morning, when the weather is usually clearer. What makes June in Jaco special is the contrast: bright clear mornings on a wide dark beach, a dramatic afternoon storm, and a warm evening on a washed-clean street, all under hills that have just turned green.
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