Costa Rica is located in the southern part of Central America and north of the Ecuador, in the region known as “Neotropic”. It covers an area of 51,100 sq km, of which 24% are wild protected areas. Two countries border Costa Rica; Panama to the south and Nicaragua to the north.
Costa Rica is also bordered at the east by the Caribbean Sea and west by the Pacific Ocean.
The influence of the Caribbean, the Pacific Ocean and the continental location, make weather elements very stable year-round, compare to other countries in South and North America. The largest annual variation that occurs is in the wind and is due to the interaction of different wind systems affecting the country and topography. This variation is reflected in the distribution of precipitations.
Costa Rica Weather Map
Costa Rica has a tropical climate characterized generally by high temperatures and abundant rainfall. Dry season (summer), extends from December to April and the rainy season (winter) from May to November. Winds in Costa Rica reach average speeds of 15 km per hour, but during January and February can reach up to 30 km per hour. The Pacific breezes coming from the west, during April to October, can form some rain clouds. These breezes are soft, about 10 km per hour.
ANALYSIS BY REGION
Central Valley: The average temperature remains between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius with no significant changes throughout the year, while the average maximum not exceeding 29 ° C and average minimum temperature hover around 18 ° C. The annual average humidity is 75%.
North Pacific: The average temperature is around 28 ° C. The average maximum occurs during the month of April, in some cases reaching values close to 38 º C. While the minimum temperatures are more likely to occur in the months ranging from November to March, due to the incursions of air masses from the north and northeast of the continent, this temperature is near 20 degrees ° C. The relative humidity ranges between 60 and 65% during dry season and between 80 and 85% in the rainy season.
Central Pacific: The average annual temperature varies from 27 ° C on the coasts, to 17 ° C in the high mountains. The warmer months can be placed between March and May and the minimum temperatures are not lower than 22 ° C. Relative humidity is fairly constant throughout the year 85%.
South Pacific: Average annual temperatures fluctuate from 26 ° C in places near the coast and 10 ° C in the higher regions. Relative humidity averages 75% but during July, October and December that changes close to 90%.
North Zone: The average temperature is about 25.4 ° C however the behavior of this temperature in the northern region of Costa Rica depends on many factors. Most of the year relative humidity values remain in ranges close to 80%.
Caribbean Zone: The average temperature in this region varies throughout the year between 25 ° C and 27 ° C, the minimum temperatures occur during the months of December through February with values near 20 ° C, while maximums reach up to 31 ° C in the months of May, June and October.