How hot does Costa Rica get in summer in 2026?

Guanacaste towns such as Tamarindo, Papagayo, and inland Liberia feel the strongest dry-season heat, with March and April often the peak before green-season storms return: Living in Tamarindo and Weather. Inland lowlands can feel hotter than the shoreline when sea breezes fade. Central Pacific spots such as Puntarenas stay hot year-round with a similar late-dry spike. Caribbean coasts stay warm and sticky, yet their rain calendar differs: Rain.

San José, Escazú, and Atenas sit high enough that daytime warmth rarely matches Liberia or beach noon, and nights cool enough for a light layer: Living in San José and Living in Atenas. That valley tempering is why many long-stay movers pick climate there first: Best climate.

Budget air conditioning as a real utilities line on Pacific leases, not an optional luxury: Utilities, internet, and transport. Humidity makes heat feel heavier once rains return, even when the thermometer softens slightly: Humidity. Papagayo winds can cool Guanacaste beaches in earlier dry months while still raising dust and choppy boat days.

Schedule outdoor errands for mornings, test home viewings in afternoon heat, and ask about shaded parking and cross-ventilation before you sign: How to rent a home. A January Tamarindo week with breezes does not prove you can work through late-March inland heat without AC. Pack sunscreen and light clothing, yet keep a valley layer if you will mix Escazú evenings with beach weekends.