Weather in La Fortuna, Ciudad Quesada and Monteverde
It rains all year in La Fortuna. IMN, the national weather service, publishes no averages for a station in town, so these are figures for the region and for the places people combine with La Fortuna. In short, Ciudad Quesada is cooler and wetter, Monteverde is the coldest stop and Guanacaste is the driest and hottest.
La Fortuna and the Northern Zone
- The Northern Zone follows the Caribbean rainfall pattern. It rains all year, with less rain in February, March and April. The rainy season runs from May to December or January, and cold fronts bring rain around the turn of the year. It is the third-wettest region in the country, with more than 3,200 mm a year and about 199 rainy days.
- According to the ICT mini-guide, January to April tend to be very hot with less rain, and the wettest months are May, June, September, October and November. Highs are around 33–35 °C and lows 15–17 °C. The guide gives no date or source station for these figures.
- To see today's conditions, IMN publishes live readings from an automatic station in La Fortuna. They are preliminary data.
Rain and temperature by place
| Station | Rain per year (mm) | Rainy days | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ciudad Quesada | 4,468 | 225 | 27.0 | 18.9 |
| Quebrada Azul (San Carlos) | 3,194 | 196 | 30.7 | 21.6 |
| Upala | 2,439 | 212 | 31.0 | 21.8 |
| Northern Zone average | 3,247 | 199 | 29.6 | 20.8 |
| Monteverde | 2,483 | 205 | 22.3 | 15.0 |
| Tilarán | 1,900 | 164 | 27.2 | 19.3 |
| Liberia | 1,517 | 89 | 33.0 | 22.1 |
IMN – Clima de la Zona Norte (PDF), IMN – Clima del Pacífico Norte (PDF)
Ciudad Quesada: cooler and wetter
- At 656 m, Ciudad Quesada has the coolest and wettest station in the Northern Zone in IMN's tables, with an average high of 27.0 °C, an average low of 18.9 °C and 4,468 mm of rain over 225 days a year. If you go there or pass through on the way to San José, bring a light jacket and a rain poncho.
IMN – Clima de la Zona Norte (PDF), Rodríguez Barrientos, F. – Tecnología …
- Some communities in the district sit higher, such as Sucre (1,040 m) and San Vicente (1,250 m). IMN has a live station in San Vicente; because of its altitude, its readings do not represent the town centre.
Rodríguez Barrientos, F. – Tecnología …, IMN – Condiciones actuales del tiempo …
Monteverde: the coldest stop
- Monteverde has the coolest station in the North Pacific region, with an average high of 22.3 °C and an average low of 15.0 °C, and it rains about 205 days a year. If you are heading there, bring warm layers.
Tilarán and Guanacaste: drier
- On the other side of the lake, Tilarán gets 1,900 mm over 164 days. Liberia is much drier and hotter, with 1,517 mm on only 89 rainy days and an average high of 33.0 °C.
Heavy rain and alerts
- The CNE (national emergency commission) issues rain alerts for the Northern Zone. Before heading to rivers or driving mountain roads, check for active alerts. Rivers can rise within minutes; read Before you go.
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