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La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Full City Profile

1,774 Population 25/sq mi density
1,434 ft Elevation 437 meters
73°F Avg Temperature 23°C
La Fortuna has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 73°F (23°C). Winters average 72°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 163 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 99.1 inches. The area receives 0.0 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

72°F Jan (22°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average73.4°F
36% above US avg
January Average72°F (22°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days163 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,434 ft (437 m)
Area72.1 sq mi (186.8 km²)
Population Density25/sq mi
Coordinates10.6743°N, 85.1996°W
TimezoneAmerica/Costa_Rica

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 99.1"
161% above US avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Sep) 14.65"
Driest Month (Mar) 1.26"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

861 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M7.6. Most recent: M0.0 on Aug 22, 2025.

Sep 5, 2012 11 km ENE of Hojancha, Costa Rica M7.6 67 km
Mar 25, 1990 7 km SSE of Puntarenas, Costa Rica M7.3 94 km
Apr 3, 1990 36 km SSW of La Conquista, Nicaragua M6.8 146 km
Mar 7, 1992 5 km SW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica M6.6 109 km
Apr 11, 2014 15 km N of Belén, Nicaragua M6.6 131 km
Jul 2, 2005 32 km W of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua M6.6 124 km
Oct 24, 2012 Costa Rica M6.5 66 km
Jul 21, 2000 55 km SSE of Sámara, Costa Rica M6.4 141 km
Mar 25, 1990 11 km E of Paquera, Costa Rica M6.4 104 km
Mar 16, 1991 15 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica M6.3 56 km
Aug 3, 2005 6 km NNW of Cárdenas, Nicaragua M6.3 74 km
Oct 12, 2024 40 km WNW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica M6.2 106 km
Mar 1, 1991 13 km SE of Los Chiles, Costa Rica M6.2 68 km
Apr 29, 2004 49 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica M6.2 88 km
Jan 8, 2009 10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa Rica M6.1 123 km
Nov 17, 1996 27 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua M6.0 104 km
Dec 22, 1990 2 km NNE of Santiago, Costa Rica M6.0 133 km
May 13, 2011 7 km ESE of Atenas, Costa Rica M5.9 126 km
Sep 5, 2013 50 km W of Sardinal, Costa Rica M5.9 99 km
Jan 16, 2018 63 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua M5.8 129 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

6 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4.

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Julia Category 1 189 km
2016 Otto Category 3 41 km
2009 Ida Category 1 292 km
2005 Beta Category 3 281 km
1996 Cesar Category 1 211 km
1988 Joan:miriam Category 4 149 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tsunami History

7 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 2.0 m (7 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1950 COSTA RICA-NICARAGUA Earthquake 2.0 m 42 km
1901 NICARAGUA Earthquake 1.5 m 147 km
1990 COSTA RICA Earthquake 1.0 m 98 km
2012 COSTA RICA Earthquake 0.2 m 2 67 km
1952 COSTA RICA-PANAMA Earthquake 0.1 m 65 km
1924 COSTA RICA Earthquake 142 km
1905 GULF OF NICOYA Earthquake 108 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Nearby Volcanoes

15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Miravalles (10 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Miravalles Stratovolcano 2,028 m (6,654 ft) 1946 10 km
Tenorio Stratovolcano(es) 1,916 m (6,286 ft) Unknown 20 km
Rincon de la Vieja Complex 1,916 m (6,286 ft) 2020 22 km
Orosi Stratovolcano(es) 1,659 m (5,443 ft) Unknown 45 km
Arenal Stratovolcano 1,670 m (5,479 ft) 2010 59 km
Platanar Stratovolcano(es) 2,267 m (7,438 ft) Unknown 100 km
Concepcion Stratovolcano 1,700 m (5,577 ft) 2011 107 km
Poas Stratovolcano 2,708 m (8,885 ft) 2019 118 km
Barva Complex 2,906 m (9,534 ft) -6050 134 km
Zapatera Shield 629 m (2,064 ft) Unknown 136 km
Mombacho Stratovolcano 1,344 m (4,409 ft) Unknown 153 km
Granada Fissure vent(s) 300 m (984 ft) Unknown 163 km
Irazu Stratovolcano 3,432 m (11,260 ft) 1994 167 km
Turrialba Stratovolcano 3,340 m (10,958 ft) 2019 173 km
Masaya Caldera 594 m (1,949 ft) 2020 180 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 72°F (22°C) 4.7 in
February 73°F (23°C) 2.6 in
March 75°F (24°C) 1.3 in Driest
April 76°F (24°C) 2.0 in Warmest
May 75°F (24°C) 9.1 in
June 74°F (23°C) 12.9 in
July 74°F (23°C) 11.0 in
August 74°F (23°C) 11.5 in
September 73°F (23°C) 14.7 in Wettest
October 73°F (23°C) 14.1 in
November 72°F (22°C) 8.7 in
December 72°F (22°C) 6.4 in Coldest

La Fortuna has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 72°F in December to 76°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 99.1 inches, with September being the wettest month (14.7") and March the driest (1.3").

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