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Weather & Climate in Nicoya, Costa Rica
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Nicoya has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 78°F (26°C). Winters average 77°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 203 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 79.5 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 420 feet.
Temperature
77°F Jan (25°C)
78°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 78.2°F |
| 45% above US avg | |
| January Average | 77°F (25°C) |
| July Average | 78°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 203 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 420 ft (128 m) |
| Area | 120.0 sq mi (310.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 128/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 10.1504°N, 85.4509°W |
| Timezone | America/Costa_Rica |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
806 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.6.
| Sep 5, 2012 | 11 km ENE of Hojancha, Costa Rica | M7.6 | 17 km | 35 km |
| Mar 25, 1990 | 7 km SSE of Puntarenas, Costa Rica | M7.3 | 75 km | 22 km |
| Mar 7, 1992 | 5 km SW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica | M6.6 | 124 km | 79 km |
| Jul 2, 2005 | 32 km W of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M6.6 | 145 km | 27 km |
| Oct 24, 2012 | Costa Rica | M6.5 | 18 km | 17 km |
| Mar 25, 1990 | 11 km E of Paquera, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 78 km | 27 km |
| Jul 21, 2000 | 55 km SSE of Sámara, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 83 km | 33 km |
| Aug 3, 2005 | 6 km NNW of Cárdenas, Nicaragua | M6.3 | 122 km | 14 km |
| Mar 16, 1991 | 15 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica | M6.3 | 29 km | 33 km |
| Mar 1, 1991 | 13 km SE of Los Chiles, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 125 km | 197 km |
| Apr 29, 2004 | 49 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 94 km | 10 km |
| Oct 12, 2024 | 40 km WNW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 86 km | 16 km |
| Jan 8, 2009 | 10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa Rica | M6.1 | 137 km | 14 km |
| Dec 22, 1990 | 2 km NNE of Santiago, Costa Rica | M6.0 | 130 km | 17 km |
| Nov 17, 1996 | 27 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M6.0 | 123 km | 33 km |
| Sep 10, 1992 | 98 km WSW of Sardinal, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 114 km | 27 km |
| May 13, 2011 | 7 km ESE of Atenas, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 127 km | 73 km |
| Sep 5, 2013 | 50 km W of Sardinal, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 87 km | 19 km |
| May 1, 1994 | 47 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica | M5.8 | 94 km | 68 km |
| Mar 15, 2005 | 21 km W of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M5.8 | 139 km | 30 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
4 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 4.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2022 | Julia | Category 1 | 86 mph | 253 km |
| 2016 | Otto | Category 3 | 115 mph | 103 km |
| 1996 | Cesar | Category 1 | 86 mph | 275 km |
| 1988 | Joan:miriam | Category 4 | 144 mph | 212 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 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 | — | 107 km |
| 1901 | NICARAGUA | Earthquake | 1.5 m | — | 149 km |
| 1990 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 81 km |
| 2012 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 0.2 m | 2 | 17 km |
| 1952 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 27 km |
| 1924 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | — | — | 120 km |
| 1905 | GULF OF NICOYA | Earthquake | — | — | 91 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
13 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Miravalles (74 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Miravalles | Stratovolcano | 2,028 m (6,654 ft) | 1946 | 74 km |
| Tenorio | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | Unknown | 75 km |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Complex | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | 2020 | 77 km |
| Arenal | Stratovolcano | 1,670 m (5,479 ft) | 2010 | 89 km |
| Orosi | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,659 m (5,443 ft) | Unknown | 92 km |
| Platanar | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,267 m (7,438 ft) | Unknown | 120 km |
| Poas | Stratovolcano | 2,708 m (8,885 ft) | 2019 | 133 km |
| Barva | Complex | 2,906 m (9,534 ft) | -6050 | 148 km |
| Concepcion | Stratovolcano | 1,700 m (5,577 ft) | 2011 | 155 km |
| Irazu | Stratovolcano | 3,432 m (11,260 ft) | 1994 | 176 km |
| Zapatera | Shield | 629 m (2,064 ft) | Unknown | 180 km |
| Turrialba | Stratovolcano | 3,340 m (10,958 ft) | 2019 | 185 km |
| Mombacho | Stratovolcano | 1,344 m (4,409 ft) | Unknown | 195 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 77°F (25°C) | 0.2 in | Driest |
| February | 78°F (26°C) | 0.2 in | |
| March | 80°F (27°C) | 0.4 in | |
| April | 81°F (27°C) | 2.1 in | Warmest |
| May | 80°F (26°C) | 10.0 in | |
| June | 78°F (26°C) | 12.4 in | |
| July | 78°F (26°C) | 7.1 in | |
| August | 78°F (26°C) | 10.1 in | |
| September | 77°F (25°C) | 15.6 in | |
| October | 77°F (25°C) | 15.8 in | Wettest |
| November | 76°F (25°C) | 4.9 in | Coldest |
| December | 77°F (25°C) | 0.8 in |
Nicoya has a seasonal temperature swing of 5°F / from 76°F in November to 81°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 79.5 inches, with October being the wettest month (15.8") and January the driest (0.2").