Alajuela Weather

Alajuela Weather and climate

Costa Rica is a country with a lot of microclimates despite its size. Although the country lies between the intertropical zone, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, its varied geography can create significant changes.
From areas bordering on arid to lush rainforests in zones no more than a few kilometers apart.

The central mountain range functions as a kind of wall that divides the country in two, keeping much of the humidity from the Caribbean from flowing to the Atlantic coast.
Meanwhile, the Central Valley of Costa Rica, where Alajuela is located, gets part of the dry and humid climate of both coasts. Let’s talk about the climate of the province, the canton and the city of Alajuela.

Note: The two climatic seasons that the country has, are the rainy season or winter, between May and November, and the dry season or summer, between December and April.



alajuela good weather sunny sunset
Hot summer days are common between february and april

Climate of the province of Alajuela

With an extension of more than 9753 square kilometers, the province of Alajuela is a mixture of microclimates that offers many landscapes. While the city of Alajuela is located in the Greater Metropolitan Area, about 900 meters above sea level, the northern area is a large plain with an average of 50 to 150 meters above sea level.

In between is the northern central mountain range, with mountains and volcanoes such as the Poas Volcano that reaches more than 2000 meters. When the rainy season arrives, all areas can experience rainfall. The heaviest rains occur in the mountainous area and in the northern zone. Temperatures also vary, with high temperatures in the plains area.

While the mountainous area can reach 15 degrees maximum during the day and very cold nights. Meanwhile, the part of the province of Alajuela that is in the Greater Metropolitan Area can have temperatures between 15 to 35 degrees. The hottest months among all areas are between March and May.



cloudy landscape weather
Alajuela Mountains features lots of cloudy and cold afternoons

Climate of the canton of Alajuela

This area no longer includes the northern plains. From mid-December to February, the canton experiences strong winds that keep the rains away, but cool the temperatures. It is a time for sweaters and coats.

In the northern part of the canton are located the mountains of the Cordillera Central, with low temperatures and rain, even during the summer season. To the south is the city of Alajuela and the Central Valley with warm or hot temperatures and little rain during the summer. The rains in May come to cool the high temperatures of March and April.



sunny afternoon in the city of Alajuela
The climate of the city of Alajuela is benevolent most of time.

Climate of the city of Alajuela

The climate of the city of Alajuela is most influenced by the weather situation of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.
Trade winds come down from the northern mountains and cause rain during the winter, or rainy season, and cool during the summer.

However, March and April are well known for being months where the winds cease. This causes sweltering heat, with temperatures that can reach 40 degrees Celsius.
The high temperatures in Alajuela are nationally known, to the point of being the reason for the creation of memes and jokes by residents and residents of the city.

Ironically, although this is a source of ridicule for some, the warmth of Alajuela’s summer has caused many spas and recreational centers that have pools to be installed near the city. For example, we have Ojo de Agua, 15 minutes from downtown Alajuela. La Cueva, 5 minutes away, Ruta del Sol, 5 minutes away, the old Llobet Club, 5 minutes away. These are just a few examples of the dozens of such facilities in the area.

alajuela church in a rainy day
Rains in Alajuela can be brief or take hours depending on the month

General Advices

For the rainy season months, between May and November, it is a good idea to bring an umbrella. Most of the time during this season it only rains during the afternoons for a maximum of one or two hours. The exception would be during the months of September and October, when the country is visited by a tropical depression that can cause cloudy days, heavy rains and low temperatures.

During the summer, especially in December and January, strong winds can cause low temperatures in the afternoons and evenings. It is best to bring a light coat for this reason.
Even if the coasts are warm, it could be raining in the mountains. In Costa Rica, you can go from the beach to a mountain over 2000 meters in a matter of 1 hour.

The most extreme climates in the country are in the northern part of Guanacaste, where it can be very dry to the hills of the southern Cordillera Central. In those mountains temperatures can reach below 10 degrees Celsius.
The green or rainy season sounds less attractive, but for connoisseurs it is the best season in Costa Rica. Everything becomes extremely green, the trees are full of flowers, it is the mating season for thousands of species of animals, the waterfalls are at their best. We will write in more detail about the green season later.

Conclusion

We hope this brief explanation of Costa Rica’s climate and Alajuela’s weather has been useful. As always remember that our hotel rooms are at your disposal. We are located in the city of Alajuela, just 5 minutes from the Juan Santamaria airport. Call or write us using WhatsApp and we will respond as soon as possible.

Disclaimer: This content was written by a human. Our goal is always to provide you with the most reliable information, based on our own and trustworthy third-party perspectives.