How warm is Costa Rica's Caribbean coast in May?

Typical highs are about 84°F and the sea is about 86°F. That is warm enough for long swims without a wetsuit.

Is there sargassum in Costa Rica's Caribbean coast in May?

In a typical year seaweed is high in May. It is usually lightest in January and July and heaviest in September and October. Landings vary a lot by year, wind and currents; Veabird's weekly sargassum report and each beach's page have the current forecast.

Is May hurricane season in Costa Rica's Caribbean coast?

No. Storm risk is very low in May.

How crowded is Costa Rica's Caribbean coast in May?

Typically moderate, around Memorial Day weekend. The quietest months are usually September and October.

Costa Rica's Caribbean coast in May

May is a middling month for Costa Rica's Caribbean coast: a typical day grades C+, the 7th best of the 12 months. Expect highs near 84°F, water around 86°F and about a 82% chance of rain on a given day. Sargassum (seaweed) is usually high in May. Beaches are typically moderate (Memorial Day weekend).

Typical dayC+7th of 12 months

Highs / water84°FSea 86°F

Rain chance82%on a given day

SeaweedHightypical year

CrowdsModerateMemorial Day weekend

Storm riskVery lowoutside storm season

Costa Rica's Caribbean coast month by month

Typical grade and high for each month. Higher is better: A+ to F.

April: C+ · May: C+ · June: C+. The best months are usually January, February and March, and the weakest are August and September.

Best beaches in Costa Rica's Caribbean coast in May

Resorts with the best typical May, and their grades for the next few days.

Beach	Typical May	Seaweed	This week
Hotel Playa Bonita	B-	Moderate	SatB+SunC+MonC+TueB-WedC+
Hotel Palace	B-	Moderate	SatB+SunB-MonC+TueB-WedB-
Hotel Playa Westfalia	B-	Moderate	SatB+SunBMonC+TueC+WedC+
Goddess Garden Resort	B-	Moderate	SatB+SunBMonC+TueC+WedC+
Casa Grande Eco Lodge at Pacuare Reserve	B-	Moderate	SatB+SunC+MonC+TueC+WedC+
Coco Loco Lodge	B-	Low	SatBSunBMonC-TueC+WedC
Umami Hotel Garden Spa	B-	Low	SatBSunBMonCTueC+WedC
Ocean View Lodge	B-	Low	SatBSunBMonCTueC+WedC

Grades for the next few days from Veabird's beach forecast, updated Oct 3, 18:00 UTC. Higher is better: A+ to F.

Better beach options in May

Elsewhere in Central & South America, Belize (A-), Roatán & the Bay Islands (B+) and the Corn Islands (B+) usually grade higher in May. Further afield: Puerto Vallarta (A), Los Cabos (A) and Maui (A). Every destination in May.

Questions

Is May a good time to visit Costa Rica's Caribbean coast?: May is a middling month for Costa Rica's Caribbean coast: a typical day grades C+, the 7th best of the 12 months. Expect highs near 84°F, water around 86°F and about a 82% chance of rain on a given day. Sargassum (seaweed) is usually high in May. Beaches are typically moderate (Memorial Day weekend).
How warm is Costa Rica's Caribbean coast in May?: Typical highs are about 84°F and the sea is about 86°F. That is warm enough for long swims without a wetsuit.
Is there sargassum in Costa Rica's Caribbean coast in May?: In a typical year seaweed is high in May. It is usually lightest in January and July and heaviest in September and October. Landings vary a lot by year, wind and currents; Veabird's weekly sargassum report and each beach's page have the current forecast.
Is May hurricane season in Costa Rica's Caribbean coast?: No. Storm risk is very low in May.
How crowded is Costa Rica's Caribbean coast in May?: Typically moderate, around Memorial Day weekend. The quietest months are usually September and October.

Plan it

Typical-month numbers from Veabird's year-ahead outlook for the 41 resorts here (median resort): 6 years of ERA5 climate normals, the seasonal pattern of the Atlantic sargassum belt, holiday crowd calendars and historical storm tracks. Any given year can differ; check the 16-day forecast before you go.