Month by month
| Month | Afternoon | Sea | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31.3 °C | 29.1 °C | 8 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| February | 33.1 °C | 29.2 °C | 5 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| March | 33.6 °C | 29.5 °C | 8 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| April | 32 °C | 29.6 °C | 18 days | Unfavourable season |
| May | 29.7 °C | 29.5 °C | 27 days | Unfavourable season |
| June | 28.6 °C | 29.3 °C | 29 days | Unfavourable season |
| July | 28.7 °C | 29.2 °C | 29 days | Unfavourable season |
| August | 28.6 °C | 29.2 °C | 29 days | Unfavourable season |
| September | 28.5 °C | 29.2 °C | 29 days | Unfavourable season |
| October | 28.1 °C | 28.6 °C | 30 days | Unfavourable season |
| November | 28.1 °C | 28.3 °C | 27 days | Unfavourable season |
| December | 29.6 °C | 28.7 °C | 17 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
Nearby in October
Before you go
Three things to check once you have picked your dates.
Entry
No visa needed for stays of up to 180 days. Passport valid until your return date. Stay granted is at the immigration officer's discretion; overstay fine 100 US dollars a month; departure tax 29 US dollars, usually in the ticket.
For a British passport, per the UK Foreign Office on 19 May 2026. Rules change: check before booking.
Safety
No specific restrictions
Usual precautions apply.
Official advice updated 19 May 2026
Health
CDC level 2 notice: Chikungunya
Vaccines · hepatitis A and hepatitis B if you are not already vaccinated; chikungunya depending on activities and areas visited. Routine vaccines up to date (measles in particular).
Yellow fever · No yellow fever locally, vaccine not recommended. No entry requirement.
Malaria · Present. Areas: Present in the provinces of Alajuela and Limón Rare to no transmission in other parts of the country. Preventive medication recommended: Alajuela and Limón Provinces: Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine All other areas: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only) — prescribed before departure.
Mosquitoes · dengue and Zika reported: protect yourself from bites.
Per the CDC (page reviewed 3 September 2026); see a travel clinic a few weeks before departure.
Beau Fixe is not a safety or health authority. These notes summarise dated public texts and link to their source: France Diplomatie (Licence Ouverte 2.0), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). Only the competent authorities are authoritative.
FAQ
Can you swim in Puntarenas in October?
The sea averages 28.6°C in October — yes, pleasant swimming.
How hot is Puntarenas in October?
Expect 28.1°C in the afternoon and 23.5°C at night, averaged over the last 10 years.
Does it rain a lot in Puntarenas in October?
Around 30 days with rain (≥ 1 mm) in the month — 98% of days.