Tortuguero weather in August
August in Tortuguero: sweltering, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 29 rainy days.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#8 of 12 months in Tortuguero · #1220 of 1413 destinations to visit in August · comfort 52/100 (tier D)
- Days
- 29°C
- Nights
- 24°C
- Wet days
- 29
- Sun
- 8.5 h
- Humidity
- 90%
- Daylight
- 13 h

Traveller notes on Tortuguero in August
Tortuguero forum threads describe August as a genuinely good month despite being deep in the rainy season - rain here tends to concentrate between 3-5pm and overnight, with Tortuguero getting noticeably less daytime rain than other parts of Costa Rica. Multiple posters, including a local, specifically recommended August for the turtle nesting season, which runs July through October, calling the rain a secondary consideration next to the wildlife draw. The general read: it's not the worst of the rainy season anywhere in the country, rains are usually brief and predictably timed rather than an all-day event, and the second half of August tends to run a bit drier than the first.
Other months in Tortuguero
Tortuguero-forum threads on a May visit describe turtle timing as genuinely mixed, posters calling the main Atlantic green turtle season not really underway until June, while leatherbacks nest in low numbers across March through May. Regulars call turtle release events, distinct from nesting tours, a real feature running May through August for a guaranteed sighting of hatchlings. Posters describe May itself as genuinely wet, real afternoon and evening showers a standing feature this deep into the rainy season. Regulars call the boat-based wildlife viewing, sloths, monkeys, caimans and birdlife, worth the trip independent of turtle luck. Posters recommend a guided night tour specifically if leatherback nesting is the priority, odds still real but lower than peak season. Regulars call real waterproof layers standing advice. The record: 29C days feeling like a punishing 36C, 24.1C nights, an extraordinarily high 285.4mm across 28 days and 89 percent humidity.
Tortuguero-forum threads on an April visit describe turtle season as technically underway but still early, posters calling leatherback nesting the more realistic target this month, green turtle season not properly starting until July. Regulars call guides promising a high sighting probability worth real skepticism, actual odds this early running lower than the pitch. Posters describe April as genuinely pleasant weather-wise regardless of turtle luck, warmer and less windy than other months and within the better stretch. Regulars call the boat-based wildlife viewing, sloths, monkeys, caimans and birdlife along the canals, worth the trip independent of turtles. Posters recommend a guided night tour for the best shot at nesting activity this early. Regulars call the village genuinely worth visiting any time of year, turtles simply a bonus. The record: 28.7C days feeling like a punishing 35C, 23.5C nights, an extraordinarily high 141.2mm across over 24 days and 86 percent humidity.
Tortuguero-forum threads on a June visit are direct real turtle nesting for the common Atlantic green sea turtles genuinely doesn't peak until July through October, June sitting just ahead. Posters describe one lucky June visitor witnessing an early nest regardless, though regulars call this the exception rather than something to plan around this early. Regulars describe real precipitation as a year-round feature, several posters reporting heavy systems during their stay but still calling the boat-based wildlife tours worth doing. Posters recommend real waterproof gear, this rainforest environment genuinely soaked most of the year. Regulars call the wildlife-watching boat tours the real highlight regardless of turtle timing, sloths, monkeys and birds all visible. Posters recommend July onward for turtle nesting specifically. The record: 28.7C days feeling like a punishing 35C, 23.9C nights, an extraordinarily high 408.4mm across nearly 29 days and 91 percent humidity.
Tortuguero-forum threads on September weather are direct this Caribbean-coast park stays genuinely humid and showery essentially year round, a real feature of the rainforest setting regardless of month. Posters describe canal boat tours and wildlife spotting as unaffected by a passing shower, most of the experience happening under forest canopy anyway, and call September a solid window for turtle activity even though peak nesting runs a bit earlier in summer. Regulars recommend building genuine flexibility into a multi-day itinerary, sudden downpours common enough that indoor-friendly backup plans are worth having. A serious rain jacket and waterproof pouches for electronics are essential regardless of dates chosen. Posters call the combination of turtle nesting, canal wildlife and rainforest atmosphere worth the consistently wet conditions. The record: 29.1C days feeling like a punishing 34C, 23.9C nights, an extraordinarily high 312mm across nearly 29 days and 90 percent humidity.
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Tortuguero climate normals — August
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Tortuguero in August
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyGreen turtle nesting, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Tortuguero's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherTortuguero's weather peaks February–April.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Tortuguero in August
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Green turtle nesting
1 Jul – 31 OctCrowdedBook earlyThe largest green turtle rookery in this half of the world, tens of thousands of females on a strip of black sand. Tours leave at eight and ten with a licensed guide: no torches, no cameras, dark clothes, and hatchlings running by October. Source ↗
- Season
Wet season
MonsoonRisk29 rainy days and about 354 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Tortuguero — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Tortuguero?
Tortuguero in August — FAQ
- Is August a good time to visit Tortuguero?
- August in Tortuguero: sweltering, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 29 rainy days. It ranks #8 of 12 months for Tortuguero on SeasonMap's comfort score (52/100).
- What is the weather like in Tortuguero in August?
- In August, Tortuguero averages a daily high of 28.7°C and a low of 23.7°C, with about 353.6 mm of rain over roughly 29.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Tortuguero in August?
- Tortuguero has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 28 in August.
Within 300 km: Jacó's Humpback whales around 15 Jul – 15 Nov, and Bocas del Toro's Sea turtle nesting around 1 Mar – 31 Oct.