Tortuguero weather in May
May in Tortuguero: sweltering, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 28 rainy days.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#7 of 12 months in Tortuguero · #1237 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 55/100 (tier D)
- Days
- 29°C
- Nights
- 24°C
- Wet days
- 28
- Sun
- 9 h
- Humidity
- 89%
- Daylight
- 13 h

Traveller notes on Tortuguero in May
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.
Other months in Tortuguero
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.
March is not turtle season at Tortuguero and the forum does not pretend otherwise: the green turtles nest from July to October, which is when the evening guided tours run, and in February and March there is no nesting or hatching to see. What regulars say instead is that the place is worth it anyway - the canal trip by boat with a guide is the thing, with birds in quantity and good odds on crocodiles at close range. The caveat is rain, because in heavy rain Tortuguero is miserable, and our row carries 24.1 precipitation days, the most in this stage, though only 91.4mm between them. The record: 28.1C days that feel like 33C, 22.8C nights, humidity 85 percent and 10.8 hours of sun.
Add your own note from Tortuguero's card on the map.
Tortuguero climate normals — May
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Tortuguero in May
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.
Peak crowdstravelers describe it as peak season
Sourced from traveler notes: “…ack nesting is the priority, odds still real but lower than peak season. Regulars call real waterproof layers standing advice. The…” — TortugueroMayRegular
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 May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Leatherback nesting
1 Mar – 31 May · usuallyTurtle nestingLeatherbacks use the same beach in the spring, in ones and twos rather than in numbers. Tours run every night of the season and finding one is a matter of walking and waiting. Source ↗
- Season
Wet season
MonsoonRisk28 rainy days and about 285 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 May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Tortuguero?
- May in Tortuguero: sweltering, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 28 rainy days. It ranks #7 of 12 months for Tortuguero on SeasonMap's comfort score (55/100).
- What is the weather like in Tortuguero in May?
- In May, Tortuguero averages a daily high of 29°C and a low of 24.1°C, with about 285.4 mm of rain over roughly 28 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Tortuguero in May?
- Tortuguero has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 36 in May.
Within 300 km: Bocas del Toro's Sea turtle nesting around 1 Mar – 31 Oct, and Boquete's Quetzal nesting season around 1 Feb – 30 Jun.