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

Tortuguero🇨🇷 Costa Rica · Costa Rica & Panama · National park55
  1. 68Jan
  2. 75Feb
  3. 74Mar
  4. 69Apr
  5. 55May
  6. 50Jun
  7. 51Jul
  8. 52Aug
  9. 56Sep
  10. 49Oct
  11. 51Nov
  12. 60Dec

#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
Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Photo: John Menard from Phoenix, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0

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.
TortugueroMayRegular · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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.
TortugueroAprilRegular · April · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
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.
TortugueroJuneRegular · June · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
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.
TortugueroSeptemberRegular · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
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.
GoForTheCanalsInstead · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Tortuguero's card on the map.

Tortuguero climate normals — May

Daytime high29°C / 84°F🔥 sweltering
Nighttime low24°C / 75°F
Feels like (high)36°C / 97°F
Sea temperature30°C / 85°F♨️ bath-warm
Rainfall285 mm / 11.2 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days28 days
Humidity89%💦 very humid
Dew point24°C / 76°F
Sunshine9 h/day
Daylight12.6 h
Wind11 km/h / 7 mph
Air quality (US AQI)36🍃 good

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

JFMAMJJASOND

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.

JFMAMJJASOND

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 nesting

    Leatherbacks 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

    MonsoonRisk

    28 rainy days and about 285 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in May →

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?

Loading map…

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.