Two seasons
Dry, December to April. Green, May to November. No bad month.
Dry
Sun every day. 90 to 97°F. Papagayo breeze from Christmas to March. Holiday weeks book a year out.
Beach, diving, roosterfish, marlin.
Green
Sunny mornings, afternoon showers. 88 to 93°F. Calm seas, lower rates.
Offshore fishing, waterfalls, remote work.
Wet
Rain most days, mornings often clear. Upper 80s. Lowest rates.
Big tuna, quiet weeks.
By month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rain days | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Dry | 92°F / 33.4° | 69°F / 20.7° | 0.0 in / 1 mm | 0 | Dry, sunny, breezy. Peak season. |
| February | Dry | 94°F / 34.4° | 70°F / 21.1° | 0.1 in / 2 mm | 0 | Driest month. Books first. |
| March | Dry | 96°F / 35.4° | 71°F / 21.6° | 0.2 in / 4 mm | 0 | Hot and dry. Winds ease, seas flatten. |
| April | Dry | 97°F / 35.9° | 73°F / 22.7° | 0.9 in / 24 mm | 1 | Hottest month. Calm ocean. First storm in the last week. |
| May | Green | 93°F / 33.9° | 74°F / 23.4° | 8 in / 194 mm | 9 | Green season starts. Sunny mornings, afternoon showers. |
| June | Green | 90°F / 32° | 74°F / 23.2° | 10 in / 246 mm | 14 | Lush and quiet. Rain in the late afternoon. |
| July | Green | 90°F / 32.1° | 73°F / 22.8° | 6 in / 153 mm | 10 | Usually a dry week or two mid-month. |
| August | Green | 90°F / 32.1° | 73°F / 22.6° | 8 in / 209 mm | 12 | Afternoon showers, calm seas, best marlin. |
| September | Wet | 88°F / 31.3° | 72°F / 22.4° | 14 in / 346 mm | 17 | Wettest month. Rain most days. Lowest rates. |
| October | Wet | 88°F / 30.9° | 72°F / 22.3° | 12 in / 310 mm | 16 | Wettest and coolest. Some tours close. |
| November | Green | 89°F / 31.6° | 71°F / 21.5° | 4 in / 98 mm | 6 | Rain stops by mid-month. Green, empty, good value. |
| December | Dry | 91°F / 32.5° | 70°F / 21° | 0.5 in / 12 mm | 2 | Dry again. Winds start at Christmas. Holiday weeks book a year out. |
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional, Liberia station. The coast runs a degree or two cooler and a little drier. Sea 80 to 84°F all year. Outside the hurricane belt.
Fishing
Boats leave from Ocotal beach and the Coco marina. The villa books them. The chef cooks the catch.
- Inshore is sheltered and fishes all year.
- Papagayo winds, late December to March, make offshore choppy on some days. May to November is calm.
- Half day: out at 7, back for lunch. Full day: 8 to 10 hours. Overnight FAD trips for marlin, May to September.
Peak Good Possible
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sailfish Offshore, 15 to 30 miles out · 90 to 150 lb | good | good | good | good | peak | peak | peak | peak | good | possible | possible | good | All year. Heaviest May to August. |
| Marlin (blue, black, striped) Offshore and at the FADs · 250 to 500 lb | peak | peak | peak | good | good | good | good | peak | peak | good | peak | peak | Mid-November to March, and August to September. Overnight FAD trips in the green season. |
| Yellowfin tuna Offshore, often with dolphins · 20 to 200 lb | possible | possible | possible | good | good | good | good | peak | peak | peak | good | possible | Peak August to October, sometimes 45 minutes from the beach. |
| Dorado (mahi-mahi) Offshore weed lines and debris · 15 to 50 lb | possible | possible | possible | possible | good | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | good | possible | Late May to October, on the weed lines. |
| Wahoo Rocky points and the northern islands · 20 to 40 lb | possible | possible | possible | possible | peak | peak | peak | peak | good | possible | possible | possible | Mid-May to August, around the points and the Murciélago Islands. |
| Roosterfish Inshore beaches and rocks · 30 to 70 lb | peak | peak | peak | good | good | good | good | good | good | peak | peak | peak | All year, best October to March. Catch and release. |
| Snapper and grouper Inshore reefs and rocks · 5 to 40 lb | good | good | good | good | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | good | All year on the bottom. Best May to November. Dinner. |
| Amberjack and jacks Inshore reefs and islands · 20 to 80 lb | good | good | good | good | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | good | Catalinas and inshore reefs, green season. |
From Papagayo charter captains. Years vary.
Dates
See what is open. Owners reply within a day.