Current Time in San José, Costa Rica
Exact time synced with atomic clocks (IANA + NTP)
Country
Dialling: +506
City Details
San José
Lat: 9.9281° N
Long: 84.0907° W
Population: 340,000
Time Zone
America/Costa_Rica
CST
Public Holidays in Costa Rica
Juan Santamaría Day
Día de Juan Santamaría
Labour Day
Día Internacional del Trabajo
Annexation of the Party of Nicoya to Costa Rica
Anexión del Partido de Nicoya a Costa Rica
Via Nager.Date
Time Difference from You to San José
Business Hours in San José
Sunrise & Sunset in San José Today
Data via sunrisesunset.io
Current Weather in San José, Costa Rica
Data via Open-Meteo · Updates every 30 min
Moon Phase in San José Tonight
Overview
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, with approximately 345,000 in the canton and 1.5 million in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) as of 2025. At 1,160m above sea level in the Central Valley, it enjoys a permanently mild climate averaging 21°C year-round. Costa Rica — a country with no standing army since 1948 — is one of Latin America's most politically stable democracies and San José is the hub of the region's fastest-growing ecotourism economy.
Administrative Region
San José Province / Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM)
CR-SJ
Local Currency
₡
Metadata
- Web Domain.cr
- ISO CodeCR-SJ
Culture & Daily Life
📜 History & Origins
The Valle Central was inhabited by the Huetar people before Spanish colonisation. San José was founded on 19 March 1736 — St. Joseph's Day — as Villa Nueva de la Boca del Monte, the fifth colonial settlement in Costa Rica. It remained modest until coffee cultivation in the 19th century brought prosperity. San José replaced Cartago as Costa Rica's capital in 1823 after a brief civil conflict between liberals favouring San José and conservatives supporting Cartago.
🗣️ Languages
👥 Demographics
✨ Leisure Highlights
- •National Theatre (Teatro Nacional) — 1897 neoclassical masterpiece
- •Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Precolombino) — pre-Columbian gold collection
- •Central Market (Mercado Central) — fresh produce and local food
- •La Sabana Metropolitan Park and the National Stadium
- •Poás and Irazú volcano day trips from the city
🎒 Visitor Tip
San José is better used as a base than a destination in itself — most visitors spend one or two days before heading to the national parks and beaches. The National Theatre (Teatro Nacional) is the most architecturally magnificent building in Central America and has affordable evening performances. The Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Precolombino) in the Plaza de la Cultura is the best museum. Use the Airportr shuttle or Uber from Juan Santamaría Airport. La Sabana Metropolitan Park is the best green space in the city.
Geography & Climate
Land & Terrain
Surface area and physical characteristics
Located in the Valle Central — a broad intermontane basin at 1,160m above sea level — surrounded by mountain ridges on all sides. The Poás (2,708m), Barva (2,906m) and Irazú (3,432m) volcanoes are visible from elevated points in the city. The Río Torres and Río Virilla drain the valley. The Meseta Central is fertile volcanic soil formed by millennia of eruptions from the surrounding volcanoes.
Climate Stats
Tropical wet and dry / subtropical highland (Köppen Aw/Cwb)
Avg Summer
23°C
Avg Winter
19°C
Annual Rainfall
1838 mm
Best Months (Sunshine)
Travel & Connectivity
✈️ Nearby AirportsIATA / Distance
🚄 Rail ConnectionsOperator / Distance
Nearby Cities & Excursions
Other times compared to San José
Frequently Asked Questions about time in San José
What timezone is San José in?↓
San José is in the America/Costa_Rica time zone (America/Costa_Rica), currently UTCCST.
Does Costa Rica observe daylight saving time?↓
No. Costa Rica does not observe daylight saving time. San José stays on Costa_Rica (UTCCST) year-round, so the clocks never change.
What is Costa_Rica?↓
Costa_Rica stands for America/Costa_Rica. It is UTCCST and is the standard time used in Costa Rica.
What is the time difference between San José and New York?↓
San José is 5 hours ahead of New York (EST). When New York switches to EDT in summer, the difference decreases by 1 hour.
How accurate is the time shown for San José?↓
The time displayed for San José is synced with atomic clock sources via NTP (Network Time Protocol) and uses IANA timezone data to ensure accuracy to the second. It automatically reflects any daylight saving time changes.
What does UTCCST mean for San José?↓
UTCCST means San José is aligned with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the global standard for timekeeping.
What are the business hours in San José?↓
Standard business hours in San José are typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Costa_Rica (UTCCST). Many businesses also operate Saturday mornings. Public holidays follow the Costa Rica national calendar.
Is there much time difference between San José and London?↓
San José is within a few hours of London, so scheduling calls is usually straightforward. Always confirm the current local time in both cities, especially around daylight saving time changes.