Tamarindo in May is the month the landscape wakes up. After five dry months, the first real rain soaks the dust, and within days our guides see the dry forest along the estuary sprout new leaves. The crowds are gone, the light is softer and the turtles begin to return to the beaches. This guide explains what May is like, how the first rains change your days and which tours fit this transition month.
Short answer: Tamarindo in May is a transition month: often dry at the start, with afternoon or evening showers once the rainy season settles in. It is low season, so tours are quiet. Olive ridley nesting increases and smaller arribadas are possible at Ostional, while estuary tours run every day with the high tide.
Tamarindo weather in May: the first rains
The rainy season in Guanacaste usually begins during May, but not on a fixed date. Some years the first storms come in the first week; other years the month stays mostly dry until the second half. It is still hot, and the returning humidity makes the air feel heavier until the rain arrives.
A typical rainy-season day starts bright, builds clouds after midday and ends with a shower or a thunderstorm in the afternoon or evening. After the storm the air is fresh and the forest smells of wet earth. For the whole picture, read our guide to the Tamarindo rainy season.
The green-up
The change is fast. Brown hills turn green in a week or two, and the bare trees of the dry forest fill with leaves. On the estuary, the mangroves look fresher and the forest walk becomes shady again.
Low season: Tamarindo crowds in May
After Easter, Tamarindo enters its quiet months, and May is one of the calmest of the year. May 1, Labor Day, is a national holiday and can bring a busy long weekend, but most of the month is relaxed. Shared tours often have small groups, and it is easier to choose your day.
Many travelers visiting Tamarindo on a budget choose these weeks, when lodging is usually easier to find.
Turtles and wildlife in May: what our guides see
Olive ridleys return
With the rains, olive ridley nesting starts to increase on the beaches of Guanacaste. Our Tamarindo turtle tour visits Playa Minas or Playa Jesús, where olive ridley and black turtles are the species we see most often. Learn more about the olive ridley sea turtle.
Early arribadas at Ostional
Smaller arribadas can happen at Ostional from May. They are less predictable than the big ones of the main season, which runs from August to December with its peak from September to November. If you are curious, ask us on WhatsApp about the Ostional arribada tour; it needs a minimum of 4 people.
New life in the estuary
The young of the dry-season nesters usually hatch around the start of the rains, so tiny iguanas, bright green at first, can appear on the banks. Birds become more active after the storms, crocodiles are present as always and howler monkeys feed on the new leaves. Sightings are frequent but never guaranteed.
Tamarindo estuary tour in May: tides and showers
Boat and kayak tours leave with the high tide, which arrives about 50 minutes later each day. In May, the weather adds one more factor:
- Morning tides are the safest bet, since showers usually come later in the day.
- Afternoon tides still run. Light rain does not stop the tour, and the mangrove looks beautiful just after a shower.
- Lightning or rough conditions mean we contact you to offer another date or a refund.
We confirm your exact departure by WhatsApp after you book.
What to pack for Tamarindo in May
- A light rain jacket or poncho for the second half of the month
- Quick-dry clothes and water shoes
- Insect repellent: mosquitoes become more active once the rains begin
- Sunblock and a hat, because the sun is still strong in the mornings
- Dark clothing for the turtle night
Best tours in Tamarindo in May
- Tamarindo estuary tour by shared boat: $40 per person, 2 hours, minimum 2 people, children 2 and under free. The new green of the forest makes it a different tour from the dry months.
- Turtle Nesting Tour: $60 per person, minimum 2 people, pickup in Tamarindo at 5:30 pm.
- Ostional Arribada Tour: $130 per person, minimum 4 people, children 3 and under free. Only when an arribada is expected.
- Tamarindo kayak tour: $60 per person, 2 to 2.5 hours, minimum 2 people. Ideal on a morning tide.
A sample May day
- Morning: estuary tour by boat or kayak, if the high tide allows.
- Midday: lunch and a rest while the clouds build.
- Afternoon: watch the storm roll in from a covered terrace.
- Evening: the turtle tour, leaving Tamarindo at 5:30 pm.
Staying into the green season? Read Tamarindo in June.
May is quiet, green and full of new beginnings. Book with Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey online with the deposit and pay the balance on the tour day, or write to us on WhatsApp to check the tides and the turtle activity for your dates.
Book these tours
Shared Boat Tour (Mangrove Safari)$40 per personSee tour and book →
Turtle Nesting Tour$60 per personSee tour and book →
Ostional Arribada Tour$130 per personSee tour and book →
Shared Kayak Tour$60 per personSee tour and book →
Frequently asked questions
Does it rain a lot in Tamarindo in May?
May is the transition month. The first part is often still dry, and as the rainy season settles in, showers usually come in the afternoon or evening, with many bright mornings.
Is Tamarindo in May a good time to visit?
Yes, if you like quiet beaches and a green landscape. It is low season, tours often have small groups and the forest turns green within days of the first good rain.
Can I see the Ostional arribada in May?
Smaller arribadas can happen at Ostional from May, but they are less predictable than in the main season from August to December. Write to us on WhatsApp to ask whether one is expected during your dates.
Which turtle tour in Tamarindo works best in May?
The night Turtle Nesting Tour, which leaves Tamarindo at 5:30 pm for Playa Minas or Playa Jesús and costs $60 per person. Olive ridley nesting increases as the rains begin, and if we do not see turtles we reschedule or make it up to you with the estuary tour.
Do estuary tours run when it rains in May?
Yes, light rain does not usually stop the boat or kayak tour. If the weather or water conditions make a tour unsafe, we offer you another date or a refund.
More Tamarindo guides
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in January: Weather, Crowds, Turtles and ToursTamarindo in January: dry, sunny and windy weather, peak season crowds, nesting turtles, how the tide sets the estuary tour and what to pack.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in February: Dry Skies, Clear Nights and the Best ToursTamarindo in February: one of the driest months, fewer local crowds once schools reopen, turtles, monkeys in the bare dry forest and the tours that fit best.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in March: Heat, Easter Week Crowds and the Best ToursTamarindo in March: hot and very dry, Easter week (Semana Santa) and spring break crowds, nesting iguanas and crocodiles, tides and the best tours to book.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in April: The Hottest Month, Quieter Beaches and Smart ToursTamarindo in April: the hottest end of the dry season, quieter weeks after Easter, first rains, wildlife in the bare forest and tours timed to beat the heat.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in June: Green Season, Fuller Waterfalls and Turtle NightsTamarindo in June: bright mornings and afternoon storms, a lush green estuary, waterfalls filling up, olive ridley nesting and quiet tours before July.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in July: Veranillo Weather, Holidays and Best ToursTamarindo in July: the veranillo dry spell, school holidays and Guanacaste Day, turtle nesting, how rain and tides shape tours and what to pack.