San Rafael Arriba Travel Guide

City City in San José known for its coffee

Highland suburbia outside San José that opens onto coffee farms and hill trails; people visit for mountain air, small sodas, farm-to-table breakfasts and short hikes through cultivated slopes.

Costs
About $45-60 per day
Typical daily tourist budget in Costa Rica.
Safety
Relatively safe; petty theft possible
Generally low violent crime; take normal precautions.
Best Time
December-April (dry season)
Dry season has the most reliable weather for day trips.
In This Guide
Time
—
Weather
—
Population
15,051
Infrastructure & Convenience
Limited public transit, local buses and taxis; basic shops and Spanish signage.
Popularity
Rarely visited by international tourists; attracts locals and nearby city residents.
Known For
rural coffee farms, local churches, scenic hills, hiking trails, birdwatching, small eateries, cycling routes, proximity to San José metro
San Rafael Arriba sits at coordinates 9.87648°N, 84.07479°W in San José Province.

Why Visit San Rafael Arriba? #

Set among San José’s uplands, this small town draws travelers who want a quieter Costa Rican highland experience with easy access to coffee farms and local mountain trails. Visitors come for neighborhood life around the central plaza and traditional sodas serving gallo pinto and casado. A short drive brings you into cloud-forest scenery and community festivals, so it’s ideal for people who like pastoral landscapes, artisanal coffee tastings and low-key cultural encounters.

Top Things to Do in San Rafael Arriba

All Attractions ›
Poás Volcano
1
Poás Volcano
Stratovolcano with a large acidic crater lake
Volcano
Irazú Volcano
2
Irazú Volcano
High-elevation volcano with multi-colored crater lakes
Volcano
Braulio Carrillo National Park
3
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Extensive rainforest park protecting cloud forests near San José
National Park
Turrialba Volcano
4
Turrialba Volcano
Active stratovolcano east of Cartago
Volcano
Barva Volcano
5
Barva Volcano
Dormant stratovolcano in central Costa Rica
Volcano
6
Cordillera Central (Costa Rica)
Central Costa Rican mountain range containing active volcanoes
Mountains
Guayabo National Monument
7
Guayabo National Monument
Pre-Columbian archaeological site with ancient stone structures
Archaeological Site
Museo Nacional de Costa Rica
8
Museo Nacional de Costa Rica
San José museum exhibiting Costa Rica's history and artifacts
Museum

Best Time to Visit San Rafael Arriba #

San Rafael Arriba sits in Costa Rica's central highlands, so the mild, dry months (November-April) are the easiest for outdoor plans. Visit in the dry season for reliable sunshine; expect lush, wet landscapes and fewer clear days during May-October.

Dry Season
November - April · 16°C - 26°C (61°F - 79°F)
Sunny, pleasantly warm days and cool nights - best for hiking and city excursions without heavy afternoon downpours.
Rainy Season
May - October · 18°C - 26°C (64°F - 79°F)
Frequent afternoon showers and lush green landscapes; travel slows but waterfalls and cloud forests are at their most dramatic.
Cool Season
December - February · 14°C - 23°C (57°F - 73°F)
Mornings can be crisp and clear; ideal for early walks and avoiding crowds, though evenings are noticeably cooler.

Best Time to Visit San Rafael Arriba #

Climate

San Rafael Arriba's climate is classified as Tropical Monsoon - Tropical Monsoon climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 14°C to 27°C. Heavy rainfall (3432 mm/year), wettest in September.

Best Time to Visit
FebruaryMarchJanuary
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
35°
Warmest Month
16°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (62 mm) and mostly sunny skies.

86 Excellent

Comfort

20°
Feels Like Mild
20°C
Temperature
14° – 25°
79%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

62 mm
Rainfall
4.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
2.1
UV Index
Extreme
11.5h daylight

February

February is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and mostly sunny skies.

88 Excellent

Comfort

20°
Feels Like Mild
20°C
Temperature
14° – 26°
71%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

64 mm
Rainfall
4.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
2.5
UV Index
Extreme
11.7h daylight

March

March is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and mostly sunny skies.

88 Excellent

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
15° – 27°
64%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

58 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
2.7
UV Index
Extreme
12.0h daylight

April

April is the warmest month with highs of 27°C and lows of 16°C. Significant rainfall (126 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

74 Very Good

Comfort

22°
Feels Like Mild
22°C
Temperature
16° – 27°
68%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

126 mm
Rainfall
3.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
2.4
UV Index
Extreme
12.2h daylight

May

May is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 16°C. Heavy rain (361 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

63 Good

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
16° – 27°
81%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

361 mm
Rainfall
2.5 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.1
UV Index
Extreme
12.4h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 16°C. Heavy rain (390 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

63 Good

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
16° – 26°
88%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

390 mm
Rainfall
2.2 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.1
UV Index
Extreme
12.5h daylight

July

July is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 16°C. Heavy rain (305 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

63 Good

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
16° – 26°
87%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

305 mm
Rainfall
2.7 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.0
UV Index
Very High
12.5h daylight

August

August is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 15°C. Heavy rain (471 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

63 Good

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
15° – 26°
88%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

471 mm
Rainfall
2.4 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.1
UV Index
Extreme
12.3h daylight

September

September is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (513 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

61 Good

Comfort

20°
Feels Like Mild
20°C
Temperature
15° – 25°
90%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

513 mm
Rainfall
2.1 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.1
UV Index
Extreme
12.1h daylight

October

October is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Heavy rain (476 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

61 Good

Comfort

20°
Feels Like Mild
20°C
Temperature
15° – 25°
91%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

476 mm
Rainfall
2.1 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.9
UV Index
Very High
11.8h daylight

November

November is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Heavy rain (369 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

63 Good

Comfort

20°
Feels Like Mild
20°C
Temperature
15° – 25°
90%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

369 mm
Rainfall
2.6 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.8
UV Index
Very High
11.6h daylight

December

December is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Heavy rain (237 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

72 Very Good

Comfort

20°
Feels Like Mild
20°C
Temperature
15° – 25°
85%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

237 mm
Rainfall
3.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.9
UV Index
Very High
11.5h daylight

How to Get to San Rafael Arriba

By Air

(Nearest major airport) Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO):

By Train & Bus

Train:

Bus:

Where to Stay in San Rafael Arriba #

Budget
San José (central) - $10-45/night
Very limited cheap options in town; most budget travelers stay in nearby San José. Expect basic guesthouses or hostels outside the district.
Mid-Range
Escazú / San José outskirts - $50-120/night
Comfortable mid-range hotels are mostly in San José or Escazú. Quiet, convenient bases for day trips to the province from town.
Luxury
San José (upscale districts) - $150+/night
No luxury resorts inside San Rafael Arriba. For upscale facilities, book in San José or nearby upscale suburbs.

Where to Eat in San Rafael Arriba #

Breakdown of cuisine types found across San Rafael Arriba's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.

Pizza
Chicken
Burger
Chinese
Sandwich
Regional
Italian
Mexican
Tex Mex
Coffee Shop
Japanese
Asian
Seafood
Local
Korean
Steak House
Sushi
Peruvian
Donut
American

Nearby Cities #

San Juan de Dios District
1 km away
San Miguel District, Desamparados
2 km away
Aserrí District
3 km away
Patarrá
4 km away
Curridabat
Curridabat
6 km away
San Pedro, Costa Rica
San Pedro, Costa Rica
6 km away
San José, Costa Rica
San José, Costa Rica
6 km away
Guadalupe, Costa Rica
8 km away