Nicaragua’s climate by region and town: where it is cooler
Altitude changes the climate most: Jinotega, at about 1,000 m, averages around 22 °C, while León and Granada are above 28 °C.
| Town | Elevation | Mean temp | Annual rain | Rainy months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jinotega | 1,007 m | 21.9 °C | 1,257 mm | May to October |
| Estelí | 833 m | 23.0 °C | 1,257 mm | May to October |
| Matagalpa | 689 m | 23.2 °C | 1,195 mm | May to October |
| Ocotal | 600 m | 24.6 °C | 1,158 mm | May to October |
| Somoto | 683 m | 24.6 °C | 1,237 mm | May to October |
| Diriamba | 583 m | 24.7 °C | 1,452 mm | May to November |
| Jinotepe | 551 m | 24.9 °C | 1,452 mm | May to November |
| Boaco | 335 m | 25.7 °C | 1,304 mm | May to October |
| Bluefields | 11 m | 26.4 °C | 2,744 mm | May to December |
| Masaya | 242 m | 26.9 °C | 1,452 mm | May to November |
| San Carlos | 29 m | 27.1 °C | 1,467 mm | May to November |
| Puerto Cabezas | 8 m | 27.4 °C | 2,078 mm | May to January |
| Juigalpa | 105 m | 27.5 °C | 1,386 mm | May to November |
| Corn Island | 3 m | 27.6 °C | 2,794 mm | May to January |
| Managua | 108 m | 27.8 °C | 1,452 mm | May to November |
| Rivas | 69 m | 27.8 °C | 1,430 mm | May to November |
| Altagracia | 66 m | 27.8 °C | 1,430 mm | May to November |
| Tola | 44 m | 27.9 °C | 1,483 mm | May to November |
| Granada | 62 m | 28.1 °C | 1,452 mm | May to November |
| San Juan del Sur | 9 m | 28.2 °C | 1,430 mm | May to November |
| León | 102 m | 28.4 °C | 1,450 mm | May to October |
| Chinandega | 69 m | 28.6 °C | 1,450 mm | May to October |
Monthly averages for 2001–2025 from NASA POWER (a model with a grid of about 50 km), with temperature adjusted to each town’s elevation. On the Caribbean coast the model underestimates rain: INETER stations recorded more than 4,000 mm in Bluefields in 2023, with rain every month.
In short
- Pacific (Managua, León, Granada, Rivas, San Juan del Sur): hot, with a marked dry season from November or December to April.
- Central and north (Matagalpa, Jinotega, Estelí): cooler thanks to altitude; it rains on more days and the dry season is less marked in some areas.
- Caribbean (Bluefields, Puerto Cabezas, Corn Island): rain almost all year and high humidity.
Sources: INIDE Statistical Yearbook 2023 (INETER station data); NASA POWER monthly climatology 2001–2025.
Reviewed: 13 Nov 2026