Today in San José, Costa Rica, the sun rises at 5:21 AM and sets at 6:02 PM, giving the city exactly 12h 41m of daylight. That is 0 minutes longer than yesterday—approaching the solar plateau near the Winter Solstice. With 170 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, San José is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in San José
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in San José runs from N/A to 5:51 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 5:32 PM and lasts until 6:02 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. Near the equator, San José's daylight stays remarkably stable year-round, deviating very little from the annual average.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in San José falls exactly at 11:41 AM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of 8.17 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for San José, typical of its Summer season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in San José?
At San José's latitude of 9.9281°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 248.05° (WSW). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for San José are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 9.9281, -84.0907. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in San José (Past Years)
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Here is a comparison of today's sunrise and sunset times in San José versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 5:21 AM | 6:02 PM | 12h 41m |
| 2025 | 5:21 AM | 6:02 PM | 12h 41m |
| 2021 | 5:21 AM | 6:02 PM | 12h 41m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in San José today?
In San José, the sun rises at exactly 5:21 AM and sets at 6:02 PM today. This gives the city a total of 12h 41m of daylight.
When is golden hour in San José today?
Today, morning golden hour in San José runs from N/A to 5:51 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 5:32 PM and lasts until 6:00 PM.
Why does sunrise in San José shift every day?
At San José's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 248.05° (WSW). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is approaching the solar plateau near the Winter Solstice until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in San José at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 11:41 AM when the sun reaches 8.17. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for San José, typical of its Summer season.
Has the sunrise time in San José changed compared to previous years?
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Exactly one year ago in 2025, sunrise was at 5:21 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 5:21 AM.