Today in Santa Cruz, Costa Rica, the sun rises at 5:26 AM and sets at 6:09 PM, giving the city exactly 12h 42m 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, Santa Cruz is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Santa Cruz
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Santa Cruz runs from N/A to 5:56 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 5:38 PM and lasts until 6:09 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. Near the equator, Santa Cruz's daylight stays remarkably stable year-round, deviating very little from the annual average.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Santa Cruz falls exactly at 11:47 AM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of 6.93 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Santa Cruz, typical of its Summer season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Santa Cruz?
At Santa Cruz's latitude of 10.2605°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 247.90° (WSW). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Santa Cruz are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 10.2605, -85.5851. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Santa Cruz (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 Santa Cruz versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 5:26 AM | 6:09 PM | 12h 42m |
| 2025 | 5:26 AM | 6:09 PM | 12h 42m |
| 2021 | 5:26 AM | 6:09 PM | 12h 42m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Santa Cruz today?
In Santa Cruz, the sun rises at exactly 5:26 AM and sets at 6:09 PM today. This gives the city a total of 12h 42m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Santa Cruz today?
Today, morning golden hour in Santa Cruz runs from N/A to 5:56 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 5:38 PM and lasts until 6:06 PM.
Why does sunrise in Santa Cruz shift every day?
At Santa Cruz's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 247.90° (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 Santa Cruz at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 11:47 AM when the sun reaches 6.93. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Santa Cruz, typical of its Summer season.
Has the sunrise time in Santa Cruz 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 5:26 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 5:26 AM.