Golden hour in San José — any date#
Golden & blue hour times in San José, next 12 months#
Local time (America/Costa Rica), including daylight-saving changes. Golden hour = sun between −4° and +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.
| Date | Blue hour (am) | Golden hour (am) | Sunrise / sunset | Golden hour (pm) | Blue hour (pm) | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 01 | 05:03–05:12 | 05:12–05:52 | 05:24 / 17:26 | 16:58–17:39 | 17:39–17:47 | 12 h 02 min |
| Oct 15 | 05:03–05:11 | 05:11–05:52 | 05:24 / 17:19 | 16:51–17:32 | 17:32–17:40 | 11 h 54 min |
| Nov 01 | 05:05–05:13 | 05:13–05:55 | 05:26 / 17:12 | 16:44–17:26 | 17:26–17:34 | 11 h 46 min |
| Nov 15 | 05:08–05:17 | 05:17–06:00 | 05:30 / 17:10 | 16:41–17:24 | 17:24–17:33 | 11 h 40 min |
| Dec 01 | 05:15–05:23 | 05:23–06:07 | 05:37 / 17:13 | 16:42–17:26 | 17:26–17:35 | 11 h 35 min |
| Dec 15 | 05:22–05:31 | 05:31–06:15 | 05:45 / 17:18 | 16:47–17:32 | 17:32–17:40 | 11 h 33 min |
| Jan 01 | 05:30–05:39 | 05:39–06:23 | 05:53 / 17:26 | 16:56–17:40 | 17:40–17:49 | 11 h 34 min |
| Jan 15 | 05:35–05:43 | 05:43–06:27 | 05:57 / 17:34 | 17:04–17:47 | 17:47–17:56 | 11 h 36 min |
| Feb 01 | 05:36–05:45 | 05:45–06:27 | 05:58 / 17:41 | 17:12–17:54 | 17:54–18:03 | 11 h 43 min |
| Feb 15 | 05:34–05:42 | 05:42–06:24 | 05:56 / 17:45 | 17:16–17:58 | 17:58–18:06 | 11 h 49 min |
| Mar 01 | 05:29–05:37 | 05:37–06:18 | 05:50 / 17:46 | 17:18–17:59 | 17:59–18:07 | 11 h 56 min |
| Mar 15 | 05:22–05:30 | 05:30–06:11 | 05:43 / 17:47 | 17:19–18:00 | 18:00–18:08 | 12 h 04 min |
| Apr 01 | 05:12–05:20 | 05:20–06:01 | 05:33 / 17:46 | 17:19–17:59 | 17:59–18:07 | 12 h 13 min |
| Apr 15 | 05:04–05:13 | 05:13–05:54 | 05:26 / 17:46 | 17:18–17:59 | 17:59–18:08 | 12 h 21 min |
| May 01 | 04:57–05:05 | 05:05–05:47 | 05:19 / 17:47 | 17:19–18:01 | 18:01–18:09 | 12 h 29 min |
| May 15 | 04:53–05:01 | 05:01–05:44 | 05:15 / 17:50 | 17:20–18:03 | 18:03–18:12 | 12 h 35 min |
| Jun 01 | 04:51–05:00 | 05:00–05:44 | 05:14 / 17:54 | 17:24–18:08 | 18:08–18:17 | 12 h 40 min |
| Jun 15 | 04:52–05:01 | 05:01–05:46 | 05:15 / 17:57 | 17:27–18:12 | 18:12–18:20 | 12 h 42 min |
| Jul 01 | 04:56–05:05 | 05:05–05:49 | 05:19 / 18:01 | 17:30–18:15 | 18:15–18:24 | 12 h 42 min |
| Jul 15 | 05:00–05:08 | 05:08–05:52 | 05:22 / 18:01 | 17:32–18:15 | 18:15–18:24 | 12 h 39 min |
| Aug 01 | 05:03–05:12 | 05:12–05:55 | 05:26 / 17:59 | 17:30–18:12 | 18:12–18:21 | 12 h 33 min |
| Aug 15 | 05:05–05:14 | 05:14–05:55 | 05:27 / 17:54 | 17:25–18:07 | 18:07–18:15 | 12 h 27 min |
| Sep 01 | 05:05–05:14 | 05:14–05:55 | 05:27 / 17:45 | 17:17–17:58 | 17:58–18:06 | 12 h 18 min |
| Sep 15 | 05:05–05:13 | 05:13–05:53 | 05:26 / 17:36 | 17:09–17:49 | 17:49–17:57 | 12 h 11 min |
Light through the year#
Photography light in San José#
The longest day in the table is around June 15 (12 h 42 min) and the shortest around December 15 (11 h 33 min).
Each golden hour lasts about 41 min near March and up to 44 min near December. At 9.9° N the sun sets at a steep angle, so golden hour is short — be in position early.
Solar noon today is at 11:25 when the sun reaches 76° above the horizon. Midday light is harsh — plan portraits for the golden hours or open shade.
Nearby cities#
- Managua 340 km
- Panama City 512 km
- San Miguelito 515 km
- Tegucigalpa 573 km
- Soyapango 692 km
- San Salvador 695 km
- San Pedro Sula 753 km
- Villa Nueva 871 km
- Guatemala City 873 km
- Belmopan 958 km
- Medellín 1,023 km
- George Town 1,080 km
Plan the shoot#
Frequently asked questions#
When is golden hour in San José today?
Morning: 05:11–05:52; evening: 16:57–17:38 (America/Costa Rica).
When is blue hour in San José?
Today: 05:03–05:11 in the morning and 17:38–17:46 in the evening.
What time is sunset in San José today?
17:25 local time; sunrise was at 05:24.
How long is golden hour in San José?
Between 41 min and 44 min per session depending on the season.
Sources & licences#
- GeoNames (city coordinates & time zones) — CC BY 4.0
- NOAA solar calculator algorithm — Public domain
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources