Vitamin D in Nicaragua: best months for sun and a travel guide

The best months for vitamin D in Nicaragua are February, March, December. In March, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.6 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is too hot in April and rainy or stormy in January and from May to November.

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Nicaragua month by month

Nicaragua is rated at its median coastal place, for skin type III at age 30. Click a month for the details.

Month	Rating	Sun window	Peak UV	Full dose, age 30	Full dose, age 65	Afternoon high	Rainy days
January	Bad weather	7.7 h	7.6	7 min	13 min	28°C	18/30
February	Excellent	7.8 h	8.3	6 min	12 min	27°C	8/30
March	Excellent	8.6 h	9.2	6 min	11 min	34°C	4/30
April	Too hot	8.7 h	9.3	6 min	11 min	35°C	4/30
May	Bad weather	8.6 h	8.5	6 min	12 min	33°C	22/30
June	Bad weather	7.0 h	7.2	7 min	14 min	29°C	29/30
July	Bad weather	7.9 h	8.2	7 min	12 min	29°C	28/30
August	Bad weather	8.0 h	8.2	7 min	12 min	29°C	26/30
September	Bad weather	7.2 h	7.8	7 min	13 min	31°C	29/30
October	Bad weather	7.0 h	7.5	7 min	13 min	29°C	27/30
November	Bad weather	6.6 h	6.7	8 min	15 min	30°C	23/30
December	Good	6.6 h	6.5	8 min	15 min	33°C	11/30

Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.

Travel guide: why go to Nicaragua

Why go

Nicaragua is a low-cost country of surf towns, volcanoes and colonial cities.

Best for

Backpackers, surfers and budget travellers.

What to expect

A dry season from November to April and a green, wet season from May to October. Check travel advice before going, as political conditions can change. Services are simple.

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Places in Nicaragua

Each place has its own climate, so its best months can differ from the country as a whole.

San Juan del Sur best: Excellent

Surf and party town in a crescent bay, with a hilltop Christ statue.

Best for backpackers, surfers

Best months December to May · Avoid rainy or stormy from June to November

Surfer town, party mecca and an anchoring point for large cruise ships

Granada best: Excellent (inland)

Colourful colonial city on Lake Nicaragua.

Best for culture travellers, couples

Best months December to April · Avoid too hot in May; rainy or stormy from June to November

Charming colonial beauty, favorite with tourists and expats

León best: Good

Student city with volcano boarding nearby.

Best for adventurers, culture travellers

Best months December · Avoid too hot from January to May and in August; rainy or stormy from June to July and from September to November

Colonial city, famous for students, leftist politics and its large cathedral

Corn Islands best: Excellent

Quiet Caribbean islands with clear water.

Best for backpackers, divers

Best months February to May · Avoid rainy or stormy from June to January

Ometepe best: Excellent (inland)

Twin-volcano island in a freshwater lake.

Best for hikers, nature lovers

Best months January to April · Avoid rainy or stormy from May to December

Popoyo best: Excellent

Powerful, consistent surf at a calm village.

Best for surfers

Best months December to March · Avoid too hot in April; rainy or stormy from May to November

Some short descriptions come from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Questions about vitamin D in Nicaragua

When is the best time to visit Nicaragua for vitamin D?

Can you get vitamin D from the sun in Nicaragua in November?

Yes, but slowly. In November a full dose takes about 8 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 6.6 usable hours a day.

How long do I need in the sun in Nicaragua?

In March, the best month, about 6 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 11 minutes at age 65. Darker skin needs longer and fair skin burns sooner, so keep sessions short. This is an estimate for planning, not medical advice.

Which months should I avoid in Nicaragua?

For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is too hot in April and rainy or stormy in January and from May to November.

What is the best place in Nicaragua for vitamin D?

In March the strongest sun of the places we rate is around Corn Islands. Each place has its own rating, so open the place list to compare them.