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Shabbat Times Costa Rica

This week's candle lighting and havdalah for San José, the next 12 weeks, and the towns visitors head for.

This week · Shabbat and Sukkot

14 Tishrei 5787

San José · Friday, September 25 · light candles

5:12 PM

18 minutes before sunset (5:30 PM). Sukkot begins with Shabbat, so the weekend runs to Sunday night.

Sat, Sep 26, after 6:01 PMThe second day of Sukkot begins: light from an existing flame. No havdalah tonight.
Sun, Sep 27, 6:00 PMYom tov ends. Havdalah.

✓ A second, independent calculation gives 5:12 PM, the same minute.

Across Costa Rica this Friday

San José5:12 PM
La Fortuna5:14 PM
Liberia5:17 PM
Tamarindo5:19 PM
Jacó5:14 PM
Quepos (Manuel Antonio)5:12 PM

Tamarindo lights 7 minutes after San José.

The clock in Costa Rica

No daylight saving. UTC−6 all year: an hour behind New York from November 1 to March 14, two hours behind the rest of the year.

Candles move 50 minutes a year, 4:53 PM in early November to 5:43 PM in early July.

Shabbat services in Costa Rica

Chabad Lubavitch of Costa Rica, Escazú Village, local 110Friday: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:15 PM, and no Friday-night mealSaturday: services 10:00 AM, then Kiddush and a meal, open to visitors with no reservation
Chabad of Jaco, Jacó, the synagogue in the Chabad House complexFriday: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00 PMSaturday: Shacharit 10:00 AMShabbat meals booked ahead on its site
Chabad of Santa Teresa, Santa Teresa, across from Banana BeachFriday: Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv 6:00 PMSaturday: Shacharit 10:00 AMShabbat meals booked ahead on its site
Centro Israelita Sionista de Costa Rica, Pavas, San JoséServices are for members and their guests. Visitors from abroad apply on its form at least 48 hours ahead, with a formal reference from their own community

From each congregation's own website, checked September 23, 2026. Confirm with them before you travel.

The next 12 weeks in San José

Friday	Torah portion	Candle lighting	Shabbat ends	Hebrew date
Oct 2Shemini Atzeret, then Simchat Torah	Shemini Atzeret, then Simchat Torah	5:08 PM	Sun 5:56 PMlight again Saturday after 5:57 PM	21 Tishrei
Oct 9Bereshit	Bereshit	5:04 PM	5:53 PM	28 Tishrei
Oct 16Noach	Noach	5:00 PM	5:50 PM	5 Cheshvan
Oct 23Lech-Lecha	Lech-Lecha	4:57 PM	5:47 PM	12 Cheshvan
Oct 30Vayera	Vayera	4:55 PM	5:45 PM	19 Cheshvan
Nov 6Chayei Sara	Chayei Sara	4:53 PM	5:44 PM	26 Cheshvan
Nov 13Toldot	Toldot	4:53 PM	5:44 PM	3 Kislev
Nov 20Vayetzei	Vayetzei	4:53 PM	5:44 PM	10 Kislev
Nov 27Vayishlach	Vayishlach	4:54 PM	5:46 PM	17 Kislev
Dec 4VayeshevChanukah, first candle before Shabbat	VayeshevChanukah, first candle before Shabbat	4:55 PM	5:48 PM	24 Kislev
Dec 11MiketzChanukah, eighth candle before Shabbat	MiketzChanukah, eighth candle before Shabbat	4:58 PM	5:51 PM	1 Tevet
Dec 18Vayigash	Vayigash	5:01 PM	5:54 PM	8 Tevet

How the times are worked out

18 minutes before sunset in San José

Sunset is worked out for San José's coordinates, 9.93° N, 84.08° W, with @hebcal/core, the open-source calculation behind hebcal.com, and every time is shown on local clocks (America/Costa_Rica). Shabbat ends at nightfall, when the sun is 8.5 degrees below the horizon and three stars would be out.

Eighteen minutes is the usual custom in most of the world. Israeli calendars print 20 for most cities, and Jerusalem lights 40 minutes before sunset and Haifa 30, so those pages use their own number instead.

Each Friday is also worked out a second way, with this site's own sunrise equation, and the two are compared whenever the page is built. Some communities wait longer before havdalah, so treat the minute as close rather than binding, and follow your own community's calendar.

Near Costa Rica this Friday

Away for Shabbat

Candle lighting this Friday, each for its own coordinates and custom. All cities on the list

Candle-lighting reminders for Costa Rica

A short reminder every Friday morning with this week's exact times.

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Shabbat in Costa Rica: quick answers

What time is candle lighting in Costa Rica this Friday?+

In San José, candle lighting on Friday, September 25, 2026 is at 5:12 PM, 18 minutes before sunset. Sukkot begins with Shabbat, so candles are lit again after 6:01 PM on Saturday, and yom tov ends at 6:00 PM on Sunday.

What time does Shabbat end in Costa Rica?+

This week Shabbat runs straight into the second day of Sukkot, so there is no havdalah on Saturday night. Candles are lit again after 6:01 PM, from an existing flame, and yom tov ends at 6:00 PM on Sunday.

Does Costa Rica change its clocks?+

No. Costa Rica keeps UTC−6 all year, with no daylight saving, so it is an hour behind New York from November 1 to March 14, two hours behind the rest of the year.

Why 18 minutes before sunset?+

Where can a visitor go for Shabbat services in Costa Rica?+

Chabad Lubavitch of Costa Rica (Escazú Village, local 110): Friday: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:15 PM, and no Friday-night meal. Saturday: services 10:00 AM, then Kiddush and a meal, open to visitors with no reservation. Chabad of Jaco (Jacó, the synagogue in the Chabad House complex): Friday: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00 PM. Saturday: Shacharit 10:00 AM. Shabbat meals booked ahead on its site. Chabad of Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa, across from Banana Beach): Friday: Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv 6:00 PM. Saturday: Shacharit 10:00 AM. Shabbat meals booked ahead on its site. Centro Israelita Sionista de Costa Rica (Pavas, San José): Services are for members and their guests. Visitors from abroad apply on its form at least 48 hours ahead, with a formal reference from their own community. Each is taken from the congregation's own website. Confirm with them before you travel.

Are these times exact?+

They are worked out for San José's coordinates the way Hebcal works them out, and checked against a second, independent calculation. Your community's own calendar is the authority for observance.

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