Sun & Shadow Map of Cartago, Costa Rica
Track sunlight direction and building shadows across Cartago, Costa Rica for any time and date. Drag the time slider above to watch shadows grow, shrink and rotate from sunrise to sunset.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Cartago today
Today the sun rises at about 05:13 and sets at about 17:57 local time (America/Costa_Rica), giving roughly 12h 43m of daylight. The exact moment a shadow appears or disappears depends on nearby buildings and terrain, which the interactive map above accounts for.
How shadows move through the day in Cartago
In the morning the sun sits low in the east, so shadows stretch long toward the west. As the sun climbs toward solar noon, shadows shorten and swing around to point north — Cartago lies in the northern hemisphere. Through the afternoon the sun sinks toward the west and shadows lengthen again, this time falling toward the east. Use the time slider to see the exact sun angle and shadow direction at any minute of the day.
Shadow length by season
Shadow length depends on how high the sun climbs at midday, which changes with the seasons. At solar noon in Cartago:
- Around the summer solstice, a 10 m building casts a midday shadow of roughly 2.4 m.
- Around the winter solstice, the same building casts a much longer shadow of roughly 6.6 m, because the sun stays lower in the sky.
Sunrise & sunset across the year in Cartago
| Season | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring equinox | Mar 20 | 05:38 | 17:47 | 12h 9m |
| Summer solstice | Jun 21 | 05:15 | 17:59 | 12h 44m |
| Autumn equinox | Sep 22 | 05:23 | 17:32 | 12h 9m |
| Winter solstice | Dec 21 | 05:46 | 17:21 | 11h 35m |
Times shown for America/Costa_Rica. Calculated from the city's coordinates (9.863710, -83.919500).
Why check sun and shadows in Cartago?
Knowing where the sun falls helps with choosing an apartment with good natural light, planning a rooftop terrace or garden, positioning solar panels, scheduling outdoor photography during golden hour, or simply finding a sunny café table. The map above models shadows cast by buildings using OpenStreetMap data, so you can check a specific street or address rather than relying on a general sunrise table.
Frequently asked questions
What time is golden hour in Cartago?
Golden hour falls shortly after sunrise and shortly before sunset, when the sun is low and light is warm. With sunset around 17:57 today, the evening golden hour begins roughly an hour earlier. Use the slider to find the exact low-sun window.
Which direction do windows get the most sun in Cartago?
In the northern hemisphere, south-facing windows receive the most sunlight through the day, while east-facing rooms get morning light and west-facing rooms get afternoon and evening light.