Earthquakes in Costa Rica — January 2026
2 earthquakes were recorded in Costa Rica during January 2026, an average of 0.1 per day.
2 reached magnitude 4 or above and 0 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 10 km.
The month's largest event in Costa Rica was a magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Puerto Cortés, Costa Rica on 12 January 2026 at 12:31 UTC. A magnitude 4.5 earthquake radiates roughly 85 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
That is below the Costa Rica monthly average of 3 events over the period we cover — a comparatively quiet month, and up from the 1 recorded the previous month.
100% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 0% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.
By band, the catalogue holds 2 in the magnitude 4 range.
The month's largest events were M4.5 near Puerto Cortés, Costa Rica on 12 January at 10 km; M4.0 near Colima, Costa Rica on 19 January at 10 km.
That is 31% below the 3 events Costa Rica averages per month across the 20 months on record.
Largest earthquakes in Costa Rica, January 2026
2 events listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Location | Depth (km) | Country | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5 | Puerto Cortés, Costa Rica | 10.0 | Costa Rica | View details View | |
| 4.0 | Colima, Costa Rica | 10.0 | Costa Rica | View details View |
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes hit Costa Rica in January 2026?
2 earthquakes were recorded in Costa Rica during January 2026, of which 2 were magnitude 4 or above.
What was the biggest earthquake in Costa Rica in January 2026?
A magnitude 4.5 event near Puerto Cortés, Costa Rica on 12 January 2026.
Other months in Costa Rica
Magnitudes for January 2026 reflect the current USGS review status and may have been revised since first publication. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.