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The best time to visit St. Lucia depends on your goals for the trip. While we’ve found the overall best time to go, there are other great times of year for different types of visits.
You might love visiting during the peak season, try to plan around the dry and rainy season, or look for the periods that make it feel like you’ve got the island to yourself.
Whether you’re looking for excellent weather and peak-season activities, the most affordable time to go, or less-busy shoulder seasons that balance good prices with fewer crowds, we’ve got you covered.
Keep reading to discover the best time to visit St. Lucia for a memorable, incredible trip!
Why You Should Visit St. Lucia
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What makes St. Lucia so ripe for a visit? Glad you asked. There’s a lot to love about this Caribbean gem!
From the unique, varied landscape and weather to the land and water activities here, you’ll find lots of reasons to visit – and plenty to return again and again.
Gorgeous Landscapes
From the volcanic Piton mountains and rugged cliffs to dense, lush rainforest and cascading waterfalls, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more stunning destination than St. Lucia.
Off the coast, you’ll find colorful coral reefs that are favorite diving spots, quaint fishing villages bringing in quality seafood, and amazing gardens with tropical flowers.
Sands on the beautiful beaches range from soft imported white sand to gray volcanic sand and golden sands that contrast perfectly with the emerald Caribbean Sea.
Pleasant Tropical Weather
The weather in St. Lucia is pretty moderate and pleasant year-round, thanks to its fairly close proximity to the equator.
You can expect highs in the 84F-88F range with lows from 73F-79F. It’s never too hot or too cold here – even during the dead of “winter.”
One thing to consider is St. Lucia’s rainy and hurricane season from June to November. There’s a lot of rainfall (up to 7.5″ per month) and increased risk of hurricanes during this time of year.
Water and Land Activities
St. Lucia is a major hub for activities on the land and sea! There are endless ways to spend your day enjoying the outdoors in St. Lucia.
With Pigeon Island National Park, the Piton Mountains, hot springs and geysers, and rainforests to explore, hiking trails, ATV tours, and scenic views are practically built into your trip.
In the water, you’ll see the amazing marine charm of St. Lucia in the Caribbean Sea. You’ll find calm waters ideal for snorkeling, dive on nearby reefs, take day cruises, and more.
Secluded Relaxation
St. Lucia has tons of activities to keep you busy, but it’s also a mecca for rest and relaxation. From secluded, rocky beaches to stress-melting spa days, you’ll return from your trip feeling rested and renewed.
Spend a day at the spa getting massages and treatments by the sea, try oceanfront yoga classes, rest on the shore watching whales and dolphins play, or head to Silver Springs for a detoxifying volcanic mud bath.
With so many ways to unwind – even with wine and rum tastings – this is the place to shed some stress and get in touch with your inner peace and calm.
Overall Best Time to Visit St. Lucia
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December to March is the overall best time to visit St. Lucia with excellent weather, little rainfall, and beach activities in full swing.
This period marks the high season in St. Lucia, so you can expect bigger crowds and higher prices from mid-December to March.
Still, the quality of your stay during the first of the year is unbeatable if you want to experience the best St. Lucia has to offer – including opportunities for dolphin and whale watching!
The high temperatures sit in the cooler mid-to-upper 80s (Fahrenheit) and rainfall is minimal with the highest sunshine hours of the year.
February and March see the least rainfall in St. Lucia, so if you’re looking for the best beach days with pleasant temperatures, this is the time to go.
Beach days are at their peak at this time of year, with comfortable sea temperatures in the low 80s and lots of water sports and activities taking place along the shores.
If you have a little extra room in your budget and an open schedule, spend a little more and book your stay sometime during December through March to enjoy the best St. Lucia visit.
Cheapest Time to Visit St. Lucia
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The months of June through November are the cheapest time to visit St. Lucia due to the heavy rainfall and increased hurricane risk.
St. Lucia is cheaper to visit from June-November because it’s the wet hurricane season that most travelers want to avoid.
With less traveler demand, rates for resorts and hotels diminishes and rates take a dive as a result. If you’re planning a budget-friendly trip, this may be the perfect time to visit!
Lower nightly rates at resorts and hotels help stretch a smallish budget so you can spend more nights here without paying much more for your stay.
Monthly rainfall totals range from roughly 5.5″ to 7.5″ during this period (mostly during September and October) and there’s an increased risk of hurricanes and tropical storms.
This means you won’t get as many pleasant beach days if you travel at this time of year.
But if you plan to visit landmarks, take sightseeing tours, visit shops, have a spa day, or check out museums and art galleries, it can be a prime time for a visit.
Least Busy Time to Visit St. Lucia
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The shoulder seasons in Mid-April to June and October to November are generally the least busy times to visit St. Lucia.
St. Lucia’s shoulder seasons are the end caps to the busy high season in December through April and slower low season from June to November.
During these periods in spring and fall, fewer people visit St. Lucia as the high season winds down and the low season is ready to give way to peak tourism months.
As a result, you’ll deal with fewer crowds at your resort or hotel, the beach, in shops, and at restaurants.
It’s the ideal time to come if you want to feel like you’ve got the place to yourself. The shoulder season that will work best for you depends on what you plan to do during your stay.
Mid-April to June is by far the best time to come for smaller crowds due to the excellent weather at this time of year.
Highs in the upper 80s (Fahrenheit), little rainfall, and extended sunshine hours each day make mid-April to June a great time to come with fewer crowds (and cheaper rates than the start of the high season).
October to November is even less crowded, but with the caveat of poor, wet weather and enhanced hurricane risk. It’s warm at this time of year with highs in the upper 80s.
You’ll beat the crowds at this time of year and get even cheaper rates than mid-April to June, but beach days are less enjoyable and downright impossible in the event of tropical storms.
Worst Time to Visit St. Lucia
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The worst time to visit St. Lucia is during August, September, and October. These are the peak months of the hurricane season and the rainiest months in St. Lucia.
August through October are St. Lucia’s rainiest months with temperatures as hot as it gets here – around 88F with lows in the upper 70s.
The wet weather makes beach time and strolling through town less enjoyable, but it’s the heightened hurricane risk that really makes it the worst time to visit.
St. Lucia’s hurricane season generally runs from June 1 to November 30 each year, with the highest risk of hurricanes happening from August to October.
While it’s possible to enjoy a stay during this time by taking advantage of more indoor activities, you’re much better off waiting until a more pleasant time of year to come.
Things to Consider
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What else should you know about planning your visit to St. Lucia? Here are our top traveler tips to make your stay incredible.
- Know how much it costs to visit. You can rent apartments and single rooms for as little as $250 for a 5-night stay for 2, but most resorts and highly-rated hotels run somewhere between $1,500-$4,000+ during the best time of year to visit (December to March).
- Take advantage of fun activities. No matter when you visit, you’ll have lots of options for things to do in St. Lucia. Day trips, ATV and bus tours, beaches, shops and galleries, and hiking trails are all great options for different times of year.
- Eat like a local. St. Lucian cuisine fuses Caribbean, European, Indian, and American food into tasty, unique combinations. Try lots of seafood, lambi (pan-fried conch), bouyon (a bean and dumpling dish), and the famous green fig and salt fish to eat like a local.
- Stay at a resort for better beach days. Every St. Lucia beach is public, but some resorts and hotels offer private beach access and amenities that can elevate your visit with comfy lounge chairs, umbrellas, water sports and activities, and more.
- Tipping is different here. In St. Lucia, your bill will likely have a 10% gratuity added to the check. You can tip more if your service was great, but it’s good to know that 10% is already built in.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Still have a few questions about St. Lucia and the best time to come for a visit? Check out the most frequently asked questions to learn more about this island nation.
What is the rainy season in St. Lucia?
The rainy season in St. Lucia lasts from June to November, with the rainiest months being September and October each year.
During the rainy season, St. Lucia receives anywhere from 5.5" to 7.5" of rain each month on average. It can rain as often as 21 days per month here!
What is the cheapest month to go to St. Lucia?
The cheapest month to go to St. Lucia is September, which is the month that sees the fewest visitors according to Tourism Analytics.
September is one of the rainiest months and the peak of St. Lucia's hurricane season, which keeps many travelers away (and rooms vacant). Lower rates are the result of this tourism dip in September.
What is the best weather in St. Lucia?
From December to March and sometimes April, St. Lucia experiences its moderate, comfortable dry season with great weather for travelers who want to spend time outdoors.
Average temperatures hang around the mid-80s with lows in the mid-70s during this time of year with little rainfall and lots of sunshine.
Does St. Lucia have hurricane season?
St. Lucia does have a hurricane season that officially runs from June 1st to November 30th each year. The most risk for hurricanes occurs in September and October, which are also the rainiest months.
How many days do I need in St. Lucia?
Plan on spending at least 5-7 days in St. Lucia to experience all the island has to offer. Since it's a small island, you don't need 2+ weeks to take it all in.
It takes roughly 1-2 hours to drive around the entire island on one of the 2 main paved roads, so 5-7 days is perfect to check out all the sights, parks, land features, and activities here.
So, What Is the Best Time to Visit St. Lucia?
Coming to St. Lucia at the best time of year is the key to enjoying the perfect visit in this Caribbean paradise.
The overall best time to visit is from December to March – the height of the dry season when the weather is ideal, dry, and sunny for the island’s many outdoor activities.
Prices are higher and crowds are bigger at this time of year, however. So if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly or less crowded trip, you’ll want to skip the busy season.
Visit from June through November (the rainy and hurricane season) for a cheaper trip at the expense of the great weather the island is famous for.
Head to St. Lucia during mid-April to June or October to November (shoulder seasons) to avoid crowds. Mid-April to June is the better shoulder season for good, dry weather.
The worst times to visit St. Lucia are the months of August, September, or October – the rainiest period of the year here with increased hurricane risk.
Planning your visit to align with the weather, affordability, or tourist numbers will ensure you experience the best St. Lucia has to offer while keeping to your trip goals.
Whether you’ll be saying yes to every island adventure, lying lazily in the sun, or exploring the shops and restaurants with zeal, you’ll have an amazing time getting to know St. Lucia!