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When Is the Best Time to Visit The Caribbean?
The best time to visit the Caribbean is between December and April, during the dry season. This is the time of year when the sun is warm without scorching, the sea temperature is an impeccable 80°F, and rainfall is far and few between. It’s perfect for spending time outdoors and soaking up the sunshine on a Caribbean beach!
The weather is sunny and warm, with average temperatures ranging from 77 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. There is also less rainfall during the dry season, making it ideal for exploring the region’s many outdoor attractions.
Here are some of the benefits of visiting the Caribbean during the dry season:
- Mild weather: Expect balmy to warm temperatures between 77° and 82°F between December and April with little rain to ruin your beach plans. Humidity is low and conditions are ideal for swimming, sunbathing, diving, and hiking around the islands.
- Sunny skies: Sunny skies are usually in the forecast during the Caribbean’s mild dry season. With the sun shining brightly, the air feels pleasantly warm and views of the tropical scenery are truly idyllic. With little cloud cover and minimal chances of rain, you’ll be free to take part in all the fun outdoor activities the area is known for.
- Clear waters: Diving and snorkeling are some of the most popular activities for Caribbean tourists, owing to the colorful marine life that congregates around the abundant coral reefs near the islands. Clear waters and enhanced visibility during the dry season create conditions that are just right for dives and snorkeling sessions!
- Minimal seaweed: Seaweed, especially the smelly, brown sargassum variety, can be a problem in the Caribbean during the summer months. But during the winter dry season, seaweed is minimal or nonexistent! This makes spending time on the pristine beaches much more pleasant.
If you plan to come to the Caribbean during the mild and dry winter season, keep these activity recommendations in mind:
- December to February: Expect warm, sunny weather with a few short rain showers this time of year. It’s perfect for swimming in the sea around the Bahamas, diving Coral Gardens Reef in Turks & Caicos, hiking through the lush St. Lucia Pitons, boating around Antigua & Barbuda, and sightseeing in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- March to April: The latter part of the dry season is warm and sunny without being hot. March is as dry as December and January, but April sees slightly more rainfall and cloud cover. This is a great time for swimming and sailing around the Virgin Islands, checking out the Mayan ruins in Belize, or venturing into the dense rainforests of the Dominican Republic.
There’s no doubt that the dry winter season is the best time to visit the Caribbean, but it’s not without disadvantages. You can count on higher prices, limited hotel and flight availability, and bigger crowds when you come during the mild peak season.
Average Temperatures by Month
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Anguilla |
79°
|
80°
|
81°
|
83°
|
85°
|
86°
|
87°
|
87°
|
86°
|
85°
|
82°
|
80°
|
| Antigua |
78°
|
78°
|
79°
|
80°
|
81°
|
83°
|
84°
|
84°
|
83°
|
82°
|
81°
|
79°
|
| Aruba |
81°
|
81°
|
82°
|
83°
|
84°
|
85°
|
86°
|
86°
|
86°
|
85°
|
84°
|
82°
|
| Bahamas |
73°
|
73°
|
75°
|
77°
|
81°
|
84°
|
86°
|
86°
|
84°
|
81°
|
77°
|
75°
|
| Barbados |
77°
|
77°
|
78°
|
78°
|
79°
|
80°
|
80°
|
80°
|
80°
|
79°
|
78°
|
78°
|
| Belize |
80°
|
81°
|
83°
|
85°
|
87°
|
88°
|
88°
|
88°
|
88°
|
86°
|
83°
|
81°
|
| Bermuda |
65°
|
65°
|
65°
|
68°
|
72°
|
77°
|
82°
|
84°
|
82°
|
77°
|
71°
|
67°
|
| Costa Rica |
80°
|
81°
|
82°
|
83°
|
82°
|
80°
|
80°
|
80°
|
79°
|
78°
|
78°
|
79°
|
| Cuba |
77°
|
77°
|
78°
|
80°
|
81°
|
82°
|
83°
|
83°
|
82°
|
81°
|
79°
|
78°
|
| Curacao |
80°
|
81°
|
82°
|
83°
|
85°
|
86°
|
87°
|
87°
|
86°
|
85°
|
83°
|
81°
|
| Dominican Republic |
77°
|
77°
|
78°
|
79°
|
80°
|
81°
|
82°
|
82°
|
82°
|
81°
|
80°
|
78°
|
| Grenada |
81°
|
81°
|
82°
|
83°
|
84°
|
84°
|
84°
|
84°
|
84°
|
83°
|
83°
|
82°
|
| Haiti |
80°
|
81°
|
82°
|
83°
|
83°
|
83°
|
84°
|
84°
|
84°
|
83°
|
82°
|
81°
|
| Jamaica |
83°
|
83°
|
84°
|
85°
|
86°
|
87°
|
88°
|
88°
|
88°
|
87°
|
85°
|
83°
|
| Puerto Rico |
78°
|
78°
|
79°
|
80°
|
82°
|
83°
|
83°
|
83°
|
83°
|
82°
|
81°
|
79°
|
| Saint Lucia |
81°
|
81°
|
82°
|
83°
|
84°
|
84°
|
84°
|
84°
|
84°
|
84°
|
83°
|
82°
|
| Saint Thomas |
81°
|
81°
|
82°
|
83°
|
84°
|
85°
|
86°
|
86°
|
86°
|
85°
|
84°
|
82°
|
| Saint Vincent |
82°
|
82°
|
83°
|
84°
|
84°
|
84°
|
84°
|
85°
|
85°
|
85°
|
84°
|
83°
|
| St. Barts |
77°
|
77°
|
78°
|
80°
|
81°
|
82°
|
83°
|
83°
|
83°
|
82°
|
80°
|
78°
|
| St. John |
83°
|
83°
|
83°
|
84°
|
85°
|
86°
|
87°
|
87°
|
87°
|
86°
|
85°
|
84°
|
| St. Martin |
78°
|
78°
|
79°
|
81°
|
83°
|
84°
|
84°
|
84°
|
84°
|
83°
|
81°
|
79°
|
| The Cayman Islands |
77°
|
77°
|
78°
|
79°
|
81°
|
83°
|
84°
|
84°
|
83°
|
82°
|
80°
|
78°
|
| The Virgin Islands |
83°
|
83°
|
83°
|
84°
|
85°
|
86°
|
87°
|
87°
|
87°
|
86°
|
85°
|
84°
|
| Trinidad |
81°
|
81°
|
82°
|
82°
|
82°
|
82°
|
82°
|
82°
|
82°
|
82°
|
81°
|
81°
|
| Turks and Caicos |
77°
|
77°
|
78°
|
80°
|
82°
|
84°
|
85°
|
85°
|
85°
|
83°
|
80°
|
78°
|
Climate in The Caribbean
Summer Season in The Caribbean
It's tropical and lovely year-round in the Caribbean, but things do heat up a bit more in the summer between June and August. Temperatures rise to highs between 80°F to 90°F and you may contend with more rain this time of year. Beaches, rainforests, and water sports are still excellent options for summertime, but keep an eye on the forecast. Summer kicks off the Caribbean hurricane season, making storms and downpours more common during these months. Travel insurance is essential in case you need to cancel a trip last-minute.
Rainy Season in The Caribbean
The hot summer and fall months from June to November typically make up the Caribbean’s rainy season, but the wettest months vary by the destination. Belize sees the most rain between June and December, while the Dominican Republic, St. Maarten, and Cancun experience high levels of rainfall starting in May. In the Cayman Islands, the rainy season spans from May to October.
Winter Season in The Caribbean
Winter, from December to April, is the dry season in the Caribbean. This time of year boasts mild weather that's cooler and drier than the summer, fall, and late spring. With minimal rain, lots of warm sunshine, and ideal water conditions, this is the preferred season to visit the Caribbean region for outdoor activities like swimming, diving, hiking, attending festivals, and boating.
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