Best Time to Visit the Caribbean: A Month-by-Month Guide to 15 Islands
Table of Contents
The Short Answer: December Through April
The best time to visit the Caribbean is mid-December to mid-April, the dry season, when rainfall is lowest and the Atlantic hurricane season is over. January highs run from about 79°F in Nassau to 87°F in Aruba. It is also the most expensive and crowded time. Late April, May and the first half of December offer similar weather for less, while the riskiest stretch is mid-August to mid-October, around the hurricane season's September 10 peak (NOAA National Hurricane Center).
Island by Island: When It Rains
The table below uses the official 1991–2020 climate normals for each island's main weather station. Rainfall is the monthly average; the high is the average daily maximum in January.
| Island (station) | Driest months | Wettest months | Annual rain | January high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aruba (Oranjestad) | Apr, Mar, May | Nov, Dec, Oct | 18 in (451 mm) | 87°F (30.3°C) |
| Bahamas (Nassau) | Dec, Jan, Feb | Jun, Aug, Sep | 56 in (1,426 mm) | 79°F (26.1°C) |
| Barbados (Grantley Adams) | Mar, Feb, Apr | Oct, Nov, Sep | 50 in (1,260 mm) | 84°F (29.1°C) |
| Cayman Islands (George Town) | Mar, Feb, Apr | Oct, Sep, Jun | 56 in (1,423 mm) | 83°F (28.4°C) |
| Dominican Republic (Punta Cana) | Mar, Feb, Apr | Sep, Nov, May | 46 in (1,159 mm) | 83°F (28.5°C) |
| Jamaica (Montego Bay) | Feb, Mar, Apr | Oct, May, Sep | 45 in (1,136 mm) | 86°F (29.8°C) |
| Martinique (Fort-de-France) | Mar, Feb, Apr | Aug, Oct, Nov | 77 in (1,951 mm) | 82°F (27.7°C) |
| Puerto Rico (San Juan) | Mar, Feb, Jan | Nov, Sep, Aug | 60 in (1,521 mm) | 83°F (28.4°C) |
Sources: 1991–2020 normals from Departamento Meteorologico Aruba, the Bahamas Department of Meteorology, Barbados Meteorological Services, the Cayman Islands National Weather Service, Météo-France and NOAA, as compiled in the climate tables for Oranjestad, Nassau, Bridgetown, George Town, Punta Cana, Montego Bay, Fort-de-France and San Juan.
Two patterns stand out. February and March are the driest months almost everywhere. And the wettest month is not the same across the region: June in Nassau, October in Jamaica, Barbados and the Caymans, November in Puerto Rico and Aruba, August in Martinique.
The Three Caribbean Seasons
Treat the year as three bands. The dry season runs from December to April, with peak crowds and peak rates. May and November are shoulder months, when the weather is usually still good and crowds thin out. The wet season runs from June to November and overlaps the Atlantic hurricane season, which officially runs from June 1 to November 30. Activity is heavily concentrated in its second half: the peak is September 10, and most activity falls between mid-August and mid-October (NOAA National Hurricane Center). If you travel between June and November, check our hurricane tracker in the two weeks before you leave.
Month by Month
January
Dry and the coolest month: average highs of about 84°F in Barbados, 83°F in Punta Cana and 79°F in Nassau. The trade winds are strong in the Eastern Caribbean, which keeps beaches breezy and east-facing coasts choppy. Holiday-season prices carry into early January.
February
One of the two driest months across most of the region, and the driest of all in Montego Bay. It is also the most expensive month, with US school breaks and Valentine's Day adding demand.
March
The driest month in Puerto Rico, Barbados, the Caymans, Martinique and Punta Cana. Spring break crowds arrive in the Bahamas, Punta Cana and Cancún-area resorts, so book early or pick a quieter island.
April
Still dry, and after Easter prices start to fall. Aruba's driest month. Sargassum seaweed can start appearing on exposed beaches in spring; check our sargassum forecast before booking a beach that faces east or southeast.
May
A good shoulder month, though rain starts to pick up: May is one of the three wettest months in Montego Bay and Punta Cana. Hurricane season has not started, and prices are lower than in April.
June
Hurricane season begins on June 1, but early-season storms are relatively uncommon. June is the wettest month in Nassau. The water is warm and good for snorkelling.
July
Hot and humid. Barbados celebrates Crop Over, its biggest festival, which builds through July to Grand Kadooment in early August. European summer holidays add demand on the French islands.
August
Activity rises through the month, and August is the wettest month in Martinique. Prices are low; if you travel now, buy travel insurance that covers named storms and read the terms.
September
The climatological peak of hurricane season falls on September 10 (NOAA National Hurricane Center). It is among the wettest months in Barbados, the Caymans, Punta Cana and Puerto Rico. Some resorts close for maintenance. Aruba, at the southern edge of the region, is the lowest-risk choice this month.
October
Still within the most active stretch until mid-month, then improving. October is the wettest month in Jamaica, Barbados and the Cayman Islands.
November
Hurricane season officially ends on November 30, but activity usually drops well before. November is the wettest month in Puerto Rico and Aruba, so it suits the islands further north and west better than those two.
December
The dry season returns, and the first half of the month is good value. Prices rise sharply for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Nassau's driest month.
Islands That Break the Rules
Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao
The ABC islands lie just north of Venezuela, at the southern edge of the Caribbean, and are far drier than the rest of the region: Aruba averages about 18 inches of rain a year, against 45 to 77 inches elsewhere in the table. They also sit south of the main Atlantic hurricane track, so the risk is lower than further north, though not zero. Their rainy months are October to December.
The Bahamas
The Bahamas lies further north than the rest of the region, so its winters are cooler: Nassau's average January high is about 79°F, and cold fronts from the US mainland can bring a few cooler days at a time. Its wettest months come in early summer (June) rather than autumn.
The Eastern Caribbean
Barbados, Martinique, Saint Lucia and Dominica face the trade winds head-on. From December to February the east-facing coasts are rough and the west-facing coasts calm, which is great for windsurfers and worth knowing when choosing a hotel. Martinique is also the wettest island in the table, at about 77 inches a year.
How to Plan Around Weather, Crowds and Price
Travelling between June and November, book refundable fares where you can and buy travel insurance that covers named storms; read the fine print, because many policies only pay out once a storm is named. For the safest weather, go from January to March. For the best balance of weather and price, aim for late April to May or the first half of December.
- Best weather overall: February and March
- Best value: late April to May, and early December
- Highest hurricane risk: mid-August to mid-October
- Driest year-round: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao
Frequently Asked Questions
When is hurricane season in the Caribbean?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Its peak is September 10, and most activity falls between mid-August and mid-October, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center.
What is the best month to visit the Caribbean?
February or March. They are the driest months on most islands, including Barbados, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands and Punta Cana, and they fall outside hurricane season. They are also the busiest and most expensive, so late April, May and early December are the better-value choices.
Which Caribbean island has the best weather year-round?
Aruba, along with Bonaire and Curaçao. Aruba averages about 18 inches of rain a year, far less than the 45 to 77 inches of the islands further north and east, and the ABC islands sit south of the main hurricane track, so the risk is lower, though not zero.
What is the rainiest month in the Caribbean?
It depends on the island. Using 1991-2020 normals, it is June in Nassau, August in Martinique, September in Punta Cana, October in Jamaica, Barbados and the Cayman Islands, and November in Puerto Rico and Aruba.
Is December a good time to visit the Caribbean?
Yes, especially the first half. The dry season has begun, December is Nassau's driest month, and prices are lower than during the Christmas and New Year holidays, when they rise sharply.
How warm is the Caribbean in January?
Average January highs range from about 79°F in Nassau to 87°F in Aruba, with most islands, including Barbados, Puerto Rico, Punta Cana and the Caymans, at 82-86°F.
When is sargassum seaweed worst in the Caribbean?
Sargassum usually arrives in spring and can last into late summer, mostly on beaches exposed to the open Atlantic, such as east and southeast-facing shores. Amounts vary a lot from year to year, so check the latest outlook before you book.
