Best time to visit Punta Cana

December to April. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.

December to April

Most sources put the best weather from December to April (dry, sunny, low humidity), with March to May named as a balance of weather and crowds.

“Best Weather: December to April has warm and dry weather, perfect for beach activities.” simplydominican.com
“December to April are the best months to travel to Punta Cana.” puntacanatravelblog.com
“Punta Cana’s high season runs December through April, and it’s a dream for beach lovers.” blog.allinclusiveoutlet.com

6 of the 10 travel guides we read name these months.

Punta Cana month by month

Average high and low in Punta Cana

Best timeJanuary83°F / 70°FChecking fares…Warm and dry at 75 to 82 degrees; busy, with peak season in full swing.Peak of humpback whale watching near Samana; the Guloya Festival is held in San Pedro de Macoris.January 21 is the Patron Saint festival for Our Lady of Altagracia.Dia de la Altagracia
Best timeFebruary84°F / 70°FChecking fares…Dry and sunny at 75 to 83 degrees; busy, with Valentine's travel booking up early.Carnival parades run in February; the Dominican Republic's coldest month, with highs around 82F.Carnaval ends on Independence Day, February 27, with big crowds.
Best timeMarch84°F / 71°FChecking fares…Warm and dry at 76 to 84 degrees; spring break crowds arrive.Punta Cana Carnival is held in the first week of March.Ocean is clear and flat in March.
Best timeApril86°F / 73°FChecking fares…Warm and mostly dry at 77 to 85 degrees; crowds ease after mid-month and late April opens a value window.One source calls April the single best month, citing good weather odds, sparse crowds and lower prices.Easter holidays fall in April.
May87°F / 74°FChecking fares…Warm with occasional showers at 78 to 86 degrees; lower prices and fewer crowds.A shoulder month with sunny skies, warm water and limited rainfall.Seaweed (sargassum) can start showing up around April or May.
June88°F / 76°FChecking fares…Seaweed blooms typically peak in the hottest summer months, June through August.A smaller peak in visitors occurs in June and July.The Puerto Plata Cultural Festival is held in June.
July89°F / 76°FChecking fares…The Punta Cana Food and Wine Festival is hosted in July.Busier from June to early August because of North American school breaks.
August90°F / 76°FChecking fares…Hottest month, with daytime temperatures around 87F.Most tropical storm and hurricane activity runs from mid-August to mid-October.
September89°F / 75°FChecking fares…Hurricane strike odds are highest in September; the cheapest deals and lowest tourist volume.September and October have the cheapest off-season rates, with a higher chance of rain.Golf Travel Exchange is held towards mid-September.
October89°F / 75°FChecking fares…Rates drop by as much as 40% against January, with a slightly higher chance of seasonal rain.Higher swells are typical from August to October.
November87°F / 73°FChecking fares…A shoulder month: drying out, pleasant and warm, a calm stretch before the December rush.
Best timeDecember85°F / 71°FChecking fares…High season starts; the Christmas holiday is a crowded peak.Christmas and New Year events.

Weather: Punta Cana averages from NOAA (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.

Every date to Punta Cana from your city

Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.

What's on in Punta Cana

Festivals and seasons through the year

Dia de la AltagraciaHiguey, Dominican RepublicEvery January

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

December to AprilWarm, dry, low humidity and the busiest, priciest months.
December to MarchThe main peak; a smaller peak falls in June and July.

Quietest

June to OctoberHot and humid with short downpours, the lightest crowds and lowest prices, overlapping hurricane season.
Mid-July to OctoberDaily afternoon showers, fewer visitors and savings.
May and NovemberShoulder months with fewer crowds and moderate prices.

Watch for

June to NovemberHurricane season, with activity typically peaking around September; direct hits are rare.
June to AugustSargassum seaweed can wash onto the eastern shores; offshore islands like Saona tend to stay clean.
Mid-August to mid-OctoberMost active period for tropical storms; chance of being seriously affected is put around 1%.
SummerHighs in the upper 80s to low 90s F with higher humidity.

Questions people ask

What is the temperature of the ocean in Punta Cana?: One source says the Caribbean water is swimmable in every season, with air temperatures in the low to mid 80s.

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December to April

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