Best time to visit The Caribbean
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
Three sources name December to April: dry, sunny and less humid, but the most crowded and expensive stretch.
- “The short answer, put quite simply, is any time between December and April.” holidayhypermarket.co.uk
- “La temporada seca, también conocida como temporada alta, va de diciembre a abril” isleblue.co
- “the best time to cruise the Caribbean is mid-December through April.” royalcaribbean.com
3 of the 6 travel guides we read name these months.
The Caribbean month by month
Average high and low in San Juan, and days with rain
Best timeJanuaryChecking fares…Cruise rates are often best from January to March.Bahamas Junkanoo runs December 26 to January 1.Hotel rates dip in the first full week after New Year's.Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián · Rebel Salute
Best timeMarchChecking fares…Cruise rates are often best from January to March.Sea turtles come onto Caribbean beaches from March to September.Jamaica Carnival · Trelawny Yam Festival
Best timeAprilChecking fares…Turtle nesting peaks between April and June.US Virgin Islands Carnival runs April to May.Hotel rates dip in mid-April.National Family Island Regatta
MayChecking fares…May is one of the cheaper months, with the rainy season just starting.Turtle nesting peaks between April and June.Pineapple Fest
JuneChecking fares…June is one of the cheaper months.Hurricane season starts June 1 per the National Weather Service.Noche de San Juan
JulyChecking fares…July, August and September are named as the main hurricane months.Reggae Sumfest · Dream Weekend
AugustChecking fares…Hurricane season normally peaks in August and September.
OctoberChecking fares…In 2025 the worst storm landed in late October and devastated Jamaica.
NovemberChecking fares…November is one of the cheaper months, as the rainy season tails off.Hurricane season ends November 30.Grand Bahama Conchman Triathlon
Best timeDecemberChecking fares…Bahamas Junkanoo runs December 26 to January 1.The first two weeks of December are cited as the best hotel deals of the holiday period.Junkanoo · Festival de las Máscaras
Weather: San Juan averages from NOAA (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.
Every date to San Juan from your city
Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.
What's on in The Caribbean
Festivals and seasons through the year
- Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián
Rebel Salute
Dia de la Altagracia
Three Kings Day (Dia de Reyes)
Bob Marley Week- Jamaica Carnival
Trelawny Yam Festival
Casals Festival- National Family Island Regatta
- Pineapple Fest
- Noche de San Juan
- Reggae Sumfest
Dream Weekend
Aruba Art Fair- Grand Bahama Conchman Triathlon
- Junkanoo
Festival de las Máscaras
Reggae Marathon
Busy, quiet and what to watch for
Busiest
- December to AprilDry, warm and less humid, with the beaches more crowded.
- Holiday periods (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter)Hotel prices peak and cruise crowds grow around the holidays.
Quietest
- May to NovemberRainy season: more humidity and rain, fewer crowds and lower rates.
- May to June and September to OctoberShoulder seasons that draw smaller crowds for cruises.
Watch for
- June to NovemberHurricane season; storms usually affect only a small part of the islands at a time.
- Mid-August to late OctoberWeather can be unpredictable, with more rain and hurricane risk.
- July to SeptemberMain hurricane months; the southern islands may fare better.
Questions people ask
- What is the best time of year to cruise around the Caribbean?
- Cruise experts say mid-December through April, for the best weather and potential savings.
Best time to visit other places
Japan
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Alaska
Portugal
CancúnGreece
Thailand
The Grand Canyon
Disneyland
Miami
Myrtle Beach
PragueEcuador
BaliMorocco
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Montreal
VeniceThe Netherlands
Aruba
New OrleansChina
Nashville
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Rome
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Savannah
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Zion National ParkThe Dominican Republic
Turks and Caicos
Puerto Vallarta
Honolulu
BanffSpain
YosemiteFiji
Colombia
India
Tulum
The BahamasNorway
Sedona
SeattleGermany
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Egypt
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CharlestonTaiwan
Rio de Janeiro
Palm Springs
YellowstoneSouth Korea
AmsterdamTurkey
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TorontoIndonesia
Peru
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Key WestSouth Africa
Kenya
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Jamaica
St Lucia
Tahiti
EuropeTanzania
Austin
Machu Picchu
Cabo San Lucas
Niagara Falls
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Galapagos
Lake Tahoe
Montana
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Capitol Reef National ParkLangkawi