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Month by Month Guide

Best Time to Visit the Caribbean, Month by Month

See every island at a glance, find the driest months, plan around hurricane season and catch the festivals worth the trip. Mexico and Central America too.

Best weatherGoodFair, wetter or stormierHurricane beltLower risk
The year at a glance

Caribbean Weather, Island by Island

Tap or hover on any square for that month's details. Tap a month to open its full guide below. The highlighted column is this month.

Ratings use 30 years of rainfall averages (1991 to 2020) and NOAA hurricane season timing. Weather changes year to year, so treat this as a planning guide, not a forecast. Names in teal link to our side by side comparison. Swipe sideways on a phone to see every month.

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When Are You Thinking of Going?

High seasonShoulder seasonLow season
Three seasons

Three Seasons, Three Kinds of Trip

High season

Mid December to April

The driest, sunniest months on most islands and the busiest. Rates are at their highest, so book early, especially for holidays and spring break.

Shoulder season

May and November

Good weather with fewer crowds. Often the sweet spot for value, and a great time for group trips.

Low season

June to October

Hot and humid with more rain, and the heart of hurricane season. The quietest beaches and the lowest rates of the year. Travel insurance is a must.

About hurricane season

NOAA's Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Activity usually peaks around September 10, with most storms between mid August and mid October. On the Pacific side of Mexico, the Eastern Pacific season runs May 15 to November 30. Plenty of travelers go during the season and have a great time. Keep plans flexible and get travel insurance.

Lower hurricane risk

These places sit south of the usual storm track, so direct hits are rare. Rare is not never, so insurance still makes sense.

ArubaCuraçaoBonaireTrinidad and TobagoPanamaCosta Rica
Beyond the Caribbean

Mexico and Central America

Beaches, Maya ruins, rainforest and colonial cities, all a short flight from BWI. Most of the region has one clear dry season and one rainy season.

Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta follow the Eastern Pacific season (May 15 to November 30). Cancun, Belize and Roatán follow the Atlantic season. Mexico City and Antigua, Guatemala sit inland and high up, with mild days all year.

Cancun and Riviera Maya

Seasons
Dry from December to May, with the most rain from June to October.
Hurricanes
In the Atlantic hurricane belt. Keep plans flexible from August to October.
Worth planning around
Spring break crowds in March. Día de Muertos on November 1 and 2.

Los Cabos

Seasons
Very dry most of the year. A short rainy stretch in August and September.
Hurricanes
Eastern Pacific season runs May 15 to November 30. September is the month to watch here.
Worth planning around
Sunny winter escape from December to May.

Puerto Vallarta

Seasons
Dry from November to May. Rainy season from June to October, wettest in August and September.
Hurricanes
Eastern Pacific season runs May 15 to November 30.
Worth planning around
Fiestas Guadalupanas, December 1 to 12, with nightly processions to the cathedral.

Mexico City

Seasons
Dry from November to May, with rain building late in May. Afternoon storms most days from June to September.
Hurricanes
Inland and high up, so hurricanes are not the main concern.
Worth planning around
Day of the Dead parade and the giant offering in the Zócalo, late October into November 2.

Costa Rica

Seasons
Dry season from mid December to late April. Green season, with rain most afternoons, from May to mid December.
Hurricanes
Lower risk. Storms rarely hit directly, though they can bring heavy rain.
Worth planning around
Fiestas de Palmares in January, Limón Carnival in October, Fiestas de Zapote in late December. Our February group trip lands right in the dry season.

Belize

Seasons
Drier from December to May, and driest in spring. Rainy season from June to November, often with a short drier break in August.
Hurricanes
In the Atlantic hurricane belt.
Worth planning around
September Celebrations: St George's Caye Day on September 10 and Independence Day on September 21.

Roatán, Honduras

Seasons
Driest from February to May. The wettest months are October to January.
Hurricanes
In the Atlantic hurricane belt.
Worth planning around
Great for diving when the water is calm in spring.

Panama

Seasons
Dry season from mid December to April. Rainy season from May to November.
Hurricanes
Lower risk. Panama sits south of the usual hurricane track.
Worth planning around
Carnival in the four days before Ash Wednesday, best known in Las Tablas.

Antigua, Guatemala

Seasons
Dry from November to April. Rainy season from May to October.
Hurricanes
Inland and high up, so hurricanes are not the main concern.
Worth planning around
Holy Week in March or April, with processions over colorful sawdust carpets, recognized by UNESCO.
Good to know

Common Questions

What is the best month for the Caribbean overall?

February to April is the most reliable stretch for dry, sunny weather on most islands. It is also the busiest, so book early.

Where can I go in the summer or fall?

Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire stay dry for most of the year and sit south of the usual hurricane track. Mexico City and Antigua, Guatemala are inland city trips that do not depend on beach weather.

Should I avoid hurricane season completely?

Not at all. Many trips go off without a problem, and it is the quietest, best value time of year. Choose flexible bookings, add travel insurance and let us keep an eye on the forecast for you.

Do festival dates stay the same every year?

No. Carnival dates often follow Easter, and others move by a week or two. We confirm the dates when we plan your trip.

Know your month?

Let's Plan Your Dates

Tell us when you want to go. We will match the island, the resort or the cruise to your month and budget.

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