April 3, 2024

When to visit the Caribbean

Hurricane Season

Let’s first discuss hurricane season, because that is probably the biggest concern most travelers face when trying to decide if they should plan their trips during these months. I visited Puerto Rico several times after Hurricane Maria and saw firsthand the damage a powerful hurricane can cause. They certainly should be taken seriously, but after four years of living in the Caribbean, the chance that one may hit during your trip shouldn’t dictate your travel plans.

The good thing about hurricanes is you know they are coming several days out. They form off the coast of Africa and travel across the Atlantic Ocean before arriving in the Caribbean.  There are several good sites for tracking hurricanes, I personally use the National Hurricane Center’s website. It provides predicted routes, arrival times, and the chance a system is likely to develop into a storm. Hurricanes are also far less likely in June, October, and November, with the peak months being August and September. If you plan a trip to the Caribbean during these months, I recommend booking things that can be easily canceled or changed, buying trip insurance, or booking things with a credit card that includes it.

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Rain in the Caribbean

Your trip is approaching, you open your weather app and it shows rain everyday of your trip. Don’t panic! It almost always shows rain, but it’s unlikely to ruin your trip. The Caribbean is in the tropics, where it rains regularly. If you are from anywhere cold this may scare you off because you associate rain with cold, dreary weather, where you are stuck inside all day. This is not the case in the Caribbean. It rarely rains all day, usually just a brief shower in the afternoon, and it’s not a cold, miserable rain. We often don’t even get out of the water when it rains unless there is lightning. The rain will most likely be a welcome reprieve from the heat, especially in the summer months, when it cools everything off.  I recommend getting app that shows hourly weather and radar like AccuWeather or Clime-NOAA, and don’t stress unless it’s at least 70% all day. Chances are if it’s raining where you are you can drive a short distance and it will be sunny. The good news is rain makes for gorgeous sunsets, stunning rainbows and flowing waterfalls!

Winter in the Caribbean

This is the most popular time to travel to the Caribbean because people want to escape the cold where they live. If that’s your main reason for the trip, then you won’t be disappointed. The weather is usually in the 80’s, with low humidity, it’s less likely to rain, the water is still warm enough to swim, and there’s no chance a hurricane will disrupt your vacation. But there’s a downside to visiting in winter. The beaches will be more crowded, prices are at their highest, big surf and high winds are more likely, and because of this, the water may not be as clear. 

Tips for traveling to the Caribbean in winter: West and south facing beaches tend to be more protected from the waves and high winds in the Caribbean. If you want to escape the crowds, look for lesser known beaches on the island, and don't travel during holidays and spring break.

Summer in the Caribbean

In a word, hot. When you look up average temperatures in the Caribbean it may appear at first glance to always be in the 80’s, but this often doesn’t take the humidity into account. In the summer humidity levels rise, this can cause a day with a temperature of 87°F/30°C to feel like 101°F/38°C. Despite the heat I still love summers in the Caribbean. The trade winds have calmed down and big surf is far less likely, both of which make the water calm, clear and great for snorkeling. If you have been browsing the internet and seeing pictures of glassy beaches with incredible water visibility, they were most likely taken in summer.

Tips for traveling to the Caribbean in summer: Book a place with air conditioning throughout. If it’s only in the bedrooms you will find yourself confined to those rooms while you are indoors. I also recommend booking a place with backup power that runs the air conditioning, as power outages are a common occurrence. Plan to spend your time in or near water. Stay hydrated and always wear lots of sunscreen. A hat, sun shirt and access to shade while at the beach are essential.

When I recommend going to the Caribbean

Because my main priories are clear water for snorkeling and diving, and I don’t like crowds, the months of May, June, October, and November are my favorite time to visit the Caribbean. It’s not as hot as the peak summer months, the beaches aren’t nearly as crowded, prices are much cheaper, and there aren’t as many cruise ships. The weather is usually great, and the water is calm and warm. It’s technically hurricane season but they are rare during these months.

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