Caribbean weather

Clear seas and skies
Mist over the mountains
Rolling waves along the coast

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Caribbean Climate

The good news is that whenever you visit the Caribbean it will be warm. Most of this balmy region falls within the tropics and average temperatures hover happily between 24°C (75°F) and 29°C (85°F) throughout the year. The sea is equally inviting. You can also look forward to around seven to nine hours of sunshine a day with northeast trade winds bringing welcome breezes. May to October are the wettest months, but prolonged periods or rain are rare with the exception of brief and occasionally cataclysmic visits from tropical storms and hurricanes.

There is also considerable variation in climatic conditions according to the location and physical geography of an individual island. Those with mountains or volcanos tend to be wettest on their northern and eastern slopes with temperatures dropping with altitude. Likewise January in the Bahamas will be a few degrees cooler than in Trinidad, 1,300 miles (2,000km) to the southeast. Massaged by the Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic island of Bermuda enjoys a subtropical climate with mild winters and warm summers.

When to go to the Caribbean

The Caribbean is primarily seen as a winter sunshine holiday destination as it offers instant relief to travellers escaping the cold and gloom that grips North America and Europe annually. High season runs from mid-December to late April, with a further price spike during Christmas and New Year when most hotels impose a minimum period of stay and accommodation rates can be double what they are in summer. If you can afford it, these months are a great time to come - not just for the blissful weather but because the islands are buzzing with activity and there is an enjoyable party mood.

There are good reasons to visit at other times too. For travellers who don't mind the extra heat, humidity and odd downpour, May to August are popular months, particularly for families. Island life is more relaxed and there are often local carnivals, regattas and music festivals. The cost of international flights and accommodation is markedly cheaper, too, although it's a good idea to pick a mountainous island with lush, shady rainforests, such as Jamaica or Tobago, rather than a baking expanse of sand like Anguilla or Turks & Caicos. September to November, when some hotels and restaurants close for maintenance and because of the threat of hurricanes, is low season. Some heavy rainfall is likely, and this is a good time to come if you are looking for a bargain or have interests beyond lying on a beach.