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If you’re thinking about going to Cuba you’re probably wondering when the best time to visit Cuba is. I mean, it’s in the Caribbean so anytime is a good time right? Nope.

While Cuba is in the Carribean and it’s fairly warm (or hot) all year long, going to Cuba during the wrong time of year could be the difference between a fantastic time and you wanting to head back home as soon as you get there.

Let’s take a look at the different seasons in Cuba and when you should and shouldn’t go there.

Quick Glance: Best time to visit Cuba

If all you want to know is the absolute best time of year to travel to Cuba is, let’s not keep it a secret! The best time to go is during the dry season which is between November to April. Temperatures will be warm but not too hot.

Photo of blue skies in Cuba with a palm tree and buildings

Where exactly is Cuba

Cuba is located in the Caribbean directly under Florida and the Bahamas and right above Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Definitely sounds like a fantastic location for a vacation! However, this also means Cuba is in the direct path of hurricanes.

You probably don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a vacation only to find yourself in the path of a hurricane. Nothing ruins your vacation more than being stuck inside a place that may or may not hold together in a hurricane.

What is ideal for you

There are a lot of factors that play into the “best time to travel” somewhere. Are you looking for really hot and tropical so you can swim, snorkel, and lay in the sun all day? Or do you want mild weather so you aren’t dripping with sweat all day and night?

Do you want to avoid going when the crowds are at their maximum or does it not really matter to you? Or, are you interested in going at the cheapest time of year so you can get the most for your money? You’ve made the choice to visit Cuba so you want to make sure you’re going at the right time.

All of those things might be at separate times of the year or they could overlap each other. Once you figure out what’s most important to you then you’ll have your answer. Let’s figure out when that is!

Weather & Climate in Cuba

Let’s get the good news out of the way first! It does NOT snow in Cuba! Yea!! So now that we’ve established that you can leave the parka and snow boots at home, let’s look at the average temperatures for every month of the year in Cuba.

I’m only going to list the three most popular places that people travel to in Cuba. All three cities of Havana, Trinidad, and Viñales are pretty spread out from each other so if there’s somewhere else you want to visit nearby, the climate will be pretty much the same.

HavanaTrinidadViñales
80°/65°90°/69°80°/60°
HavanaTrinidadViñales
81°/65°90°/69°81°/60°
HavanaTrinidadViñales
83°/67°93°/71°83°/63°
HavanaTrinidadViñales
85°/69°95°/75°85°/65°
HavanaTrinidadViñales
87°/72°96°/78°87°/69°
HavanaTrinidadViñales
88°/74°97°/80°88°/72°
HavanaTrinidadViñales
89°/75°99°/80°89°/72°
HavanaTrinidadViñales
90°/75°98°/80°90°/72°
HavanaTrinidadViñales
89°/75°97°/80°88°/72°
HavanaTrinidadViñales
86°/73°96°/78°86°/70°
HavanaTrinidadViñales
83°/70°93°/74°83°/65°
HavanaTrinidadViñales
81°/67°91°/71°81°/62°

The Rainy Season in Cuba

Cuba’s rainy season begins in June and lasts until November. During this time you can expect between 3.1 to 6.7 inches of rain per month. It shouldn’t be surprising that this also happens to be hurricane season and the hottest time of the year in Cuba. If you like heat, rain, and hurricanes then definitely choose this time to visit Cuba!

It will also be very humid during this time. Humidity in a tropical region can be pretty stifling and can really have an impact on your trip. Do not underestimate it. This is not your standard humidty. This is the hard-to-breath humidity that will be miserable. Yes, I’m absolutely trying to talk you out of visiting during this time.

Dry Season in Cuba

So, you’ve probably figured out that if the rainy season in Cuba is between June and November then the dry season in Cuba is between November and May.

This doesn’t mean that you won’t have the occasional rain storm but your chances are better during this period of NOT having any rain. It’s a tropical island so it could happen. Even when it does rain, you’ll have blue skies again as soon as it’s over.

December and January in Cuba will be warm during the day and does even reach the 90’s but at night will be cooler but not cold. It will start to get much warmer in February so if you’re wanting to spend time at the beach, then the best time to travel to Cuba is between February and April.

Best time to go to Cuba for hot weather

A lot of people like to head to the Caribbean during the spring to escape winter. Cuba has some amazing beaches and resorts (Americans need to make sure it’s not on the restricted list) so if you want the best time to go to Cuba for hot or warm weather then you’ll want to go between March and May.

If you want really hot weather then the time to go is during June, July, and August. Temperatures will definitely be hot! It’s also the rainy season so be prepared for that.

Cheapest time to visit Cuba

If you want to know the best time to go to Cuba where your money will go the furthest, that would be May and October. Both of these months are the bookends between the beginning and the ending of the rainy season and there’s not any major holidays during this time.

Flights to Cuba are cheaper and you’ll also have more accommodation options.

Keep in mind that hurricanes can still happen in October but it’s pretty rare. In May the weather is really starting to heat up and humidity will be starting to rise but you can probably get some pretty good deals on flights.

A Cuban man and a tourist outside of La Bodeguita del Medio, the place where Earnest Hemingway drank mojitos

The worst time to visit Cuba

If you want to know when to avoid traveling to Cuba, it would be during July and August. This is the most crowded time to visit Cuba because kids are out of school and everyone is going on vacation.

Besides the crowds, it’s also the rainy season, hurricane season, prices will be higher, and flights and accommodation will be higher as well.

This is also holiday season for Cubans. You might find certain areas much more crowded and your accommodation choices will be limited. When it’s really crowded you also need to be more aware of pickpocketers and scammers. If it’s really crowded you might not be aware of that bump and next thing you know your wallet is gone.

Festivals in Cuba

If you want to visit Cuba and experience something unique, then you might want to consider traveling to Cuba when they’re having some of their festivals. There are several times during the year in Cuba that celebrate music, film, and art that you can experience.

From the Havana International Jazz Festival in January to a month long celebration of artists from April-May called Bienal de La Habana, traveling to Cuba during one of these festivals will give you a unique Cuban experience.

Best Time to visit Cuba Summary

Weather: January to April
Hot Weather: June to August
Cheapest time of year: May & October

Ultimately the best time to travel to Cuba depends on your preferences regarding weather, crowds, and budget. Consider your priorities and interests when planning your trip to ensure you have the most enjoyable Cuba vacation.

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