Does the Caribbean have seasons?

Before you pack up and head to paradise, you might be wondering: Does the Caribbean have seasons? What kind of climate changes should I be prepared for?

Spring, summer, winter, fall…do the islands have them all? That’s an interesting question.

If you happen to live in a country that has very pronounced seasons, i.e. winter is cold, summer is hot, fall has changing leaves and chilly breezes, etc, than you might expect the rest of the world to work the same way.

Well, the Caribbean’s seasons work much differently. In fact, you won’t really notice a huge difference between the four seasons, temperature-wise.

Does the Caribbean have seasons?

Ok, so the short answer to this is yes. The Caribbean does have seasons. However, they are not quite the type of seasons you might be thinking of. Most of the Caribbean experiences two distinct seasons: wet and dry. In other words, rainy, and not so rainy!

The rainy season in the Caribbean

Before you feel a tinge of disappointment, let us remind you that the island need rainfall in order to keep up their lush, green appearance! In fact, the islands that get less rainfall, like Aruba, have dry, desert-like sections. You might be surprised to know that cactuses grow there!

Does the Caribbean have seasons. — Arikok National Park in Aruba. (Guide and Go)

In any case, the rainy season in the Caribbean usually lasts from June 1st to November 30th. This period of time coincides with the Atlantic Hurricane season. The most likely months to be caught in a torrential downpour are August and September. In addition, hurricanes are more likely to form during those months.

However, don’t let thoughts of rain deter you from booking your ticket to the Caribbean from June to October. Keep in mind that there are a lot of advantages to traveling to the Caribbean during the rainy season. First, prices for tickets and accommodations will generally be lower. Secondly, there will be a lot less tourists around to share the beach with!

On the other hand, there are a few disadvantages to traveling to the Caribbean during the rainy season. The most obvious one is having your plans spoiled by rain or a hurricane. Now, rain will come and go, with most showers occurring suddenly during the afternoon. But hurricanes can definitely put a damper on your plans, so always check the weather forecast before you board your flight.

The dry season in the Caribbean

Why you should choose the Caribbean. — Druif Beach, Noord, Aruba. Source- inyourpocket.com

January to May is considered the dry season in the Caribbean. This is also the most popular time for tourists to go! In addition, the weather may be slightly hotter. However, temperatures really don’t vary much from the 80s and 90s all year round.

Keep in mind that ticket and accomodation prices can go up during the dry season for tourists. This is especially true during the holidays. If you want to travel to the Caribbean during Christmas/New Year’s or Easter/Spring Break, we suggest hitting up Curacao, Bonaire, St. Barth’s, or Suriname. These are all “less popular” Caribbean islands with tourists. However, they are just as exciting and beautiful as more well-known locations like Jamaica and the Dominican Republic!

Main image: Governor’s Beach, Turks & Caicos. (Credit: TripAdvisor)

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