Best time to visit the Caribbean

When it comes to weather, the Caribbean is renowned for having arguably the most desirable climate on the planet, with temperatures a gorgeous 24-29°C year round. It’s never cold, never roasting, and rain falls to a fairly predictable rhythm – keeping these tropical islands lush and leafy. The best time to visit the Caribbean is generally considered to be December to April, when it’s slightly cooler (particularly in the northern Caribbean), drier and less humid, and tourists flock to escape the northern winter. May to November can be soggy, with hurricanes possible from July to October – though these are rare in the far south, such as Trinidad and Tobago and the ABC Islands.

Hugely popular due to their proximity to the USA, cheap flights and accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, the Caribbean’s largest islands are bustling from Christmas to spring break, with another peak in the summer holidays for families. August to September is the main hurricane season, with big ones hitting roughly every decade, and rains lasting until November. Winters are pleasantly cooler, with a minimum of 20°C.

Sitting between the cooler climes of North and South America, the Caribbean Islands attract birds from both continents. Though colourful species can be seen year round, South American migrants visit from May to September, while North American species are more likely to be seen from October to March – with Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica and Saint Lucia the region’s birding hotspots.