Best time to visitCuba

Cuba's subtropical climate splits the year into two main seasons, which can be clearly identified by the presence or absence of rainfall. From May to October, Cuba experiences a wet season, with average temperatures exceeding 30°C in July and August (average minimum temperatures are between 22°C and 24°C, average maximum temperatures are between 29°C and 31°C). Hurricane season runs from August to October. From November to April, on the other hand, it's the height of the dry season and temperatures are much cooler, with average temperatures below 20°C in February (average minimum temperatures of 18°C to 21°C and average maximum temperatures of 26°C to 27°C) in particular. A few small variations can be seen locally, for example, the east coast is hottest and the north coast is wettest. Annual rainfall can reach up to 118 inches in some places, especially in the mountains. The south is much less humid, with rainfall generally three times lower than the north of the country. Bear in mind that August is typically the wettest month, but it doesn't usually rain for more than 48 hours. Read on for our recommendations of the best time to visit Cuba.

Havana

Like the island of Cuba as a whole, the city of Havana enjoys a tropical climate. The coolest months are January and February, with average temperatures around the 22°C mark, while the mercury rises to 28°C in August. Havana is a city with a pleasant climate all year round and temperatures rarely drop below 10°C. The coolest temperature ever recorded in the Havana region by meteorologists is 0°C. Like the rest of Cuba, Havana's summer is the wet, rainy season. Rainfall is heavy between June and October, while there's less rainfall between December and April, especially in March. On average, there are 47 inches of rainfall in Havana each year. Havana is somewhat less prone to hurricanes than other cities (including the island's south coast), and destruction from recent hurricanes is less severe in the capital than elsewhere on the island.

Trinidad

The weather in Trinidad is linked to its location in Cuba. Trinidad, located just over three miles from the Caribbean Sea, has a tropical climate and is hot without being too overbearing. Surrounded by numerous peaks, the city has its very own microclimate with a cool breeze, making it much more pleasant than other places on the island. This breeze also helps to cool down temperatures in the hotter months and keeps the cooler months mild. However, bear in mind that Trinidad's climate is generally not drastically different to the climate in the rest of Cuba. Therefore, it also has a wet season, with average temperatures above 30°C in the summer months (July and August), while the cooler dry season is between November and April. In southern Cuba and the Trinidad region, average temperatures range from 26°C to 32°C. The coolest months are between November and January (average minimum temperature of 17°C in January and February, and average maximum temperatures are always between 27°C and 28°C). From July to September, temperatures are still as high, frequently above 30°C (average minimum temperature of 22°C and average maximum temperature of 32°C).

Santiago de Cuba

Cuba's second-largest city, home to the country's largest Afro-Cuban population, is located on the eastern side of the island, near Guantanamo. This location affects the weather and the southern coastal fringe, which includes the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, has a relatively dry tropical climate with little rainfall. There's 23 inches of rainfall, sometimes less, in this region (be aware that October is the wettest month), however tropical cyclones, cold fronts from the Caribbean Sea and even tropical waves may all occur. The average maximum temperatures in Santiago de Cuba always tend to be above 27°C but the cooler period between January and March typically sees average minimum temperatures fall to around 21°C to 22°C.