Best Time to Visit Cuba

First of all regarding travel planning: Cuba is a country you can visit year-round. There are not significant temperature differences in Cuba. Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and belongs to the Greater Antilles.

Cuba's seasons are divided into the rainy season and the dry season. The climate is tropical-warm, sometimes just plain hot.

The dry season is from November to April. The rainy season officially runs from May to October. I visited Cuba in October. The weather was great, despite being the rainy and hurricane season. It wasn't until early November that it began to drizzle occasionally. That was the precursor to a hurricane that rolled over the island in early November.

From October to February, it is a bit cooler. The average high temperatures are around 25 °C. From May to September, it is quite warm, with temperatures rising above 30 °C.

Here, too, I think these figures can be a bit misleading. As I mentioned, I was in Cuba in October. Towards the end, transitioning into the dry season, it was - the further south I went - just really hot. Especially in Trinidad (and Playa Ancon), I was just sweating.

During my visit to Cayo Levisa, it rained briefly and heavily. At that time, we were on the boat during the crossing, and when we arrived on the island 30 minutes later, there was no sign of the rain.

I like these temperatures and climatic conditions. If you struggle with this, you should consider choosing another season for your trip.

Between December and April, the lowest temperatures are around 20 °C. In higher regions (Sierra Maestra), it can be cooler, especially at night.

July and August are the hottest months. The lowest temperatures are around 25 °C. If you have problems with extreme heat, you should avoid these months.

The peak season is from November to March and July to August. Prices are up to 30% higher. Between June and November, there is a general hurricane risk. Allegedly, it rains more often. I was in Cuba in October: No hurricane, hardly any rain. Just rain the last 2 days for a few minutes. Those were the precursors to a hurricane that swept over the island 2 days after we left Cuba.

What speaks for October: Special deals and cheaper prices. Trinidad and the south are always hot. You are never safe from a hurricane.

If you want to see as much of Cuba as possible, I recommend traveling for at least 3 weeks. The less time available, the less you will see, or you'll have to resort to domestic flights.

I often receive questions about whether it is possible to travel to Cuba during the rainy season. My answer is: Yes, absolutely! Because the rainy season in Cuba does not mean it rains all day. During the rainy season, the likelihood of rain is higher than in the dry season, but the rain is usually short and heavy. After just a few minutes (or 1-2 hours), the sun shines again.

Tropical rain and storms are often announced by an ever-darkening sky. We could observe this quite impressively in Havana. We were forewarned and knew that it would start within the next 10-20 minutes.

Afterwards, the sky clears up, and the sun shines as if nothing had happened. My experience is - as described above - that the seasons are shifting more and more. Climate change is also leaving its mark in Cuba. Our rainy season started later, just before we left for home (early November).

Only the high humidity and the increased number of mosquitoes cause many tourists trouble.

I also frequently get questions about the hurricane season. I visited in October, thus during the hurricane season in Cuba, which generally runs from June to October. However, in recent years, a tropical cyclone has swept across the country in November (right after my departure), particularly affecting the south and Santiago de Cuba.

The risk of a cyclone occurring is generally higher in these months than in others. Thanks to early warning systems, you will be warned early if a hurricane is brewing. The locals are prepared, and especially in hotels, you will be in good hands. A friend of mine has spent several vacations in Cuba during tropical cyclones. He was always well cared for and always had a story to tell when he returned.

Severe damage is quite rare in Cuba. Most of the time, the hurricane passes and just brushes the island. Still, you should be aware that a hurricane can occur at any time. I was lucky that the storm only began 1-2 days after we left.

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