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Best time
to visit Cuba
On the whole, the best time to visit Cuba is either in December or May. These are Cuba's transition months when the seasons change. You won’t face the heavy crowds of tourist season and the weather will be mostly enjoyable.
Cuba’s climate is hot, humid and tropical and follows two distinct seasons. We advise to steer clear of Cuba during the wet season from June to November and travel during the dry season, which runs from December to May.
The high seasons in Cuba are from December to February and July to August, so we suggest to avoid these months.
Top Tip!
If you're visiting Cuba December - February you may need to book at least a year in advance!
The weather
in Cuba
Being smack bang in the middle of the Carribbean, Cuba’s climate is subtropical with weather to match all year round. Highs in summer often climb above 34°C but winters can dip below 15°C during the day and even colder at night. The average temperature in Cuba is 26°C.
Between May and October is Cuba’s wet season. But don’t let this put you off! Showers come down hard and fast, but they stop fairy quickly so it shouldn’t affect your plans too much.
Cuba’s hurricane season runs from the beginning of June to the end of November, however hurricanes occur predominantly between mid August and early October.
Best time to go
scuba diving in Cuba
In general, the best time to go scuba diving in Cuba is from December to April. This is during high season however, so expect the pricetag to match! Clarity also tends to be severely reduced when Cuba receives high winds from March to April, so we suggest to avoid these months.
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Seasons in Cuba
Spring
March - May
Spring is a great time to visit Cuba due to it being the most comfortable time weather wise. This is at the end of the dry season, before the rainy season kicks off in May. Spring can be unpredictable however, often receiving a mix of rainy, windy and scorching days.
Summer
June - August
Cuba can feel a bit unbearable during summer. The heat is intense, even in the evening when the average temperature doesn’t dip below 25 °C. Summer is a great time to visit however if you’re into diving and snorkelling.
Autumn
September - November
Autumn is generally not one of the best times to visit Cuba. Autumn falls at the height of the rain and hurricane seasons, which end in October. The nights will begin to get cooler but the days still retain their heat.
Winter
December - February
Winter is often seen as the best time of year to visit Cuba. It's the middle of dry season so you aren’t likely to catch much rain. Lots of events and carnivals take place during winter but as this is also Cuba’s peak season, expect it to be busy.
Festivals & Events in Cuba
Compared to many other countries, Cuba has only a small selection of days which grant a day off from work. Most events are centred around celebrating Cuba’s independence and are held in Havana, but there are also lots of smaller events in other great locations. Cuba has some of the best festivals in Latin America so it’s a great idea to plan your holiday around them, especially if you want a taste of authentic Cuban culture.
Havana Jazz Festival
Havana
(December)
One of the biggest events in Havana is Havana’s Jazz Festival. Performances take over the town with live music being played on every stage and in every nook and cranny. The festival is now gaining recognition worldwide as they continue to produce an incredible lineup. A great time to visit Cuba!
Labour Day
Havana
(1 May)
Labour Day is one of the biggest events of the Cuban calendar year. It is a national holiday so expect shops and businesses to be closed. Processions, rallies and demonstrations will fill the streets of Havana and around 1,000,000 people a day now attend the event.
Havana Carnival
Havana
(July & August)
Cuba’s take on the famous Rio Carnival is one of the best loved events of the year. Rival festivals are held in Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Matanzas and are all in full swing by late July to early August. Expect flamboyantly dressed people marching through the streets, live music continuing all through the day and elaborate floats gliding through the town.
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Habanos Festival
Havana
(February)
Cuba is famous for its cigars so it’s no surprise that there is a festival in their honour. The event aims to educate the public about cigars and promote their product with factory tours, demonstrations, discussions and parties. Habanos, the Cuban cigar company, also run a gala evening where they auction off rare products.
Celebration of Classic
Cars
Havana
(March)
If you’re a lover of the Cuban Classic Car, then this event needs to be on your radar. This week-long celebration includes talks about classic cars, workshops and processions. If you're in town during this time you’ll see thousands of beautiful, vintage cars cruising around the streets.
Liberation Day
Havana / Santiago de Cuba
(1 January)
Liberation Day is a public holiday in Cuba where people gather to celebrate the victory of the Cuban Revolution. The day commemorates when the military government was overthrown. Street parties will happen all over town with performers staging free concerts at every possible location, with parties carrying on well into the early hours.
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Fiesta de la Cultura
Iberoamericana
Holguin
(24 - 28 October)
This is a great event to attend if you enjoy Latin American music. For an entire week, musicians from all over Latin America fly to Cuba to play in a variety of concerts all over town. And the best thing, a lot of the concerts are in public spaces and are completely free!
Fiesta del Fuego
Havana
(July)
Fiesta del Fuego is essentially the warm up event for Carnival. Celebrations. The festival includes a traditional ceremony where people gather at the Malecón to witness a depiction of the devil being burned. Expect street performers, workshops, street parades, art exhibitions and activities taking place throughout.
Semana de la Cultura Baracoa
Baracoa
(End of March - 1 April)
Street parties erupt for the Semana de la Cultura Baracosa in celebration of the landing of Antonio Maceo in 1895. Street food feasts line the streets, traditional markets pop up over town and Cuban music will be a welcome constant in your ears. The event finishes with a pilgrimage on 1st April.
Cañonazo Ceremony
Havana
(Daily)
This is a bit of an unusual one for the list as it happens every night, but we think it is well worth a mention. At 9pm, every night, the cañonazo ceremony puts on a show where costumed actors reenact the firing of a cannon over Havana harbor. The actors adorn full 18th century military dress. Definitely worth a watch whilst you’re in Havana.
Trinidad Cross Procession
Trinidad
(Good Friday)
Easter is a great time to visit Cuba, especially if you’re heading to Trinidad. The ‘Way of the Cross’ procession marches through the cobbled, colonial streets of Trinidad, finishing at the Church of the Holy Trinity at Plaza Mayor. Either take place in the religious procession or join one of the many street parties.
International Cuban Dance Festival
Havana
(22 - 28 April)
You can’t get anymore Carribbean than the International Cuban Dance Festival. Dancers and performers from all over the Carribbean come to Cuba to promote their cultural choreography. This event is open to all to watch the incredible performances or for those more daring - get involved in the dance workshops!
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Other public holidays to be aware of when planning your trip to Cuba
- 1 January - Liberation Day
- 2 January - Victory Day
- 19 April - Good Friday
- 1 May - Labour Day
- 25 July - National Revolutionary Holiday
- 25 July - National Revolutionary Day
- 25 July - National Revolutionary Holiday
- 10 October - Independence Day
- 25 December - Christmas Day
- 31 December - New Years' Eve
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