Cruise and Beach Destinations
in the Caribbean, Mexico & Beyond

Caribeez.com
Weather

Caribbean Weather in December: 5 Top Getaways

Caribbean weather in December: average high and low temperatures. © 2022 Scott S. Bateman
Caribbean weather in December: average high and low temperatures. © 2022 Scott S. Bateman

Caribbean weather in December has temperatures in the mid to upper 80s Fahrenheit and moderate rainfall for most islands. But some destinations do much better than others.

December weather marks the first month after the end of the annual Caribbean hurricane season, which officially begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30. It also is the first month of the winter getaways for northerners from the United States, Canada and Europe seeking to escape the cold and snow.

But not all destinations in the Caribbean allow visitors to bask under a hot sun, lounge in beautiful blue seawater and develop a healthy tan.

When to go to each destination requires careful planning and taking advantage of historical weather data that shows which destinations have the best weather in December.

5 Best Getaways for Warm Weather

The five best getaways for Caribbean weather in December have a combination of warm temperatures, low risk of rain and overall atmosphere.

  1. Limon Costa Rica
  2. Aruba (tied with Cayman Islands)
  3. Cayman Islands (tied with Aruba)
  4. Curaçao (tied with U.S. Virgin Islands)
  5. U.S. Virgin Islands (tied with Curaçao)

Caribbean Temperatures in December

Handelskade
Curacao has some of the warmest weather of any Caribbean destination in December. © Curacao Tourist Bureau

Caribbean temperatures in December average in the mid 80s Fahrenheit or high 20s Celsius during the day for most locations. Nighttime lows often drop into the low 70s Fahrenheit or low 20s Celsius.

Parts of the Caribbean have somewhat cooler weather in December, especially at night. Some destinations are too cool for swimming during December, January and February. Strong trade winds add a wind chill factor. For example, on visits to Aruba and Cancun in February, we found almost no one wanted to go into the water because it was surprisingly chilly.

The Bahamas, which lie north of the Caribbean, have cool temperatures that make them popular for land activities but not water activities. (The Bahama islands are in the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Caribbean Sea. But Caribbean cruises often stop there, so they are part of the list.)

The chart at the top using 30-year historical data shows that average daytime temperatures (in red) reach into the 90s Fahrenheit for some locations but only into the 70s for the Bahamas.

10-Day Weather Forecasts | See Caribbean monthly weather in: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December

December Rainfall Averages

Total rainfall for Caribbean weather in December
Total rainfall for Caribbean weather in December. © Scott S. Bateman

Then there is the rain. Total rainfall in December declines from November because it is the first month after the annual Caribbean hurricane season.

Still, some places do well with rain in December and some do not.

The above chart shows that Dominica usually gets drenched during the month. But keep in mind that the island is a popular eco tourism location with dense rain forests and many waterfalls.

Belize, Guadeloupe and Martinique also receive a higher than average amount of rain. The five locations with the lowest rainfall:

  1. Bahamas
  2. Havana
  3. Aruba
  4. St. Thomas
  5. Cayman Islands

Again, it’s important to emphasize that these are 30-year averages and will vary from year to year. The five locations with the highest average rainfall:

  1. Dominica
  2. Belize
  3. Martinique
  4. Guadeloupe
  5. San Juan

Western Caribbean weather in December does much better with rain. It has a spike in cruises to places such as Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Roatan.

Popular Destinations Not Always Warmest

Popular locations are not always the warmest locations.

Dominican Republic leads the list in total tourism followed by Cuba (popular with Europeans and Canadians), Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the slightly chilly Bahamas, according to statistics from the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

Dominican Republic is always the most popular destination in the region because of its beaches, easy access and all-inclusive resorts.

Jamaica also is popular for its all-inclusive resorts, and San Juan Puerto Rico is a major embarkation point for many Caribbean cruises. Jamaica also tends to stay warmer than most destinations.

The fact that the Bahamas maintains some popularity during December is more due to its convenient location and many top-level golf courses.

December marks the beginning of the western Caribbean cruise season, so places such as Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel start to see a big jump in visits.

They are more popular in part because western destinations start to go through a dry season.

Although Aruba ranks only sixth place, it is popular for a small island in the southwestern Caribbean because of its warm temperatures during the winter.

Beat the Weather with Last Minute Trips

Roatan beach
Roatan becomes popular in December with western Caribbean cruises because of lower chances of rain. Wikimedia Creative Commons license

Some Caribbean destinations in December are popular but also have higher than average rainfall such as Barbados and San Juan.

Anyone with a flexible schedule might consider trying a last-minute vacation deal based on the weather.

Some forecasts go as much as 10 days out and will help with a decision on when—and whether—to go to a particular destination.

Look at the eastern Atlantic in weather radar maps to see the amount of cloud cover. Caribbean weather usually begins there and moves to the west.

If the forecasts look good, a last-minute deal might make the most sense. They often end up with lower prices.

But they also have some risk. The best rooms or cruises might be sold out or prices won’t be as good as other times of the year.

Vacation planners will find it helpful to start tracking prices at the same time they start tracking the weather forecasts.

Why December Cruises Matter

A Caribbean cruise can make a big difference for anyone wanting to visit the region but concerned about getting the best weather.

Cruise lines increase or decrease the number of available cruises during certain times of the year based on popularity. That popularity is often based on weather patterns.

For example, eastern Caribbean cruises are less likely to visit Dominica in December because of its high average rain. Western cruises jump in popularity thanks to the start of the dry season for those destinations.

Cruise ships usually go to destinations with some of the best weather and avoid ones that have consistently bad weather. Cruises also can avoid exceptionally bad weather—or at least try to avoid it—by altering course.

They are less likely to alter course for mildly bad weather because of the extra fuel costs

3 Final Tips about December Weather

  1. Warm and dry: Aruba, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St. Thomas.
  2. Hottest locations: Limon, Trinidad, Aruba, Cayman Islands and Curaçao.
  3. Destinations with most rain: Dominica, Martinique and Belize.