What is the best time to visit Cuba?

Best Time to Visit Cuba

The best time to travel to Cuba is during winter (December to April) and summer (May to November).

Winter in Cuba

Winter in Cuba is the peak season for tourists, with pleasant temperatures and sunny skies. The average temperature is around 25°C (77°F), making it the perfect time for beach activities. The Caribbean waters are especially inviting during this time, and there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy. Cultural events and festivals are also popular during the winter months, such as the International Jazz Festival in Havana and the Santiago de Cuba Carnival.

Summer in Cuba

Summer in Cuba is a great time to visit, with temperatures averaging around 28°C (82°F). The humidity is high, but the Caribbean breeze helps to keep the temperatures comfortable. This is a great time to explore the country’s beaches and national parks, as well as the vibrant cities. Visitors can also enjoy the annual Cuban film festival and the Santiago de Cuba carnival.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Cuba

Cuba in January

Weather

January is the coldest month of the year in Cuba. Temperatures can range from a low of around 15°C (59°F) to a high of around 25°C (77°F). Rainfall is common during this time of year, with an average of around 5 inches (12 cm) of rain.

Events

• The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema takes place in Havana in January. This festival celebrates the best of Latin American cinema and draws filmmakers and movie fans from around the world.
• The annual Havana Jazz Festival is held in January. This festival features some of the best jazz musicians from Cuba and around the world.
• The International Book Fair of Havana is held in January. This event is one of the largest book fairs in Latin America and showcases books from around the world.
• The Havana Marathon is held in January. This marathon is one of the largest in the Caribbean and attracts runners from all over the world.
• The annual Santiago de Cuba Carnival is held in January. This carnival is one of the largest and most colorful in the Caribbean and features music, dancing, and parades.

Cuba in January

Weather

January in Cuba is generally warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from the high 70s to the low 80s Fahrenheit. Rain is common, but usually not heavy or long-lasting.

Events

• The International Jazz Plaza Festival takes place in Havana, featuring jazz artists from around the world.
• The Havana International Film Festival is held in Havana, showcasing the best of Cuban and international cinema.
• The International Ballet Festival of Havana is held in Havana, featuring performances from some of the world’s best ballet companies.
• The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema is held in Havana, showcasing the best of Latin American cinema.
• The Santiago de Cuba Carnival is held in Santiago de Cuba, featuring music, parades, and other festivities.

Cuba in March

Weather

March is the beginning of spring in Cuba, and the weather is generally pleasant. Average temperatures range from the mid-60s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit (18-30 degrees Celsius). March is a dry month, with very little rainfall.

Events

• The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema is held in Havana every March. This festival showcases the best of Cuban and Latin American cinema, and is a great opportunity to experience Cuban culture.
• The Havana Jazz Festival is held in March every year. This festival brings together some of the world’s best jazz musicians, and is a great opportunity to experience Cuban music.
• The International Music Festival is held in Santiago de Cuba every March. This festival features music from different parts of the world, and is a great opportunity to experience Cuban culture.
• The Havana Marathon is held in March every year. This marathon is a great way to experience the beauty of Havana, as well as the Cuban people.
• The International Book Fair is held in Havana every March. This book fair features books from all over the world, and is a great opportunity to experience Cuban culture.

Cuba in April

Weather

April is a warm and humid month in Cuba, with average temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit. The humidity is high, and there is typically some rain throughout the month.

Events

• The Cuban National Ballet Festival takes place in Havana in April. This festival showcases the best of Cuban ballet, with performances from local and international dancers.
• The International Music Festival of Holguin is held in April, featuring a variety of musical styles from around the world.
• The Santiago de Cuba Carnival is held in April, with parades, music, and dancing.
• The International Jazz Festival of Havana is held in April, with performances from some of the world’s best jazz musicians.
• The Havana Film Festival is held in April, showcasing the best of Cuban and international cinema.

Cuba in May

Weather

May is the hottest month of the year in Cuba, with temperatures reaching up to 30°C (86°F). The humidity is high, and there is usually a lot of sunshine. Rainfall is light, with an average of about 2 inches during the month.

Events

• Carnival in Santiago de Cuba: A week-long celebration of music, dance, and culture, culminating in a grand parade on the last day.
• International Jazz Festival: An annual event held in Havana, featuring some of the best jazz musicians from around the world.
• Hemingway International Yacht Club Regatta: An annual sailing event held in Havana, with boats from all over the world competing.
• International Ballet Festival: A week-long celebration of ballet, featuring performances from some of the world’s best dancers.
• Fiesta del Fuego: An annual festival held in Santiago de Cuba, featuring traditional music, dance, and food.

Cuba in June

Weather

June is the start of the hurricane season in Cuba, so the weather is hot and humid with occasional showers. Temperatures average around 28°C (82°F) and humidity is high.

Events

• The International Festival of the New Latin American Cinema takes place in Havana from June 6th-16th, featuring screenings of the best films from Latin America and the Caribbean.
• The Santiago de Cuba Carnival is held during the first week of June, with traditional parades, music, and dancing.
• The Festival de la Trova is held in Santiago de Cuba in late June, featuring traditional Cuban music and performances by local artists.
• The International Ballet Festival of Havana is held from June 11th-16th, showcasing some of the best ballet performances from around the world.
• The International Jazz Festival is held in Havana in late June, featuring performances by some of the world’s best jazz musicians.

Cuba in July

Weather

July in Cuba is hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 24-31°C (75-88°F). The Caribbean island experiences an average of 10 hours of sunshine per day, with a chance of rain in the afternoon.

Events

• The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema is held in Havana, Cuba in July. The festival showcases the best of Latin American cinema and is a great opportunity to explore the culture and history of the region.
• The Santiago de Cuba Carnival is held in July. This vibrant celebration features music, dance, and colorful costumes.
• The Cuban National Baseball Series is held in July. This is a great opportunity to watch some of Cuba’s best baseball teams compete.
• The Havana Jazz Festival is held in July. This festival brings together some of the world’s best jazz musicians and is a great opportunity to experience Cuban culture.
• The International Festival of Ballet is held in Havana in July. This festival showcases the best of Cuban ballet and is a great opportunity to experience the beauty of Cuban culture.

Cuba in August

Weather

August is the hottest month in Cuba, with temperatures reaching up to 32°C (90°F). Rainfall is common in August, with an average of 11 rainy days throughout the month. Humidity is also high during this month, with an average of around 75%.

Events

• The International Ballet Festival of Havana takes place in August, with performances from some of the best dancers in the world. The festival is held in the Gran Teatro de La Habana and is a great opportunity to see some of the best Cuban ballet performances.
• The Fiesta de la Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre is a religious celebration held in August. This festival celebrates the patron saint of Cuba, and is celebrated with parades, music, and other festivities.
• The International Jazz Festival of Havana is held in August and features some of the best jazz musicians from around the world. The festival is held in the Teatro Mella and is a great opportunity to see some of the best jazz performances.
• The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema is held in August and features some of the best independent films from Latin America. The festival is held in the Habana Libre Hotel and is a great opportunity to see some of the best films from the region.
• The Fiesta de la Reina de la Caridad del Cobre is a religious celebration held in August. This festival celebrates the patron saint of Cuba, and is celebrated with parades, music, and other festivities.

Cuba in September

Weather

September in Cuba is typically hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from highs of around 30°C (86°F) to lows of around 22°C (72°F). There is usually very little rainfall in September, with an average of only 4mm of precipitation across the month.

Events

• The Cuban National Ballet Festival is held each year in September, bringing together some of the best dancers in the country for a week-long celebration of Cuban culture.
• The Festival de la Trova is held in Santiago de Cuba each year in September, showcasing the best of Cuban folk music and poetry.
• The Festival Internacional de Jazz Habana is held annually in September, featuring some of the best jazz musicians from around the world.
• The Habano Cigar Festival is held in Havana each year in September, celebrating the country’s famous cigars with tastings, lectures, and more.
• The Festival de la Cultura Cubana is held each year in September, featuring performances, art exhibitions, and more celebrating Cuban culture.

Cuba in October

Weather

October in Cuba is characterized by warm, sunny days with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit (23-30°C). The nights are usually a bit cooler, with temperatures dropping into the mid-60s (18-20°C). Rainfall is minimal, with an average of just 1-2 inches (25-50mm) throughout the month.

Events

• The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema takes place in Havana in October. This festival celebrates the best of Latin American cinema, and is a great opportunity to experience the culture and art of the region.
• October is the month for the annual Carnaval de Santiago de Cuba, a colorful celebration of Cuban culture and music. The festival features parades, concerts, and other activities, and is a great way to experience the unique culture of Cuba.
• October is the month for the annual Havana Jazz Festival, a celebration of Cuban and international jazz music. The festival features performances by some of the world’s best jazz musicians, and is a great opportunity to experience Cuban culture and music.
• The annual Habano Festival takes place in Havana in October. This festival celebrates the best of Cuban cigars and is a great opportunity to experience the culture and art of the region.
• The annual Festival del Caribe takes place in Havana in October. This festival celebrates the best of Caribbean culture and is a great opportunity to experience the culture and art of the region.

Cuba in November

Weather

November is the beginning of the dry season in Cuba, and the temperatures begin to cool down. The average high temperature is around 28°C (82°F) and the average low temperature is around 19°C (66°F). Rainfall is minimal during this time of year, with an average of only about 25mm (1 inch) of rain.

Events

• The International Jazz Festival takes place in Havana in November. This festival features jazz musicians from around the world and is a great way to experience Cuban culture.
• The Cuban International Film Festival is held in November in Havana. This festival showcases the best of Cuban cinema and offers a great opportunity to see some of the best films from Cuba.
• The Cuban National Ballet Festival is held in Havana in November. This festival features performances from some of the best ballet companies in Cuba and is a great way to experience Cuban culture.
• The Cuban National Music Festival is held in November in Havana. This festival features performances from some of the best Cuban musicians and is a great way to experience Cuban culture.
• The Cuban National Arts Festival is held in November in Havana. This festival showcases some of the best Cuban art and is a great way to experience Cuban culture.

Cuba in December

Weather

December is the beginning of the dry season in Cuba, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s during the day. Nights are usually cool, with temperatures dropping into the mid-60s. Rain is uncommon, but can still occur.

Events

• The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema takes place in Havana from December 5-15. This event showcases the best of Latin American cinema and includes film screenings, workshops, and other activities.
• The Havana International Jazz Festival is held in Havana from December 15-20. This festival features performances from some of the world’s top jazz musicians, as well as workshops and other activities.
• The Festival of Santa Barbara is held in Santiago de Cuba from December 17-20. This festival celebrates the patron saint of Cuba and includes religious ceremonies, parades, and other activities.
• The Festival of the Virgin of Charity is held in El Cobre from December 18-20. This festival celebrates the patron saint of Cuba and includes religious ceremonies, parades, and other activities.
• The Havana International Ballet Festival is held in Havana from December 27-31. This festival features performances from some of the world’s top ballet dancers, as well as workshops and other activities.