Best (& Worst) Time To Visit Jamaica, As Told By A Local

Another question I get asked a lot from prospective tourists to Jamaica is “When’s the best time to visit?” It’s a very difficult question to answer (just like “which Jamaican city to visit?”) because that largely depends on personal tastes. Generally speaking, the most popular time to visit Jamaica is during the northern hemisphere’s winter months of December to April as during this period, the weather is typically dry, warm, and comfortable, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit (24-29°C). However, this is also the peak tourist season for the island, so you can expect higher prices and larger crowds, especially around Christmas and New Year’s. With that said, I’ve decided to answer this question with the pros & cons of visiting Jamaica in each month of the year!

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Navigate by Month

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

– High Season: December to April
– Shoulder Seasons: May and June, October and November
– Low Season: July to September

January

January 1 starts off with a bang on New Years’ Day. This is a public holiday in Jamaica and while most businesses are closed, parties are in full swing such as the most highly anticipated and exclusive annual NYE party, Frenchmen, which will spill over onto New Years’ Day. There are usually brunch parties and beach parties on New Years’ Day too, giving you lots of options to celebrate a new year the Jamaican way. Next on the calendar is the vibrant celebrations of the Accompong Maroon Festival in St. Elizabeth on January 6 which honors Jamaica’s first freedom fighters. In 2024, this Afrocentric festival celebrated 286 years, making it an event worth adding to the calendar for the discerning xenophile.

• Pros: Great way to escape cold winters as Jamaica is a toasty 29°C in the daytime, and a lot less hot and humid than during the summer months. January is the coolest month in Jamaica with nighttime temps dropping to about 20°C.
• Cons: Winter tourist season equals more crowds, higher prices and many hotels and villas are long booked out in advance.

February

Celebrated as Reggae Month in Jamaica, reggae fans will find that February is the best month to visit Jamaica. With roots deeply embedded in the island’s culture, reggae music takes centre stage. From pop-up FREE live concerts to cultural events, visitors can immerse themselves in the rhythmic beats and soulful melodies that echo through the air. February 6 marks the birthday of the legendary reggae icon, Bob Marley, so there’s always something exciting taking place at the Bob Marley Museum on this day as fans from around the world gather to pay homage to the King of Reggae. Stay tuned to the social media pages for the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (MCGES) for the list of free concerts, exhibitions and other festivities. Or, learn about the origins of Jamaica’s music on a guided tour.

• Pros: Still a great way to escape winter, not too hot as during the summer months, and the capital city of Kingston comes alive with its annual Reggae Month.
• Cons: Winter tourist season continues so expect more crowds, higher prices and booked out hotels & villas.

Public holidays to note: Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Easter Monday. These dates change annually but span February to April.

March

Coffee enthusiasts, rejoice! March is the time to savour the rich flavours of Jamaica’s renowned Blue Mountain coffee. The annual Coffee Festival offers a delightful experience for coffee lovers, featuring tastings, tours of coffee plantations, and a chance to learn about the island’s coffee culture. The festival is held right at the source in the Blue Mountains by the Newcastle parade ground, 1300 feet above sea level. Looking for a coffee farm to visit? Take this guided tour, or visit Lime Tree Farm and overnight in their cozy cabins. Also happening in this month (or sometimes April) is the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys & Girls Championships, our largest annual high school athletics meet at the National stadium in Kingston where Jamaica’s next sprinting talent is found.

• Pros: Still a great way to escape winter, not too hot as during the summer months, and now, Jamaica Carnival is just around the corner!
• Cons: Winter tourist season continues so expect more crowds, higher prices and booked out hotels & villas. However, it’s winding down so you may get away with a last minute booking.

April

Colorful costumes, lively music, and street parades fill the air with infectious joy each April. Locals and visitors alike join in the festivities, dancing to the riddim of soca, dancehall and reggae. Jamaica Carnival is a perfect blend of cultural expression and pure revelry. As such, soca and Carnival fans will easily dub April as the best month to visit Jamaica! In fact, 2023 Jamaica Carnival was the biggest and best one yet so it’s only up from here. International celebrities such as Chance the Rapper, Omarion and Winnie Harlow were spotted chippin’ down di road in Jamaica last year, so consider visiting Jamaica in April to see what the excitement is all about.

Also happening this month is the Jake’s Treasure Beach Off Road Triathlon, described in 2010 by the Triathlete Magazine as one of the “Top 5 Off-Road Triathlons in World”. Or, check out the Discover Jamaica by Bike (DJBB) tour which takes patrons across all 14 parishes of Jamaica in 6 days on bicycle.

• Pros: Carnival Sunday road march and all the fetes leading up to the big day are exciting.
• Cons: Expect more noise in Kingston than usual if you’re staying close to the party venues.

May

The Calabash International Literary Festival, often referred to simply as the Calabash Festival, is a renowned biennial event that takes place in May at Treasure Beach. This literary festival stands out as a unique and dynamic celebration of literature, poetry, and the arts, connecting local and international writers to a diverse audience with a stunning backdrop. Just like the community of Treasure Beach, Calabash Festival places a strong emphasis on community engagement which adds to its charm. Attendees can expect a multifaceted experience that reflects the rich tapestry of Jamaican and Caribbean culture. Even better, admission to the festival is free, making it a must-attend event for literature enthusiasts and cultural connoisseurs from around the world, and firmly roots May on the calendar as one of the best months to visit Jamaica. Jamaica’s Labour Day usually falls on May 23, and is a public holiday.

• Pros: Prices are much better as it’s shoulder season.
• Cons: It’s starting to get more hot and humid.

June

In terms of events, not a whole lot happens in June in Jamaica and there aren’t a lot of tourists either. June 1 marks the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, but good news. Jamaica rarely gets hurricanes this early. It’s certainly quite hot and humid by June though, so you may have to visit one of these Jamaican waterfalls or the Blue Mountains to keep cool.

• Pros: Prices are cheaper as it’s shoulder season.
• Cons: Start of the hurricane season, very hot and humid on the plains.

Jamaica’s hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 each year, with September recording the most hurricanes.

July

Did you really think Jamaica would have two consecutive months with no events to look forward to? Absolutely not! As the largest music festival in Jamaica and the Caribbean, Reggae Sumfest is an annual week-long extravaganza held in Montego Bay which began in 1993. Showcasing the very best of reggae and dancehall music, this festival attracts both local and international artistes who take the stage to deliver electrifying performances. The traffic in Montego Bay gets horrendous during this week, so factor that in if you need to get to the airport mid-July. Places to stay also get booked out weeks in advance. On another note, July gets really hot and even some locals head overseas to escape the heat. It’s terribly hot without air conditioning, and electricity in Jamaica is too expensive to keep that running all day long. As such, I’m sure July may win for worst time to visit Jamaica, but you can beat the heat at one of these Jamaican waterfalls or stay in the Blue Mountains to keep cool.

• Pros: outside of Reggae Sumfest week, it’s low season so expect cheaper prices.
• Cons: July is the hottest month in Jamaica with daytime temps getting as high as 34°C. Montego Bay gets very crowded around Sumfest.

August

August is a month of national pride and celebration in Jamaica as Emancipation Day (August 1) and Independence Day (August 6) commemorate the end of slavery and Jamaica’s independence, respectively. Both are celebrated as public holidays, and the festivities include street parades, cultural events, and fireworks, uniting the nation in a shared sense of history and freedom. Also, the week-long Negril Dream WKND premium party experience livens up Jamaica’s west coast with entertainment by top artists and DJs in the industry.

• Pros: Lots of beach parties and festivities to attend; it’s low season (outside of August 2-6 for Dream WKND in Negril) so expect cheaper prices.
• Cons: It remains as hot and humid as July; this month gets hurricanes or similar weather systems ever so often.

September

Not a lot happens in September and it’s still quite warm, so September may rank up there as one of the worst times to visit Jamaica. On the flip side, this is also the last month of low season so budget travelers would call this the best month as it’s the cheapest time to visit Jamaica! There’s still plenty to see, do, and eat.

• Pros: Very quiet month– perfect for deals and lower prices.
• Cons: Prone to the most hurricanes and storms.

October

October remains a bit slow, but that’s excellent news for budget travelers. It starts to cool down a bit with a threat for rain here and there, but you’ll still find plenty to do, even on an overcast or rainy day. Competitive sport-fishers can wrestle with blue marlin, that elusive and feisty “monster” which inhabits Jamaica’s waters, at the annual International Marlin Festival which is held in Port Antonio every October. Jamaica does not celebrate Halloween but you may find an occasional spooky-themed party in Kingston, or take it up a notch and visit one of these Jamaican haunted spots. Heroes’ Day is celebrated annually on the third Monday of October.

• Pros: Quiet month– perfect for deals and lower prices.
• Cons: Wet season in Jamaica (frequent rain and thunderstorms).

November

In November, it usually starts getting noticeably cooler and if you’re lucky, you may encounter some Christmas breeze. Jamaica’s Restaurant Week has been around for more than a decade and is a week-long celebration of the island’s vibrant culinary scene with over 100 participating restaurants in 7 cities. However, it had an unexplained hiatus in 2023, possibly due to the passing of its founder Stephanie Scott. Hopefully it makes a comeback for 2024. If not, the Jamaica Food & Drink Festival is another gastronomical adventure worth having. This sumptuous Kingston food festival spans one week and features niche events such as Pork Palooza and Brunch in the Hills. Visiting Montego Bay? Opt for this private Jamaican food tour instead.

• Pros: Last month to catch a good deal before high season starts, has two of Jamaica’s most anticipated food events
• Cons: I can’t think of any!

December

Christmas starts from December 1! No really, the decorations go up early and festive menus are rolled out at all the trendy cafes and restaurants islandwide. It’s cooler, and Christmas breeze is now almost guaranteed. Running enthusiasts converge in Negril for the Reggae Marathon, and there are pop-up expos every weekend with dozens of local artisans showcasing their products. A visit to Jamaica in December will show you how Jamaicans celebrate Christmas and the New Year. Frenchmen is the most highly anticipated NYE party in Jamaica. However, December marks the start of the winter tourist season where the island gets its highest arrivals so expect higher prices and crowds. December 25 (Christmas Day) and Boxing Day (December 26) are public holidays in Jamaica.

• Pros: Great way to escape cold winters, Christmas in Jamaica is wonderful!
• Cons: Winter tourist season equals more crowds, higher prices and many hotels and villas are long booked out in advance.

Wrap Up

Jamaica, with its warm climate and rich cultural tapestry, offers a year-round celebration of life. Each month brings a unique flavor, from the pulsating beats of reggae to the mouthwatering delights of Jamaican cuisine and the excitement of carnival festivities. Whether you’re a music lover, a foodie, or an adventure seeker, Jamaica welcomes you with open arms throughout the year, inviting you to experience its diverse and enchanting treasures. Which month sounds like your ideal month to visit Jamaica? Sound off in the comments section below! 🙂 If you live here like I do, make sure to sightsee as often as you can! And, if you’ve never used GetYourGuide, download the app then enter ADVENTURESFROMELLE5 to save 5% off your first excursion.

If you liked this post, you may also enjoy:

• Best Place to Visit in Jamaica
• Is Jamaica Safe for Tourists?
• Driving in Jamaica Guide
• Jamaican Solo Travel Guide

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