Visiting the Caribbean during Hurricane Season
Bathsheba Beach Souvenirs
The Caribbean is one of the most popular holiday destinations for many US-based travelers and those who live further afield. While the high season in the Caribbean is generally from December to April, this is also the time when prices and demand for accommodation are at their highest along with the largest crowds. On the other hand though, high season is also the time when a visitor will have the best weather, so there is definitely a balance that has to be struck depending on what you are looking for.
However, for those who want to avoid the crowds and have a better chance at finding deals and cheaper prices for activities and accommodation, the Caribbean can also be visited during hurricane season, which generally runs from June to November each year with the most likely time for a hurricane being from August to October. If you do not mind taking a risk with weather, this can be a great time to visit, and it also a time when prices will be a bit cheaper.
Personally, I have never visited the Caribbean during the high season. Instead, I have always visited during hurricane season in August and September. The reason for this is not because I am interested in taking unnecessary risks but because I am not geographically nearby during the high season. Traveling to the Caribbean from my home in the Middle East is just too far. Not to mention, it would be ridiculously expensive requiring multiple long layovers. In my opinion, that just is not worth the time and effort. The only times I have been to the Caribbean have typically been during the months of August and September when I am back in the US and can reach the region more easily, and that just happens to coincide with hurricane season.
Caribbean Sea at Sunset
While I have not been to every place in the Caribbean, I have had the opportunity to visit Cuba, Curacao, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and St. Kitts and Nevis all during hurricane season. Most recently, I made the decision to visit Barbados in late August.
Despite hearing warnings about an above-average hurricane season from news media, I decided to visit Barbados in late August. Despite my initial concerns about the weather, I got extremely lucky. Even though it was quite humid, the weather was otherwise perfect with very little rain. In fact, it only rained once for a few minutes during the day my time there, but then the weather was fine. The photos that you see in this article are all from my recent trip to Barbados.
Even though there is a heightened risk of hurricanes during the times that I typically visit the Caribbean, it is still possible to have a great Caribbean holiday if you take these four tips into consideration:
1) Don't Rely Heavily on Weather Reports
The author at Codrington College
Each time I have visited the Caribbean, I have always checked the weather to get an idea of what to expect. In almost all cases, the weather has always shown daily rain and storms each day for seemingly the entire day. However, when I was actually on the ground in these places, it rarely if ever rained. If it did rain, it was only for a short period of time, and then the weather cleared up. Most times, the weather was clear and ideal for a beach holiday. Based on my own personal experience, the weather reports tend to not be particularly accurate for the Caribbean, so please do not take them as gospel for what the weather will be like since they will likely not be accurate. However, it is not wise to completely discount them. Instead, take them as general guidelines but realize that the weather might be significantly different from what the reports/forecasts say to what it is actually like on the ground.
2) Monitor Tropical Storm Developments
It is entirely possible for a tropical storm that develops further out in the ocean to develop and become a hurricane. It is definitely recommended to keep watch on tropical storm developments and their possible trajectories. This can help you make the best decision on whether to travel or postpone your trip.
3) Purchase Trip Insurance
Rihanna’s Childhood Home
Even though I have personally been lucky with the weather during the times I have visited the Caribbean, I have always made sure to get travel insurance in the event something happened. There are many ways to get trip insurance, and I have often used World Nomads for my needs. While some people might not want to pay additional money on a holiday, having trip insurance when visiting this area during hurricane season can definitely help you put your mind at ease. In my opinion, it is better to spend a bit more than risk the possibility of taking a greater loss in case weather turns quickly.
4) Visit Places Outside the "Hurricane Belt"
The Hurricane Belt is an area of the Atlantic Ocean that is likely to experience hurricanes. While no Caribbean country is 100% immune from receiving a hit from a hurricane, it is important to realize that there is always a chance of the islands experiencing severe weather even if a hurricane changes course and avoids a direct hit. However, there are some islands that are less likely to experience super serious weather than others.
There is a science behind how storms progress through the hurricane belt, which is beyond the scope of this article, but in general, the islands that are further south tend to get fewer hurricane hits than more northerly ones although they certainly might experience residual effects (i.e. high winds and a lot of rain) even if they do not receive a direct hit. Some islands that tend to lie outside the Hurricane Belt or are not typically affect by hurricanes are:
The ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao)
Barbados
Grenada (Hit by Hurricane Beryl in 2024)
St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Hit by Hurricane Beryl in 2024)
Trinidad and Tobago
Independence Square in Bridgetown
Even though there is always the risk of a hurricane occurring during hurricane season, it is still entirely possible to have a phenomenal and memorable Caribbean holiday. If you choose to take a chance and visit the Caribbean during hurricane season, please remember that while it is officially low season, you will not necessarily have the whole place to yourself. There are still many people who visit the area, and while you will likely not get rock-bottom prices, the prices will probably be more reasonable than during the high season. In addition, please be prepared for the humidity. Each time I have visited the Caribbean during hurricane season, the humidity has been quite high so that is something to be ready to deal with.
Overall though, hurricane season should not scare you off completely. If you do your research and prepare for the possibility of something, you can still have a great holiday with amazing weather.
Have you visited the Caribbean during hurricane season? What was your experience like?
Please enjoy the gallery from my recent trip to Barbados. All photos were taken using an iPhone 13 Pro Max.
