Whether you visit Antigua & Barbuda in the summertime or another time of the year solely depends on your interests and the Caribbean vacation you seek. The most common factors considered when planning an Antigua & Barbuda getaway are the peak times for crowds, the weather, and the dates of popular festivals and events. With that in mind, the best time to travel to Antigua and Barbuda is mid-December and mid-April. This is the high season for the islands, which receive large tourist influxes from Europe and the US, who wish to escape their country’s wintery conditions.
An alternative option that satisfies just as much is the period between May through June. It is the time of the year when the islands experience great weather (average temperatures are around 29oC or 85oF) just before the start of the wet season (from July through November), which is also the hurricane season for the majority of the Caribbean destinations. In addition, it is a period after the high tourist season, which means less crowded sightseeing and more peaceful experiences.
In any case, we strongly advise you to make your bookings early in advance, regardless of which period (of the two proposed periods) you decide to travel to Antigua and Barbuda because accommodation options tend to be quickly (and fully) booked during these months.
Many travellers visit Antigua and Barbuda between June and November for the great prices and deals offered by resorts and hotels. The flights to these destinations are also cheaper than other periods of the year. This might sound too risky, considering that this is the wet and hurricane season for the Caribbean.
However, for Antigua and Barbuda, this season only brings a slight increase in rainfall compared to other Caribbean destinations. Moreover, the chance of a tropical storm hitting the region is quite slim So, although you might feel worried (understandably) about making a trip to Antigua and Barbuda during the wet season, you have very few chances of actually being caught in adverse weather.
Most of the time, it rains once every week or two. This period is great if you also want a more private experience while hitting the beaches. And, given that slightly more intense winds usually accompany the wet season, it is the perfect time for windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing, and similar water sports.
This is the period between December and May and pampers visitors with exceptionally pleasant weather and extremely slim rain chances. The sea temperature is also ideal for water sports, including swimming, scuba diving, and snorkelling. At the same time, the islands are characterised by a party atmosphere and a vibrant vibe due to the thousands of tourists that visit the islands during this season. It is the perfect time to catch a tan on the sugary shores and enjoy the islands' animated lifestyle and upbeat rhythms. Now, if you would love your vacations to combine fantastic weather, cooler breezes, warm seas, and lush scenery, the islands are the greenest in December and January!
