Barbados – when is the best time to visit?
Barbados – when is the best time to visit?
Many people see Barbados as the dream holiday destination. This perfect Caribbean island has award-winning beaches, the friendliest people you could wish to meet and some of the most fantastic food and drink to be enjoyed. But when is the best time to visit?
If you’re dreaming of your very own Barbados holiday this year, here are our top tips to help you decide when to book.
Dry season
Barbados’ climate or weather are best during the dry season, which runs from December through to April. That’s great news if you’re craving some winter sun and want to escape the snow, cold and general gloom of Britain at this time of year. Temperatures between December and March average a comfortable 29°C, with relatively low humidity and tranquil seas. The holiday season tends to peak in January and local companies running water sports or cruises usually gear up around this time. If you don’t mind it being a little more crowded, then January is the best time to book, although if you hold out until later in the season you could have a better choice of hotels and flights.
Rainy season
Barbados sees some torrential downpours during the rainy season, which tends to be between June and November. ‘Rainy season’ makes it sound much worse than it is, however! Unlike in the UK where rain usually means an entire day of drizzle, Barbados experiences short, sharp showers and then goes back to glorious sunshine and heat averaging 31°C.
The showers are also pretty predictable, so you can more or less plan your day around the mid-afternoon downpour, which cools the temperature to pleasant levels ready for the evening.
Hurricane season
The only time you might want to avoid Barbados and the Caribbean is during hurricane season, which can last the entire length of June to late October. That said, it’s very hard to tell how bad the stormy weather will be, so if you’re hoping to see Barbados without the crowds, you could book now.
If you’re unlucky, the island can be lashed by ferocious winds, high waves and choppy seas, with the worst months usually being September and October.
Barbados – the jewel of the Caribbean
Barbados is the most easterly island in the Caribbean island chain, situated above South America, northeast of Venezuela and north of Guyana. The Atlantic Ocean sits to the east of the isle, and the Caribbean Sea to the west. The capital city is Bridgetown, located in the parish of St Michael.
The limestone rock has created the island of Barbados, and the land area of the isle measures 166.4 square miles (431 km2). It is 21 miles (34 kilometers) in length and 14 miles (23 kilometers).
The terrain is relatively flat in comparison to other Caribbean islands however there is a gentle rise to a central highland region of the isle – Mount Hillaby in the parish of St Andrew being the highest point, measuring approximately 1,115 feet above sea level.
Barbados is just north of the equator, the climate is considered to be moderately tropical, and temperatures typically range from between 80-86 degrees Fahrenheit (27-30 degrees Celsius) and 70 – 76% humidity for most of the year.
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Booking advice
To get the most from your visit to Barbados, it can be worth timing your holiday around major events. Book around mid-February and you can take in the carnival atmosphere of the Holetown Festival, while August sees weeks of street parties to celebrate the Crop Over Festival. There’s also a food and rum fiesta in November, making this the perfect time for foodies to pay a visit.
Perfect holidays in the Barbados
Many people see Barbados as the dream holiday destination. This perfect Caribbean island has award-winning beaches, the friendliest people you could wish to meet and some of the most fantastic food and drink to be enjoyed. But when is the best time to visit?
If you’re dreaming of your very own Barbados holiday this year, here are our top tips to help you decide when to book.
