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Best Time to Travel to Antigua & Barbuda

Highlights

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.


Why Travel to Antigua & Barbuda in the Wet Season

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.


Why Travel to Antigua and Barbuda During the Dry Season

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!


What to Expect From an Antigua & Barbuda Travel by Tourist Season

  • Peak Season – The high tourist season is just five months in Antigua and Barbuda, considerably shorter than in other Caribbean destinations. However, there are lots of things to do between December and April, as well as many events to participate in or attend to, such as the Antigua Charter Yacht Show that draws sailors from all over the world every December. Equally popular is the Antigua and Barbuda International Kite Festival, which is held every March and lasts through April. During this time, expect to be mind-blown by the skilled performances of the local kite-surfers, as kitesurfing is a major part of the local culture.
  • Shoulder Season – May and June is considered the shoulder season for Antigua and Barbuda. It is a nice time to travel to the islands as the weather is still warm and pleasant (around 26oC or 80oF) and thousands of tourists do not swarm the landmarks and local attractions. With thinner crowds and the Antigua Sailing Week, which lasts from April through May and is open to both experienced and rookie sailors, you are bound for great fun.
  • Low Season – The two islands receive the lowest tourist influx from July through November. This means that the 365 beaches of Antigua are all yours to explore and enjoy, away from the noise and bustle created by partying visitors. The most significant event during this period is the Carnival which starts in July and ends a month later and puts both islands into an incredibly lively mode, while tourists start to travel to the islands again after the end of August. This gives you enough time to indulge in relaxed adventures and experiences tied to lower price tags.

Best Time to Travel to Antigua & Barbuda

Highlights

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.


Why Travel to Antigua & Barbuda in the Wet Season

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.


Why Travel to Antigua and Barbuda During the Dry Season

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!


What to Expect From an Antigua & Barbuda Travel by Tourist Season

  • Peak Season – The high tourist season is just five months in Antigua and Barbuda, considerably shorter than in other Caribbean destinations. However, there are lots of things to do between December and April, as well as many events to participate in or attend to, such as the Antigua Charter Yacht Show that draws sailors from all over the world every December. Equally popular is the Antigua and Barbuda International Kite Festival, which is held every March and lasts through April. During this time, expect to be mind-blown by the skilled performances of the local kite-surfers, as kitesurfing is a major part of the local culture.
  • Shoulder Season – May and June is considered the shoulder season for Antigua and Barbuda. It is a nice time to travel to the islands as the weather is still warm and pleasant (around 26oC or 80oF) and thousands of tourists do not swarm the landmarks and local attractions. With thinner crowds and the Antigua Sailing Week, which lasts from April through May and is open to both experienced and rookie sailors, you are bound for great fun.
  • Low Season – The two islands receive the lowest tourist influx from July through November. This means that the 365 beaches of Antigua are all yours to explore and enjoy, away from the noise and bustle created by partying visitors. The most significant event during this period is the Carnival which starts in July and ends a month later and puts both islands into an incredibly lively mode, while tourists start to travel to the islands again after the end of August. This gives you enough time to indulge in relaxed adventures and experiences tied to lower price tags.