Overview
The beautiful tropical island sitting on the southern end of the Caribbean is best visited during the peak season, meaning between mid-December and mid-April, if you love island experiences featuring great weather, cultural events, fun-filled festivals, such as carnival celebrations, and international motocross events, as well as action-packed activities in cities, villages, and beaches bustling with tourists. For more laid-back and relaxed endeavours, thinner crowds, slightly lower prices, still fantastic weather, and carefree seaside days, though, do consider travelling to the country either from mid-April through June (also November) or between July and October, which are the shoulder and low season, respectively, for Barbados.
The High Season – Best for Good Beach Weather & Festivals
If your dream vacation includes dipping your toes in fine sand, swimming in crystalline waters, and enjoying the sun in the heart of winter, then Barbados will pamper you with warm temperatures and fabulous beach experiences between December and April. Of course, being the most popular time of the year to travel to Barbados, it is also the pricier period covering everything from flight tickets and dining to accommodation and tours.
Climate-wise, Barbados is cooler during its high season and much less humid than in the summertime, which makes sense as we are going through the dry season, which means extremely low chances of rain spoiling your fun moments by the sea. Plus, it is the time of the year when big festivals, such as the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup horse race and the Oistins Fish Festival, spread joyful vibes across the country, drawing the attention of visitors and locals alike.
The Shoulder Season – Best for Sightseeing
Barbados has two shoulder seasons – one starting mid-April, ending in June, and the other including November. During this period, expect fewer tourists, less expensive accommodation, and a lower price tag associated with all other facilities, services, and amenities in the country. Between the two shoulder seasons (from July through October), the activities in Barbados ramp up again, primarily due to the Crop Over festival. However, November signals the start of the rainy season, which lays the table for unhurried sightseeing, even more affordability, and all the privacy you need.
Low Season – Best for Budget-Conscious Travellers
The months between July and October is the time of the year when you can expect some rain showers but nothing too frustrating or intense enough to spoil your vacation plans. The temperatures remain high (consistently above 27oC or 80oF) in the daytime, while there is plenty of sunshine to enjoy beach time. The fact that Barbados has entered its hurricane season (starting July and ending around November) is probably why you’ll notice a significant drop in hotel room prices, airplane tickets, and everything else related to a Barbados vacation. As for the hurricane season, no need to be extremely alarmed as the majority of storm systems don’t even touch Barbados as they usually pass to the north.
Travelling to Barbados – Month-by-Month Expectations
January – Ideal for sailing enthusiasts who can join or attend the prestigious Round Barbados Sailing Week, a 60-nautical-mile sprint around the island. The cool breezes also make sunbathing, sightseeing, and windsurfing more pleasurable.
February – A great month for fans of cultural celebrations, including the week-long Holetown Festival, which features parades, drinking, eating, mingling, memorial talks, street fairs, a steel band concert, and even a Queen of the Festival Pageant.
March – Officially the horse racing season for Barbados, the most popular horse race is hosted at the historical Bridgetown Garrison Savannah area, where trainers and jockeys from across the world gather to compete for the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup. This premier local event is a major deal in all eastern Caribbean.
April – The Oistins Fish Festival, the largest Barbados community festival honouring the local fishing industry, is hosted during the Easter weekend, usually in April. Expect lots of seafood, dancing, music, a grease-pole contest, local specialties, such as fish cakes and cornmeal and okra, and a fish-boning competition on the picturesque south coasts near the scenic village of Oistins.
May – The most peaceful month in the shoulder season sees the majority of tourists already departed for their homelands, while locals continue to enjoy life with events like the Barbados Celtic Festival and the Gospelfest Barbados, featuring major artists from the corners of the earth, before they welcome the sticky summer following put.
June – The country enters hurricane season, which means more rainy days. Technically, this is also the month when the Barbados hurricane season begins. Nevertheless, a direct hit is rarely seen in countries of the southern Caribbean. That aside, the country’s sports tourism calendar anticipates thrilling motorsport fans with the Sol Rally Barbados.
July – The month with particularly high temperatures and a major carnival-style harvest festival called Crop Over, blowing the minds of locals and visitors with an explosion of events from July through August. Running since the 17th century, this celebration includes many local events, such as the Soca monarch contest, Calypso competitions, and the annual crowning of the Calypso King, to name a few.
August – The grand finale of the Crop Over does not go down without a loud bang. The first Monday in August wants the National Stadium filled with people for the Grand Kadooment, which will compensate everybody involved in the festivities with a fantastic parade and music filling the island from end to end.
September – The best month for people loving creative arts, who are pampered with the three-month-lasting National Independence Festival of Creative Arts, during which local talents in film, photography, craft, culinary arts, music, fine arts, drama, dance, and other disciplines demonstrate their skills.
October – The most important event in October, the Barbados Food & Rum Festival, will be perfectly suited to those enjoying rum while spoiling their taste buds with local flavours and dishes. A large group of mixologists, wine experts, connoisseurs, and international chefs gathers for a 4-day gastronomical celebration.
November – The hurricane season officially ends in November, and a 3-day swimming extravaganza for all ages and ability levels begins with the Open Water Festival. It is also the month featuring the lighting of public buildings, fairs, and contests, as part of the island’s Independence Day.
December – Breezy and balmy, December is perfect for sunbathing and spending time by the shore unless you want to participate in the Run Barbados Marathon!