The Best Times to Visit Jamaica, According to Local Experts

It can be pretty heartbreaking to save up, plan a trip, and finally get there, just to learn that you’ve arrived at the wrong season for the activities you wanted to do. That’s why it’s so important to learn what times of the year are best for which type of travel. And what better way to learn than from locals?

Smaller Crowds

If you don’t want to be surrounded by your fellow tourists the entire trip, opt for April, as many US travelers go to Jamaica to escape the cold weather back home and return to the States in the spring. Tryall Club managing director Kenton Jones explains, “Traveling during [these months] has its perks since people can enjoy less traffic as you travel from destination to destination as well as fewer crowds in town centers, public beaches, and restaurants.”

Best Weather

If you want every day of your vacation to be a perfect beach day, try to get there anytime between December and March. April and May are also options, although you may get hit by a brief rainshower or two in those months.

Lowest Prices

Like any destination, Jamaica is cheapest during the off-season, which is between July and September.

If you aren’t able to schedule your trip for the summer months, you can still catch a decent deal by avoiding February, as people tend to flock to Jamaica to escape the winter.

Carnival

If you want to experience Carnival like a local, fly to Jamaica in early April. According to Jones, “Throughout Carnival, there are fetes, beach parties, and smaller street parades, which all lead up to the biggest event of Carnival: the National Carnival Road March in Kingston. The Road March is a masquerade parade where the whole island comes together in celebration, dancing throughout the streets in the most incredible costumes while mas bands play the music that is part of Jamaica’s cultural identity.” That definitely sounds like it’s worth a trip!