Best Time to Visit Castries

Dry season: December to April

This is the best stretch, and February and March come out on top. Days are warm but not heavy, with plenty of sun and only a few short showers. Evenings stay mild enough for dinner outside at Rodney Bay, just north of town.

It's also high season. Cruise ships fill the Castries harbour on many days, and the market near the waterfront gets busy. If you hate crowds, go on a day when fewer ships are in. Hotels in the north fill up around Christmas and New Year, so expect higher rates then. April is a good compromise, as the crowds thin out while the weather stays Excellent.

Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival usually runs in May, so it falls just as the dry season fades. Carnival is in July, which surprises people who expect it in February. Both are worth building a trip around.

May to June: the shoulder months

May is still Good, with warm days and showers that tend to pass quickly. June is where things turn. It's Fair, with more rain days and the least sun of the year. You'll still get beach time, but plan around the clouds.

These months suit you if you want quieter beaches and lower prices. Hikers heading up to the Tet Paul Nature Trail near Soufrière or into the rainforest will find the greenery at its best, though paths can be muddy.

July to November: the rainy season

It's wet, and the sky is often grey. Rain falls on about 20 days a month from July, and October is the wettest at 149 mm, with November close behind at 137 mm. It's also the warmest stretch, with highs of 29°C in August, September and October. The air feels sticky, especially in the afternoon.

This is also hurricane season in the Caribbean, so buy travel insurance that covers it and keep your dates flexible. Saint Lucia isn't hit often, but heavy storms can close roads and cancel boat trips.

The upside is real, though. Crowds are small, hotels cut their rates, and Carnival in July brings colourful parades and soca music (a fast, upbeat Caribbean dance style) to the streets of Castries. Travelling on a budget? This is your window. Just pick a hotel with a pool and a good rainy-day plan, such as a chocolate tour at a cocoa estate.