Best Time to Visit Punta Cana

December to April: the dry, easy months

This is the stretch you want if you just want good beach weather. Days are warm but not heavy, with highs around 26 to 27°C. Evenings are comfortable enough for dinner outside. February and March are the driest and sunniest, with the most hours of sun. Rain still falls on some days, but it's usually a short shower, not a washout.

It's also high season. Flights and resorts fill up, especially around Christmas, New Year and Easter week (Semana Santa). North American winter breaks add to the crowds. Bávaro and Playa Juanillo are busier, but the beaches are long enough that you'll still find space. If you're coming for whale watching, Samaná, a few hours' drive north, runs its humpback season from January to March. Carnival also lights up towns across the country in February, with big parades on Independence Day, 27 February.

May to August: hotter, cheaper, more mixed

Humidity creeps up and so does the heat. By July and August the highs hit 29°C and nights stay warm at 28°C. Rain falls on about half the days or more, but it often comes as a quick downpour, then the sun returns. Mornings are usually your best bet for the beach, Isla Saona boat trips and Hoyo Azul, the cenote-style blue lagoon at Scape Park.

Crowds thin out in May and June, so prices tend to drop. July and August bring local and European school-holiday visitors, so it's livelier again. Travelling with kids? The pool-and-beach routine works fine, as long as you accept some wet afternoons.

September to November: the wet months

September and November are the rainiest, each with well over 100 mm. October isn't much better, with the lowest sun hours of the year. This is also the heart of the Atlantic hurricane season, so check forecasts before you go and consider travel insurance that covers storms. Some resorts do renovations in these months.

The upside is quiet beaches and the best deals of the year. If you hate crowds and don't mind a flexible plan, it can work. Keep a backup like a covered market stop in Higüey or a spa day. Just don't count on long, dry beach days.

Which month for which trip?

For the most reliable sun, pick February or March. For a good balance of price and weather, try early December or late April. For the lowest cost, take a chance on June or October.