Best Time to Visit Recife

Dry season, September to December

This is the sweet spot. October and November are the best of it, with about 8.5 hours of sun a day and only a handful of rainy days. November is the driest month, and it's also the least humid, tied with December. Afternoons are hot but the sea breeze helps.

It suits almost any trip. You can walk the old streets of Recife Antigo (the old port district) without ducking into doorways. You can take the short ride to Olinda, with its steep cobbled lanes and colourful churches. Beach days at Boa Viagem are easy, and the natural pools at Porto de Galinhas, about an hour south, are clear and calm at low tide. In Boa Viagem, look at the shark warning signs and swim only where it's advised.

December to March: hot, busy and a bit damp

December to February is high season. Brazilian school holidays run through the summer, so Boa Viagem and Porto de Galinhas fill up, and rooms cost more. Temperatures are the same as in November, but rain returns slowly. January and February still have lots of sun, with short showers that clear quickly.

Carnival, usually in February or early March, is the big event. Recife's version is loud, free and street-based. Look for the Galo da Madrugada parade, which claims to be the biggest in the world, and for frevo, a fast umbrella dance, in Olinda's lanes. If you love music and crowds, come. If not, avoid those days. March is already wetter, with rain on 19 days, so don't count on perfect weather.

April to July: the wet months

Be honest with yourself here. June is the wettest month, with rain on 26 days, and July matches it for rainy days. Rain often comes in heavy bursts that flood streets, and the air feels thick at 84% humidity. Beach days can be washed out, and some boat trips get cancelled.

There's a trade-off. Prices drop, and the city is quieter. June brings the São João festivals, with bonfires, corn-based snacks like canjica and pamonha, and quadrilha dancing. Caruaru, inland, hosts the largest party, and it's often drier than the coast. If you don't mind a wet jacket, this is Recife at its most local.

August: the quiet shoulder

August is cooler, at 27°C by day, and the rain eases. It's a good pick if you want lower prices and don't need guaranteed sun.