Best Time to Visit West Island

Dry season: August to October

This is the sweet spot. Rain drops to around 40 mm a month, and you get only nine or ten wet days in September and October. August is a touch wetter, with 11. Temperatures ease to a high of 26°C in September and October, so afternoons feel warm rather than heavy. October is also the sunniest of the three.

The trade winds blow steadily at this time of year. That's good for kitesurfing and sailing around the lagoon. It also keeps the air moving on the beach at Direction Island and Home Island. Snorkelling is easier when the sky is brighter, so the clear mornings are worth planning around.

Wet season: December to April

Expect warm, damp days. March is the wettest month, with 201 mm over 23 days, so rain is more likely than not on any given day. April is rated Poor, with 170 mm and the least sun of the wet months. Showers tend to pass quickly, but the sky can stay grey for long stretches.

Humidity sits around 80% all year, so it never feels dry. Even so, wet-season days feel stickier. If you don't mind the odd downpour, January is the gentlest of the wet months, with 109 mm and 5.3 hours of sun a day. It's rated Good.

May to July and November: in between

May to July is drier than March but still showery. Rain falls on 17 to 20 days a month, and June is the greyest, with only 3.6 hours of sun a day. You'll get the odd good beach day, but don't count on a run of them. November is a better bet. It's drier, with 86 mm, and the sea breeze is back.

Crowds and events

West Island is small and quiet all year. You won't find a true high season with packed beaches. Flights are limited, and accommodation is small-scale, so the dry months are simply when most visitors choose to come. If you want the lagoon to yourself, the wetter months are the quietest. Many of the Cocos Malay community's celebrations, including Hari Raya after Ramadan, follow the Islamic calendar, so their timing shifts each year. Check the dates before you book if you'd like to catch one.