Best time to visit St Lucia

BEST TIME FOR BEACHES

St Lucia’s tropical climate means that you’re unlikely to be disappointed in the sunbathing scene whatever month you choose to visit. Although there is a rainy season – which runs between June and November – in typical tropical style, showers tend to be heavy but short, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the beach between spells of rain. However, if you’d like your beach time to be uninterrupted, book a stay during St Lucia’s dry season, which runs from December to May. For low humidity and a cool breeze, visit during the first half of the season. If you prefer your sunbathing as hot as you can get it, the second half of the season – when the humidity’s rising – is right up your street.

BEST TIME FOR WILDLIFE

St Lucia’s seas are teeming with marine life. Whatever time of year you visit, you’re in with a good chance of seeing some dolphins. If you’d like to spot humpback whales in the wild, the best time to visit is between January and April, when their yearly migration takes them past St Lucia. And, leatherback turtles nest on St Lucia’s shores between March and August. Although lots of St Lucia’s wildlife can be found in the sea that surrounds the island, nature lovers don’t have to board a boat to see all of it. Birdwatchers flock to St Lucia, spotting everything from the rainbow-painted St Lucia Parrot to tiny hummingbirds. The best time to birdwatch is during the breeding season, between January and April.

BEST TIME FOR QUIETER HOLIDAYS

If you’re keen to avoid the crowds, but don’t want to compromise on good weather, your best bet is to visit St Lucia on either side of the rainy season. Book your holiday in May or June, just as the wet season’s starting, and you can expect fewer holidaymakers than earlier in the year, and relatively low rainfall. Or, book at the end of the rainy season, in November, for hot weather and quiet beaches.

BEST TIME FOR SNORKELLING

The sea surrounding St Lucia is warm all year round, so you don’t have to worry about packing your wetsuit, no matter when you visit. However, visibility in the water is at its best from December to April, so that’s worth bearing in mind if snorkelling is your main reason for visiting the island. The reefs off St Lucia’s west coast are the best places to see the likes of angelfish and butterflyfish.

Chosen when you’d like to see St Lucia?

Browse our best St Lucia deals. Then, find out why the island’s made it on to our list of the best wellbeing holiday destinations, and read our tips on St Lucia sightseeing.

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Author: Hannah Stratton