The Best Time to Visit Turks and Caicos

The best time to visit Turks and Caicos is in late spring, between April and May, after the peak tourist season has subsided, and before the rainy season is set to begin. By April, the beaches and hotels are less crowded, as most tourists have returned home from their winter vacations. April and May are the ideal window of time to visit before the rainy season begins in June—an arrival that coincides with hurricane season throughout the Caribbean. Read on for your ultimate guide to planning your next visit to Turks and Caicos—featuring more details on the nation’s weather and climate, as well as information on holidays and events throughout the year.

Weather in Turks and Caicos

Though famously sunny year-round, with average temperatures in the low 80s Fahrenheit, the Turks and Caicos Islands experience a rainy season in the summer and fall. The wet season begins in early June and is truly in full swing by August. September and October are the months when the most rainfall occurs throughout the islands. Therefore, you can expect a variation in climate depending on the time of year you visit. Turks and Caicos’ hurricane season coincides with the rainy season—running from June through the end of November, with August and September being the peak months for tropical storms. Hurricanes are relatively rare in Turks and Caicos; however, cautious travelers visiting during this time should purchase travel insurance in advance of their trip.

Peak Tourist Season in Turks and Caicos

Turks and Caicos is always a busy tourist destination in the winter, and this is (not coincidentally) also the best time of year to visit to avoid storms or rainfall—the weather becomes more unpredictable once the rainy season begins in June. The dry season lasts from December through May, with the peak tourist season beginning in mid-December (with the winter holidays) and lasting through to the end of March. (Hence why April and May are such ideal months to visit). During the peak tourist season, you can expect increased airfare and travel costs—and this is especially evident when it comes to room rates, particularly for luxury hotels and resorts. Visitors planning a Turks and Caicos visit over the holidays should book their flights in advance and monitor hotel websites for travel deals. If there is a specific hotel you have in mind for a winter visit—Sailrock Resort comes to mind—then start planning your trip as early as possible.

Key Holidays & Festivals in Turks and Caicos

There's reason to celebrate in Turks and Caicos all year-long though, if you happen to be visiting during the Junkanoo celebrations in the wintertime, you should consider yourself extra lucky. Junkanoo is named after the West African John Canoe Festival and originated in the Bahamas in the 17th century. Turks and Caicos is now the second home of the Junkanoo. The festival is celebrated across the Lucayan Archipelago (a group of islands in the northern Caribbean consisting of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos).

January

January is the coldest month of the year, though, at an average temperature of 80 F (27 C), you can still lounge on a white sand beach. January also kicks off with one of the year's most exciting Junkanoo festivals. Though Junkanoo is celebrated throughout all four seasons, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, and Emancipation Day are the largest, liveliest celebrations.

Events to check out:

• Junkanoo Jump Up: This traditionally Bahamian festival is held on January 1. Expect bejeweled masks, elaborate costumes, and plenty of music and dancing.

February

The last month of winter, February continues with the pleasantly dry, warm weather, with an average temperature of 81 F (27 C) and 1.3 inches of average precipitation. And while February doesn’t boast the high-profile festivals of the preceding months of January or December, this can be a boon to cost-conscious visitors, as prices tend to spike during Junkanoo and the Christmas/ New Year holidays.

Events to check out:

• Valentine's Day Cup is a Caicos Sloop sailing race held on the island of Middle Caicos every February, always taking place on Saturday closest to Valentine's Day. Revelers gather at Bambarra Beach to cheer on the sailors and enjoy local food and live music.

March

March is the driest month of the year, with one inch of average rainfall, and is also the last full month of the peak tourist season. March, does coincide, however, with the start of spring break season and while Turks and Caicos isn't a hotspot for spring breakers, visitors booking their trip for this time period should expect a slight uptick in prices to reflect the increased demand.

Events to check out:

• Check out the annual St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl in Providenciales, and be sure to end your suds-soaked tour de force at Danny Buoy’s, an Irish pub that’s well worth a visit any day of the year.

April

April is an ideal month to visit, as the last of the Spring Break revelers will finally be leaving—and prices, accordingly, will be dropping. Take advantage of those un-crowded beaches and soak up the last sunny days of the dry season. (It will all be over by the end of March).

Events to check out:

• The annual Kite Flying Competition in Turks and Caicos occurs on the island of Providenciales every Easter Monday and includes an Easter egg hunt and local food and live music.

May

May continues with the balmy, sunny days, with an average temperature of 85 F (24 C) and merely 1.2 inches of average precipitation. The last month of the dry season, May is also the time of year when the South Caicos Regatta, also known as the Big South Regatta, takes place on South Caicos.

Events to check out:

• Celebrate the culture and heritage of the islands by partaking in the celebrations surrounding the South Caicos Regatta. Established in 1967, visitors can enjoy live music and dancing while observing the sailing and speedboat races.

June

June marks the beginning of the rainy season, and the average rainfall jumps up to 2.2 inches of average precipitation. The temperature similarly rises to an average of 86 F (30 C). However, June is much cooler than the months to follow, so pack some lighter clothing and enjoy the tropical heat.

Events to check out:

• The Fools Regatta, established in 1990, features Pico and Hobe Cat sailboat racing, as well as whimsically inventive raft competitions.

July

July is slightly dryer than June, with an average of 1.2 inches in average precipitation. Nevertheless, visitors should continue to pack lightweight, breathable fabrics and rain-gear for the summer season in Turks and Caicos.

Events to check out:

• The annual Caicos Classic Billfish Release Tournament is a fishing extravaganza for anglers, captains, and passengers alike.

August

August is the last month of the year before the serious rainfall begins (and the higher chance of storm commences) in September. The average high is 88 F (31 C), with an average precipitation of 1.6 inches.

Events to check out:

• Emancipation Day is a public holiday commemorating August 1, 1834, the date that the law abolishing slavery was passed in the islands. The holiday is celebrated on the first Monday of every August to allow for a long weekend celebration.

September

September is the hottest month of the year and marks the beginning of the high season for rainfall, tropical storms, and—very occasionally—hurricanes.

Events to check out:

• National Youth Day is an island-wide celebration of the youth in Turks and Caicos. The public holiday occurs every year on September 29.

October

We’re in the thick of the wet season as of October, with average high temperatures of 86 F (30 C) and average precipitation of 3 inches. So, pack your raincoat and sunblock on your beach days and island walks. Though, of course, when compared to other islands in the Eastern Caribbean and other island chains in the southern tropics, the weather in Turks and Caicos is quite breezy year-round.

Events to check out:

• National Heritage Day is a public holiday held on the second Monday of October—the holiday is a replacement for Columbus Day which is no longer celebrated.

November

November is officially the wettest month of the year, with an average precipitation of 3.7 inches. However, the temperature drops slightly to an average high of 84 F (29 C). This is the last month to visit Turks and Caicos before room rates and airfare costs increase in December.

Events to check out:

• The Turks and Caicos Conch Festival is held on the last weekend in November in the Blue Hills settlement on Providenciales—expect conch snacks, conch crafts, and even conch jewelry.
• Museum Day is celebrated on the first Saturday in November in Grand Turk. It is a celebration dedicated to the community with cocktails, live music, prizes, food, and games for children.

December

December marks the beginning of the dry season and the peak tourist season as well. And December also features the start of the holiday Junkanoo festivities—an annual delight in Turks and Caicos. The average precipitation is 3.4 inches, and visitors can expect average high temperatures of 82 F (28 C) and average lows of 75 F (24). So, pack a sweater for windy evenings spent outdoors by the Caribbean Sea.

Events to check out:

• Maskanoo is a festival held on Boxing Day, December 26, that blends a mixture of masquerades and traditional Junkanoo—hence the name Maskanoo.
• Watch Grace Bay light up for New Year’s Eve, with sky lanterns drifting overhead, beach bonfires up and down the beach, and celebratory fireworks exploding into the sky. There’s no better way to cap off another year in paradise.