17 BEST Places to Visit in the Caribbean in July & August!

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Where to go in the Caribbean in July & August, the main summer holiday months is a popular question because the Summer in the Caribbean is known as not the best time to visit the Caribbean…

However, this shouldn’t put you off! There are plenty of good islands in the Caribbean to visit in the Summer months that offer dry, nice weather away from the hurricane season that is common during the summer months in this region.

Generally, the low season in the Caribbean is from June to November and the high season is from December to April.

There are lots of positives to visiting the Caribbean in low season and off peak season too like less crowds and lower prices and the chance to focus on the amazing Caribbean water activities whilst the rain passes!

Best Places to visit in Caribbean in Summer

I’ve teamed up with a group of travel bloggers who love the Caribbean to give their recommendations on visiting in the Caribbean (and the nearby region) during July & August. In this list expect to find the best islands to visit in the Caribbean in July, the best islands to visit in the Caribbean in August, the best places to visit in Central America in July & August on the Caribbean Coast and where to visit nearby the Caribbean in July & August.

One of the best things to do in Aruba is the popular ATV tour, which goes to several places around the island like Arikok National Park and the California lighthouse, which was built in 1916. There’s even a rock bridge you can walk on, and a natural tide pool where you can swim during the tour.

If you enjoy hiking, there are several trails in the Arikok National Park that are relatively easy and have nice views of the ocean. Families with kids can also do a little bit of easy hiking at the Casibari and Ayo rock formations in central Aruba, where you can see big boulders and petroglyphic writing. It’s a fun activity if you want to get off the beaten path and away from the tourist crowds.

August to October is the Caribbean hurricane season but we hardly experienced any rain. There were lesser crowds and cheaper rates at the all-inclusive resorts that this tropical paradise is known for.

For a family trip, I would recommend sticking to the north corridor in Jamaica. You can base yourself in one of the all-inclusive beach resorts at Negril, Montego Bay or Ocho Rios. An all-inclusive resort works well for a family vacation. You can perhaps split your Jamaica itinerary at a couple of resorts in different parts of the island. I recommend the Beaches resort in Ocho Rios for its location, private beach, several restaurant choices on the premises and proximity to several tourist attractions.

Being a tropical island, Jamaica is all about the ocean, water activities and exploring its scenic coastline. Hire a private boat or take a group cruise to explore the seas. There could be a chance for a tour in the open ocean to get cancelled because of weather changes. Other popular water activities include swimming, snorkelling and diving.

Bonaire offers a plethora of outdoor activities suitable for families and travelers of all ages. The island is renowned for its world-class diving and snorkeling opportunities. With crystal-clear waters and vibrant marine life, Bonaire’s underwater world is a real paradise. If you’ve never tried scuba diving before, Bonaire is a great place to learn.

In July and August the winds are also great for windsurfing and Bonaire’s Lac Bay is a world famous windsurfing destination, great for both beginners and experienced wind surfers.

Nature enthusiasts can explore Bonaire’s diverse landscapes, from the otherworldly salt flats of Pekelmeer where you can spot lots of flamingos, to the scenic Washington Slagbaai National Park, home to indigenous flora and fauna.

With its beautiful beaches and laid-back island vibe Bonaire is also a great island to just relax and get away from it all. It’s much less developed than some of the most well known Caribbean tourist destinations, giving it a more unique island vibe.

Spend the day in the cute, small capital of Kralendijk, book a relaxing sunset cruise, or take a watertaxi to Klein Bonaire which is a beautiful small island just off the coast of Bonaire.

As the region waves goodbye to the rainy season, the area meets visitors with a mix of sunny days and occasional refreshing rains that showcase the islands at their lush best. The post-rainy season climate is perfect for anyone looking to explore the outdoors without the extreme heat or downpours.

The end of the rainy season also brings another advantage — fewer tourists.

This translates into a more laid-back experience for all types of travelers, including families. Quieter beaches, more space on tours, and a relaxed pace all contribute to a stress-free holiday. With smaller crowds, you’re more likely to get a spot on that sunbed or enjoy uninterrupted views on a jungle trek.

For families, these quieter months mean children have the freedom to play and explore without the hustle and bustle, and parents can relax a little easier knowing that the environment is calmer and the party crowd is elsewhere.

Surfing, which is popular in Bocas del Toro, becomes an activity almost tailored for beginners during these months. The waves are friendly, and the absence of crowds means more room and waves to catch for everyone interested.

The ideal weather is one of the most compelling reasons to visit San Blas in these months. July and August mark the dry season in this region, ensuring you’ll experience sunshine and relatively low humidity. These conditions make it perfect for enjoying the pristine, white-sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, and vibrant coral reefs that San Blas is renowned for. Snorkelling, scuba diving, and water sports are at their best during this period.

Families will particularly enjoy San Blas as it offers a tranquil and safe environment. The Kuna indigenous people who inhabit the islands welcome tourists with open arms, providing a unique opportunity to immerse in their rich culture. Families can visit local villages, interact with the Kuna, and learn about their traditional way of life.

What makes Curacao a good option to visit is that it is situated below the hurricane belt. You’re less likely to have bad weather or have your trip disrupted since you won’t be dealing with hurricane season like many of the other islands. Curacao’s weather is similar throughout the year with warm, tropical days and cool trade winds, perfect for beach vacations.

One of the best things to do is hit the beach as Curacao is known for its beaches and beautiful, turquoise coves. The island is also a great place for diving if you’re scuba certified and there are many nearby reefs and wrecks to explore.

Another highlight is wandering through the capital city of Willemstad. Willemstad is full of brightly colored Dutch colonial buildings and is situated by the water. There are multiple points of interest nearby including the Queen Emma Bridge and the Rif Fort–a historic fort turned shopping center. Along the north tip of the island is where you’ll find the Shete Boka National Park. It’s a rocky area with underground caverns where you can see the waves crashing through.

August and July are low season in Belize as the country is in the middle of the rainy season which means your opportunities for water activities can be limited.

But don’t worry, you can still enjoy Belize during this time of the year. All you need to do is visit the country’s mainland where you can enjoy caving, explore Mayan ruins and swing through the jungle on a zip line.

If you are visiting Belize in summer, make sure to check out San Ignacio, an adventure hub in Western Belize near the border with Guatemala.

San Ignacio provides access to some of the best Mayan ruins in Belize like Xunantunich, Caracol, and Altun-Ha, where you can learn the history of the area.

If you feel adventurous, take a day trip to ATM caves, part of the Belizean cave system – the largest in Central America, where you can learn about the ancient Mayan rituals that were taking place here thousands of years ago and swim in the caves accompanied by your guide.

The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Terrritory, and English is the official language. The most popular island is Providenciales, which is home to the international airport. Grace Bay is the largest town, with many of the large resorts and accommodation options close to the picturesque Grace Bay Beach.

There are lots of things to do for families, to make the perfect Turks and Caicos itinerary. A highlight includes an eco-tour to the nearby Mangrove Cay. Several companies offer both stand-up paddle boards or kayaks for the trip. Younger children are allowed to sit on the front of an adult’s paddle board or you may prefer to use a double kayak instead.

It is an amazing place to visit at any time throughout the year, even during the rainy season. The rainy season typically consists of a short period of heavy rain, usually in the morning, followed by partially clouded skies. It then leaves you with much of the day to explore what the islands have to offer! Plus, a brief break with the rain is a great time to relax in your hotel, or run through the rain to cool off from the hot Caribbean temperature!

These remote islands offer many of the best things to do in Nicaragua, including incredible scuba diving and snorkeling, and tasty Caribbean delicacies such as Conch. With crystal clear water, you’re bound to spot fish just from swimming near the shore. The beaches on the island are not busy at all, making it feel like you are on your own private island, especially in the off-season!

Visiting Tortuguero during July and August is particularly good to see sea turtles nesting on Tortuguero’s black beaches.

This period is the peak of the sea turtle nesting season, especially for the endangered green turtles. It’s a wonderful thing to see these majestic creatures coming to the shore at night to lay their eggs on the beaches.

July and August are a part of the wet season in Costa Rica, but don’t let this hold you back from visiting. Next to the sea turtles, it on of the best times during the year to see wildlife. The rainforests are teeming with life, and you can see a variety of animals such as monkeys, sloths, toucans, crocodiles, and many more in their natural habitat.

On a family trip, you can enjoy various activities such as guided canoe trips, jungle hikes, and boat tours, which are safe yet adventurous. As a traveler, you can also experience the local culture by interacting with the community in the village of Tortuguero and enjoying the amazing food they have on offer.

Rotan is a small, tropical island that is part of Honduras. It’s a popular cruise port and vacation destination. In fact, the only real industry on the island is tourism. Since it’s not susceptible to hurricane season, there isn’t a bad time to visit. However, less people tend to visit in the summer so you’ll find smaller crowds and lower prices.

There are many great things to do in Roatan in the summer. There are many great adventure activities such as ziplining, atv tours, and horseback riding. In addition to adventure activities, there are amazing white sand beaches in Roatan such as Little French Key, West Bay Beach, and Maya Key.

Finally, if you aren’t looking for beach time or adventure, there are many great cultural excursions on the island. You can you’re a local chocolate factory and learn all about the production process. You can also take a cooking class with a local to learn all about Honduran cuisine.

The most common way to get to Roatan is on a Caribbean cruise. However, you can also fly directly to the island from some airports in the United States or mainland Honduras. Once you are in Roatan, there are many beach resorts and vacation rentals for groups of all sizes and budgets.

The best advantage of Cuba is its size. Cuba is by far the biggest Caribbean islands with 111.000 square kilometers and almost 11 million inhabitants. On its 3,570 miles of coast, you can find many beaches to cool down all around the island, from westernmost Maria la Gorda, Playa Ancon at Trinidad, Varadero Beach with resorts, luxury Cayo Largo, local playa Siboney in the east.

It offers many activities from visiting caves, coffee farms, horse riding, visiting cities (Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Santa Clara, Trinidad). Summer in Cuba is the season of events, the two biggest being festival and carnival in Santiago de Cuba. Festival del Caribe aka Festival of Fire in July is a week-long festival in Santiago with Caribbean concerts and many other cultural events.

The coast extends along the northern section of Colombia, with most travellers opting to explore Cartagena, Santa Marta, Minca, Tayrona National Park and Palomino. This route offers the perfect mix of historic cities, mountain villages, hiking and beaches.

Cartagena is the perfect place to fly into and to pick up essentials like cash and a Colombian sim card. You can easily spend a few days wandering through the colourful streets. From here you can take a bus and taxi to the mountain village of Minca. This is a beautiful place to slow down and relax, however, the hiking here is also incredible. The most famous of which is the Lost City Trek.

After Minca, head to the coast and explore the picturesque beaches in Tayrona National Park and Palomino. You can even take a tour to the flamingo sanctuary where you can see hundreds of flamingos – they prefer this time of the year which makes July and August perfect! Just note that with Tayrona you will need to hike quite a distance so be mindful of the weather and avoid days with heavy rainfall.

San Juan, Puerto Rico’s capital, is especially colorful, with charming alleyways and stunning cobbled streets. However, Puerto Rico is mostly frequented by tourists simply for its gorgeous white sandy beaches.

With even 4 days in Puerto Rico, there is tons of fun to be had. From exploring waterfalls in El Yunque National Forest and beach hopping to learning the rich Spanish History at El Morro and exploring pink salt flats, there is something for everyone.

For foodies, Puerto Rico is an excellent place to visit. Take part in one of the many food tours in Old San Juan, or enjoy Piña Colas and Bacardi, both integral to Puerto Rican culture.

While Puerto Rico can be very hot and humid in the summer, you have the ocean to take a dip in and cool off!

Additionally, there are several summer festivals. Make sure to check out the Piña Colada Festival (where you can buy Piña colada’s for as little as $4). Or, the Aibonito Flower Festival, where locals come together to host live music, create plant displays, and sell authentic food. Also, don’t forget to go to La Placita during the weekend.

While these summer months fall within the peak of the Yucatan Peninsula’s rainy season, don’t let the occasional downpour dampen your spirits. Typically, the rain lasts a short amount of time during the day, meaning you have plenty of time to explore! There are plenty of things to do in Isla Mujeres that will fill up your days. Whether you’re relaxing on Playa Norte or

The island is surrounded by coral reefs and so be sure to venture into the crystal-clear waters for unparalleled snorkeling and scuba diving experiences. The marine life is abundant, and the visibility is often at its best during these months. Encounter majestic sea turtles and vibrant coral reefs as you explore the underwater wonders. July and August are the perfect time to go snorkeling with whale sharks in Isla Mujeres! These gentle giants are amazing animals.

If you need a break from the water, head south to Punta Sur. The cliffs along the water are stunning and keep your eyes open for iguanas sunbathing. You’ll learn about the history of the island and the Mayan culture of the region. It’s a great place to take families.

In the evening, head out to some of the smaller beaches and try to spot turtles laying their eggs. You’ll see signs about how to protect the turtles, so be sure to follow them. Don’t use flash photography, keep your distance, and don’t get between them and the water.

Plus, it usually just rains for a few hours in the afternoon anyway, allowing you plenty of time to enjoy the beach and explore (and have an afternoon siesta, if you want!). It will also be less crowded and have less of a party vibe than it normally does—so it’s a great time to visit if you’re traveling with a family or just looking to have a more chill vacation.

Additionally, it’s one of the best times of the year to see whale sharks around the Yucatan. These magnificent creatures, which hold the title of the largest fish on the planet, migrate around the waters of Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Isla Contoy, and Isla Holbox to feed during this timeframe.

There’s plenty of other activities to keep you busy in Tulum. For example, the Yucatan Peninsula is known for its plentiful cenotes, which are underground caverns, formed from porous limestone that’s caved in and filled with crystal clear groundwater. Consider joining any number of Tulum cenote tours to get to enjoy swimming through the cool water of the dozens of otherworldly sinkholes that surround the city and seeing their unique stalactites and wildlife up close and personal.

Because of their remote location, the Dry Tortugas do not receive the same number of visitors that many other places in the Caribbean do at this time of year. 

In fact, the park only receives around 70,000 visitors annually. So, be sure to visit if you hate crowds but still want to enjoy one of the best things to do in Florida. Because even in July and August, you’re likely to have the place all to yourself. 

To get to the park, reserve a ticket aboard the Yankee Freedom III for around $190.00 per person. In total, the trip will take around two hours and fifteen minutes each way. However, food is included in the price of your ticket. You’ll also love cruising past some of the most stunning scenery in the Caribbean. 

Upon arrival, explore historic Fort Jefferson, relax on the pristine beaches of Garden Key,  look for Sooty Turns on Bush Key, or cool off from the intense summer heat with some snorkeling on the moat wall. 

I hope this list helps you with the best places to visit in the Caribbean in July and the best places to visit in the Caribbean in August!

• For more of my posts from the region and these months see:
• Dominica Travel Guide! A Complete Guide To Dominica Travel!
• 10 Unique & Fun Things To Do in Dominica That You Have To Do!
• What To Pack For A Caribbean Holiday! Caribbean Packing List!
• 20 BEST Places to Visit in Africa in July & August – Good Weather & Less Crowded Places!