Best time to sail

Best time to sail in Cuba

The best time to sail in Cuba is November to June, with peak conditions in December and January.

That verdict comes from 1991–2020 climate normals — wind, rain, sunshine, and air temperature — scored week by week for charter conditions across 1 sailing area.

Open Cuba in the interactive calendar

Sailing conditions in Cuba, month by month

Mean weekly values across our sailing areas in Cuba. The sail score weighs wind, rain, sun, and temperature — and discounts tropical-storm season where one applies.

Temperature (°C)

  • Air
  • Water
02040JFMAMJJASOND27°24°27°24°28°25°28°26°30°27°30°28°31°28°31°29°31°28°30°28°29°26°28°25°

Wind (kn)

051015JFMAMJJASOND13 kn12 kn12 kn10 kn9 kn9 kn10 kn9 kn9 kn11 kn13 kn13 kn

Rain (mm/day)

0246JFMAMJJASOND0.6 mm0.6 mm0.8 mm1.1 mm2.8 mm3 mm2.3 mm2.9 mm4.9 mm3.9 mm1.6 mm0.8 mm

Sun (h/day)

051015JFMAMJJASOND12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h12 h
MonthSail scoreWind (kn)Rain (mm/day)Sun (h/day)Temp (°C)Water (°C)
JanuaryExcellent130.6122427
FebruaryExcellent120.6122427
MarchExcellent120.8122528
AprilExcellent101.1122628
MayExcellent92.8122730
June *Excellent93122830
July *Fair102.3122831
August *Poor92.9122931
September *Poor94.9122831
October *Poor113.9122830
November *Excellent131.6122629
DecemberExcellent130.8122528

Months marked * fall inside the tropical-storm season.

Tropical storm season: June to November

Parts of Cuba sit inside a tropical-cyclone basin. Monthly climate averages smooth over rare but severe storms, so the sail score discounts the weeks from June to November. Check cancellation terms, insurance, and your operator's storm policy before booking inside this window.

Sailing areas in Cuba

Every area below is scored individually in the interactive calendar; where we have an in-depth guide, it's linked.

Cuba — Jardines de la Reina

Advanced

Best conditions around August 10

Remote southern archipelago; minimal infrastructure, raw nature.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to sail in Cuba?

November to June offers the most reliable conditions, with December and January scoring best for wind, rain, sunshine, and temperature in the 1991–2020 climate normals.

When is the cheapest time to charter in Cuba?

The shoulder months — November and June — usually combine good sailing conditions with fewer crowds and lower charter prices than the peak in December and January.

When is tropical storm season in Cuba?

From June to November. Climate averages hide rare but severe storms, so treat this window with care: check cancellation terms and weather routing before booking.

How warm is it in Cuba in December?

Around 25 °C air temperature on average in December, with about 12 hours of sun a day.

How warm is the water in Cuba in December?

Around 28 °C sea-surface temperature on average in December, based on 2023–2025 marine averages.

Method: 1991–2020 weekly climate normals (wind, rain, sunshine, air temperature) per sailing area, combined into a 0–1 sail score for charter conditions; tropical-storm season is applied as a discount. Sea-surface temperature comes from 2023–2025 marine averages. This page updates automatically as new sailing areas are added.