When to Go

Island weather tends to be a little different from that on the mainland. The cayes are generally drier. Storm squalls come up suddenly, but just as quickly they're gone, leaving sunny skies behind. Keep in mind that if you see rain in the forecast for Belize City, this doesn't necessarily mean it'll be wet in San Pedro. Late summer and early fall is prime tropical-storm season, a time when island residents keep a worried eye out for hurricanes; more than 8 out of 10 hurricanes that hit Belize arrive in either September or October. The Christmas to Easter period, when the northern climes are cold and blustery, is the most popular time to visit the islands, even though in winter "northers" occasionally blow down from Canada, creating rough seas and chilly weather (by subtropical standards, anyway). While winter is a delightful time to enjoy the cayes, we also like the late spring and early summer, when the risk of storms is low, hotel prices drop, and the sea is like bathwater.