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When to go · Cuba

Cuba in December

Mixed month. Dry; Christmas peak and Havana Film Festival (check).

Key facts

Verdict
Mixed
Crowds
High
Cuba
Prices
High
Cuba

Verdict

MixedVoykit month rating for Cuba

Dry; Christmas peak and Havana Film Festival (check).

Is another month better than December?

No other month rates higher than December for Cuba in this guide.

Weather in December

  • West and Havana · Havana, Viñales, Varaderobest weather

    Dry season November–April, 20–27 °C (68–81 °F); hot and humid May–October with afternoon storms; cold fronts can bring cool, windy spells in January.

  • Centre and south coast · Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Camagüeybest weather

    Similar pattern, slightly warmer; the Escambray hills are cooler.

  • Oriente · Santiago de Cuba, Baracoa, Holguínbest weather

    Hottest region; Baracoa is wet much of the year. The east took the worst of Hurricane Melissa in October 2025.

  • Central Cuba: Trinidad / Cienfuegos / Santa Clara · central plains and south coastbest weather

    Summer highs 31–33 °C (88–91 °F); winter lows 18–21 °C (64–70 °F), dropping to 10–13 °C (50–55 °F) when a cold front pushes through, with daytime highs of 21–24 °C (70–75 °F). Rain concentrates June–September.

  • Central Cuba: Cayo Coco / Cayo Guillermo · north caysbest weather

    Sea breezes temper the heat; hurricane season runs June–November and the cays are exposed.

  • Eastern Cuba: Santiago de Cuba / Guantánamo · south coast and basinsbest weather

    Hottest and driest part of the region; hurricane season runs June to November, peaking August–October.

  • Eastern Cuba: Baracoa / Holguín · north coast and mountainsbest weather

    Baracoa is the wettest place in Cuba — rain in almost any month; the road in floods after heavy rain.

  • Western Cuba: Havana and the north coast · Havana, Varadero, Matanzas, Cayo Largobest weather

    Dry season November–April is the reliable window; May and June turn wet, and September–October carry the hurricane risk.

  • Western Cuba: Viñales and Pinar del Río · Western interiorbest weather

    Cooler mornings than Havana; the same wet and storm pattern, with heavier rain on the hills.

  • Havana27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 6 rain days
  • Artemisa27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 4 rain days
  • Baracoa29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 9 rain days
  • Camagüey27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 5 rain days
  • Cayo Coco27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days
  • Cayo Guillermo27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days
  • Cayo Largo28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days
  • Ciego de Ávila28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days
  • Cienfuegos28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 6 rain days
  • Florida27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days
  • Guanabo27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days
  • Guanajay27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days
  • Guantánamo Bay28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 7 rain days
  • Guantánamo30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days
  • Holguín28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days
  • Las Terrazas27 °C (81 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 2 rain days
  • Maria la Gorda27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days
  • Matanzas27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 2 rain days
  • Moa27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 2 rain days
  • Morón26 °C (79 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days
  • Pinar del Rio27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days
  • Playa Santa Lucia27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days
  • Puerto Esperanza26 °C (79 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days
  • Remedios28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days
  • Sancti Spíritus27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days
  • Santa Clara28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days
  • Santiago de Cuba30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days
  • Soroa27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days
  • Trinidad28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days
  • Varadero27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 2 rain days

Festivals and holidays

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

  • Christmas

    25 Dec

    Holiday; peak visitor season.

  • New Year's Eve

    31 Dec

    Buckets of water thrown out at midnight; parties.

  • Jazz Plaza and the Film Festival check

    Check the year · Havana

    Music and screenings; hotels fill.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Cuba
High
Prices · Cuba
High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Cuba, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Dec: Mixed

    Jan: Mixed

  • Crowds

    Dec: High

    Jan: High

  • Prices

    Dec: High

    Jan: High

  • Festivals listed

    Dec: 3

    Jan: 2

December: Dry; Christmas peak and Havana Film Festival (check).

January: Dry and pleasant, but check advice and flights; 1 January national holiday.

Cuba: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in December

Rated best or good this month

  • West and Havana

    Best weather of the year (Havana, Viñales, Varadero)

  • Centre and south coast

    Best weather of the year (Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Camagüey)

  • Oriente

    Best weather of the year (Santiago de Cuba, Baracoa, Holguín)

  • Havana

    Dry, mild; Christmas crowds.

  • Artemisa

    Best months: Nov–Apr

  • Baracoa

    Best months: Dec–Apr (drier, cooler)

  • Camagüey

    Best months: Nov–Apr

  • Cayo Coco

    Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season, cooler temperatures)

  • Cayo Guillermo

    Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)

  • Cayo Largo

    Best months: Nov–Apr

  • Ciego de Ávila

    Best months: Nov–Apr

  • Cienfuegos

    Best months: Nov–Apr