When to go · Cuba
Cuba in January
Mixed month. Dry and pleasant, but check advice and flights; 1 January national holiday.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- High
- Cuba
- Prices
- High
- Cuba
Verdict
Dry and pleasant, but check advice and flights; 1 January national holiday.
Is another month better than January?
No other month rates higher than January for Cuba in this guide.
Weather in January
- 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.Dry season November–April, 68–81 °F (20–27 °C); 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.Summer highs 88–91 °F (31–33 °C); winter lows 64–70 °F (18–21 °C), dropping to 50–55 °F (10–13 °C) when a cold front pushes through, with daytime highs of 70–75 °F (21–24 °C). 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.
- Havana26 °C (79 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 6 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 6 rain days
- Artemisa26 °C (79 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 5 rain days
- Baracoa28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 8 rain days
- Camagüey27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 5 rain days
- Cayo Coco27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 rain days
- Cayo Guillermo27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 5 rain days
- Cayo Largo28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 2 rain days
- Ciego de Ávila28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 5 rain days
- Cienfuegos27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 6 rain days
- Florida27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 5 rain days
- Guanabo26 °C (79 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 5 rain days
- Guanajay26 °C (79 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 5 rain days
- Guantánamo Bay28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 rain days
- Guantánamo30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 5 rain days
- Holguín28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 5 rain days
- Las Terrazas27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
- Maria la Gorda27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 5 rain days
- Matanzas27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 2 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 2 rain days
- Moa27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 2 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 2 rain days
- Morón26 °C (79 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 6 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 6 rain days
- Pinar del Rio27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
- Playa Santa Lucia27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 5 rain days
- Puerto Esperanza26 °C (79 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 5 rain days
- Remedios28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
- Sancti Spíritus27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 5 rain days
- Santa Clara27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 5 rain days
- Santiago de Cuba30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 5 rain days
- Soroa27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 rain days
- Trinidad28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 5 rain days
- Varadero27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 2 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 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.
Triumph of the Revolution and Victory of the Armed Forces
1–2 Jan
Closures; events in Havana.
New Year and Liberation Day
1 January · Havana
Public holiday; many places close.
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
Jan: Mixed
Feb: Mixed
Crowds
Jan: High
Feb: High
Prices
Jan: High
Feb: High
Festivals listed
Jan: 2
Feb: 1
January: Dry and pleasant, but check advice and flights; 1 January national holiday.
February: Dry; Havana Book Fair (check); flights reduced in 2026.
Cuba: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.
Where to go in January
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)
Dry and warm; best walking weather.
Best months: Nov–Apr
Best months: Dec–Apr (drier, cooler)
Best months: Nov–Apr
Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season, cooler temperatures)
Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)
Best months: Nov–Apr
Best months: Nov–Apr
Best months: Nov–Apr