Jamaica in December

Dry season returns; Christmas and New Year are the priciest weeks.

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

• North coast and west · Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios, Port Antoniobest weather

  Dry, breezy winters around 28–30 °C (82–86 °F); showers peak in May and October–November. Port Antonio in the north-east is the wettest coast. Hurricane risk peaks August–October.Dry, breezy winters around 82–86 °F (28–30 °C); showers peak in May and October–November. Port Antonio in the north-east is the wettest coast. Hurricane risk peaks August–October.

• Kingston and the south · Kingston, Treasure Beach, Black Riverbest weather

  Drier and hotter than the north coast, often 32 °C (90 °F) in summer; the south coast is in the rain shadow of the mountains.Drier and hotter than the north coast, often 90 °F (32 °C) in summer; the south coast is in the rain shadow of the mountains.

• Blue Mountains · Hollywell, Mavis Bank, Blue Mountain Peakcool

  Cool, 10–20 °C (50–68 °F) at altitude and near freezing on the peak at dawn; mist and rain most afternoons.Cool, 50–68 °F (10–20 °C) at altitude and near freezing on the peak at dawn; mist and rain most afternoons.

• Cornwall County: West coast (Negril, Montego Bay, Falmouth) · Cornwall County coastlinebest weather

  Dry season roughly December to April; May and September to November are the wettest. Hurricane season runs June to November, peaking August to October.

• Middlesex County: North coast (Ocho Rios, Saint Ann) · Saint Ann and Saint Mary coastbest weather

  Rain May–Oct; September–November is hurricane season. Sea stays warm year-round.

• Middlesex County: Interior hills (Mandeville, Clarendon) · Manchester and Clarendon uplandsbest weather

  Cooler than the coast by several degrees; bring a light layer for evenings.

• Surrey County: Kingston and the south coast · Kingston plain, Morant Baybest weather

  Hot year-round; May–Oct is the wet season and also hurricane season. Kingston sits in a rain shadow, so it is drier than the north coast.

• Surrey County: Portland and the Blue Mountains · Port Antonio, mountain slopesbest weather

  The wettest part of Jamaica; the mountains catch the trade winds. Cooler at altitude — bring a layer for early starts.

• Kingston30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Falmouth29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 7 rain days
• Mandeville30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 5 rain days
• Montego Bay29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 7 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 7 rain days
• Morant Bay30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 6 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 6 rain days
• Negril29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 6 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 6 rain days
• Ocho Rios29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 7 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 7 rain days
• Port Antonio30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Portmore30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 6 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 6 rain days

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 and Boxing Day big impact

  25–26 Dec

  Grand Market street fairs on Christmas Eve; closures.

• Christmas Grand Market

  24 December · Kingston

  Crowded streets; public holiday on 25 December.

Crowds · Jamaica

High

Prices · Jamaica

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

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

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• North coast and west

  Best weather of the year (Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio)

• Kingston and the south

  Best weather of the year (Kingston, Treasure Beach, Black River)

• Kingston

  Dry and comfortable; Christmas peak.

• Falmouth

  Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season)

• Mandeville

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

• Montego Bay

  Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season)

• Morant Bay

  Best months: Dec–Apr

• Negril

  Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season)

• Ocho Rios

  Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season, cooler nights)

• Portmore

  Best months: Dec–Apr