Before you pack your bags, grab your sunscreen, slip into your flip-flops, and head to gorgeous Turks and Caicos, you should know about its seasons and weather. The island’s polished, turquoise waters and prismatic sands make it a great place to visit. However, some seasons are more vacation-friendly than others. Travel costs, lodging, weather, crowds, and availability of leisure activities can influence the best time to visit Turks and Caicos.
These are the seasons to consider when arranging your trip:
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High season (peak season)
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Shoulder season
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Off-season
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Rainy season
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Hurricane season
Which season suits you? When is the best time of year to go to Turks and Caicos? Plan in advance to have the best visit possible!
You Choose The Season, We’ll Provide The Tour
Seasons come and seasons go, but Unique Tours and Rentals will always be there to give you exciting, one-of-a-kind excursions to Turks and Caicos. Unlike other tours that visit popular spots, our unique, luxury tours explore the hidden gems.
During your visit, ride horses in the ocean, snorkel, jet ski, and even swim with sea turtles. Book your tour now and enter a world where dreams really do come true!
High Season
The high season (peak season) in the Caribbean Islands is between December and the end of March and draws large crowds to the island. This is the time when droves of travelers escape colder regions and converge on the tropics. During this season, prices catapult, and hotels can cost 30 to 50 percent more than they would during the low season.
Additionally, you may also have trouble booking lodging due to high demand. Make your reservations well in advance, or even months ahead if you’re traveling during the New Year’s holidays.
Every traveler is different, so you may consider crowds and high prices an acceptable trade-off for the island’s sun-kissed beaches and warm weather.
High season is the best time to visit Turks and Caicos for whale watching. You’ll get the breathtaking opportunity to glimpse immense humpback whales as they surge toward their breeding grounds. It’s also an excellent time to spot rays, turtles and playful dolphins.
Temperatures during this season are a vacationer’s dream come true. December kicks off with daytime highs of 82 degrees. Nights are a soothing 71 degrees, ideal for strolls along the murmuring water.
By April, the high season is winding down. This could be the best time to go to Turks and Caicos because many vacationers are heading home. You’ll enjoy temperatures that still linger in the mid-80s and nighttime temperatures that slip to a comfortable 76 degrees.
Fortunately, Turks and Caicos lacks the crush of spring break students that mob other tropical islands. There’s no heavy drinking, wildness, or blaring music. There may be a few more people on the beach for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, but nothing drastically different.
Less-populated beaches aren’t considered “hip,” so they don’t attract spring break revelers. However, you may want to avoid the Grace Bay resorts, as they can get rowdy during school breaks.
Shoulder Season
Shoulder season is the period between the peak and off-peak (low) seasons. It spans the end of April to early June and mid-November to early December. During this period, Caicos weather is still fantastic, but the throngs have dwindled.
Perks for visiting the Caicos Islands during this season include:
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You’ll avoid the blistering summer heat
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You won’t have to pay peak season prices
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You’ll encounter fewer crowds at bars and restaurants, and pay affordable prices
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You can get great flight and hotel deals
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You won’t have to vie for a spot on the beach
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It will be quieter than in the hectic winter months
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You may be able to snag a last-minute deal for a cruise to Turks and Caicos. If the cruise line doesn’t sell enough tickets, you’ll set sail with a great bargain. This is why many travelers consider this season the best time of year to visit Turks and Caicos.
Off-Season (Low Season)
This season extends from mid-April to mid-November. The mercury rises a little higher, but southeast trade winds and brief, spontaneous showers curb the heat. August and September are the warmest summer months.
During low season, you’ll be able to grab deeply discounted hotel and condo rates. Be aware, though, that some businesses temporarily close or perform renovations. This may affect available lodgings or the section of the building you can occupy.
The low season may be the best time of year to go to Turks and Caicos because it has many other advantages including:
More Rest, Relaxation, And Solitude
Don’t let the term “low season” fool you. During this season, hotels, motels, and condos will have minimal occupancy, and the beaches won’t teem with tourists. This may be the best time of the year to visit Turks and Caicos because you won’t have to wrangle a spot on the sand or be shoehorned in with other sun-seekers.
Experience Local People And Their Culture
This season is great for hanging out with the locals and seeing the islands through their eyes. The atmosphere will be calmer, and you’ll get an authentic, unhurried taste of their world.
Festivals And The Opening Of Crab And Lobster Season
If you crave crustaceans, you’ll love the beginning of crab and lobster season. One of the hallmarks of the low season, it’s celebrated with festivals honoring these rugged-shelled ocean dwellers.
During these shindigs, residents and tourists can savor a variety of tantalizing lobster and crab dishes, including Turks and Caicos national dish, and cracked conch. That alone makes this season the best time to go to Turks and Caicos!
Other popular off-season cultural events include:
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Middle Caicos Day
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South Caicos Regatta
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Windvibes
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Provo Summer Festival
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Eco-Seaswim Race for the Conch
Stick around for fall, and you’ll get treated to the world’s one and only conch festival – look forward to conch food, conch jewelry, and conch crafts.
Rainy Season
Turks and Caicos is known for its good weather, but it also has rainy months. Spanning late August to early December, the rainiest month is November, with precipitation averaging 3.7 inches. The showers increase humidity – a muggy 100 percent chance of humidity in August.
Keep in mind that mosquitos and no-see-ums (small flies that bite) are more abundant during rainy months. There may be more of them in flooded areas and regions that have had heavy downpours. Make sure you pack insect repellant.
Hurricane Season
Turks and Caicos’ tropical Atlantic location makes it vulnerable to hurricanes from June 1 through November 30. Most hurricanes arrive at the end of August through October.
Serious hurricanes rarely hit the islands. Hurricane threats are much more common. However, hurricane season isn’t the best time to go to the Caicos Islands. You may risk spoiling your vacation.
If you want to roll the dice, though, you can snag lower prices for flights, hotels, and sports rental equipment during Atlantic hurricane season. Crowds will be sparse, and brilliant sunshine will still be plentiful.
If you like sizzling temperatures, daytime highs can skyrocket into the 90s and fall to average temperatures of 70 degrees at night. For peace of mind, you may want to consider getting travel insurance.
The island has had its fair share of hurricanes, including:
Hurricane Ike, 2008
Hurricane Ike was a fierce, Category 4 storm with wind speeds between 130 and 156 mph. It ripped through this British Overseas Territory, causing nightmarish destruction. About 80 percent of all structures on Grand Turk were damaged or destroyed. Caicos Islands were already reeling from Hurricane Hanna, which struck three days before Ike.
Hurricane Irma, 2017
This hurricane hit South Caicos, Salt Cay, and Grand Turk the hardest. Irma tore off roofs, ravaged buildings, and mowed down 1,300 utility poles. It was a monstrous Category 5 storm, with wind speeds of 175 mph or higher.
Hurricane Dorian, 2019
Dorian was a brutal, Category 5 hurricane. Barreling head-on toward TC, it swerved East, and the island was spared.
A popular island attraction on Governor’s Beach on Grand Turk is the grounded wreckage of the Mega One Triton freighter. It was beached by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Turks And Caicos Has A Season That’s Perfect For You
When you’re planning your vacation to Turks and Caicos, it’s important to choose the best destination. The timing of your trip is also crucial. Do you like hot and sunny? Cool and calm?
Unique Tours and Rentals‘ highly knowledgeable, seasoned crew offers you an unforgettable experience during your perfect season. Book your tour now and let the magic begin!
