When to travel

Situated firmly in the tropics, Barbados is a year-round destination with bags of sunshine, very little rain and daytime high temperatures that hover around 28–30 degrees Celsius (82–86 degrees Fahrenheit), though humidity at certain times of the year can make it feel hotter. The hilly central region is slightly cooler, and receives a little more rainfall.

Seasons are usually referred to as the dry season (Dec–April) and the wet (or rainy) season (May–Nov), though climate change is making them less predictable. High season coincides with the fractionally cooler dry season when the refreshing north-east Trade Winds are at their strongest, helping to moderate the heat and humidity. August and September can be particularly clammy.

June to November marks the Caribbean’s hurricane season, but the island’s easterly location means it has not experienced a major blow since 1955. The occasional tropical wave or storm passes each season, but more often, Barbados experiences heavy, localised showers that clear the air and rarely trouble holiday plans. That said, with climate change, extreme weather events are becoming less predictable.

What to bring