Cuba Weather in December

 Season: Dry Season 

In Short: sunny, dry, enough sunshine duration

A Night Bar in Vinales

The weather of Cuba in December is expected to be sunny most of the time with little rain. The monthly average temperature is in the range of 20-26°C (68°F-78.8°F), which is neither too hot nor cold. The fact is that the eastern provinces of Cuba is slightly warmer than others. The total precipitation for the month is as low as 58 mm and there is an average of 5 days of rain, while the north of the island has a higher chance of rain than other regions. Moreover, the sun usually rises at around 6:30 a.m. and sets near at 5:30 p.m. And on average, you can enjoy 7 hours of sunshine a day in December.

 The warmest cities in Cuba in December 

Guantanamo: 21.2-28.3°C (70.2°F-82.9°F); Santiago de Cuba: 20.5-28.5°C (68.9°F-83.3°F); Holguin: 20.2-28.2°C (68.4°F-82.8°F)

 The coldest cities in Cuba in December 

Pinar del Río: 19.8-26.6°C (67.6°F-79.9°F); Havana: 19.5-26.5°C (67.1°F-79.7°F); Santa Clara: 19.1-26.5°C (66.4°F-79.7°F)

What to Wear and Pack to Visit Cuba in December

During the warm daytime, you can just wear a breathable T-shirt and shorts. While at cool nights, you’d better add a thin jacket or a trench coat and choose thin jeans as your bottoms to protect you from catching a cold. Comfortable sneakers is more advised when you visit some natural parks and sports sandals can be more suitable for beach fun. Most importantly, always remember to pack sun protection items, raingear and mosquito sprays in your suitcase when you plan a trip to this tropical island.

Top Things to Do in Cuba in December

Tourism Rate:
Ideal December climate in Cuba makes the month peak tourist season, so during your trip, you can enjoy more diverting amusements than ever before. Without much heat and rain, not only can you laze on the beach soaking up the sun or venture out into the waves for a swim, but also can you explore the streets of these colonial cities and hike through the countryside to enjoy the natural beauty. Lively and fancy festivals are also an important factor in attracting tourists to Cuba at this time. However, it is important to arrange your airline and accommodation in advance because the whole island is crowded with tourists in this month, especially around the Christmas.

Sightseeing on City Streets

It is relaxing to wander through Cuba’s city streets to learn about the rich and unique Cuban history and culture on fine, clear and calm days in December. Almost every city in Cuba has splendid colonial buildings and relics, museums of diverse themes and stately churches. For example, Trinidad is described as an open-air museum and you can start your Trinidad journey from its Main Square. The capital, Havana, is also a city worth visiting, and it’s nice to start your sightseeing in a vintage car in its Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Moncada Barracks, a landmark of historical significance in Santiago de Cuba, is also waiting for you to explore thoroughly.

Hiking or Horse Riding in the Countryside

Very little rainfall and low humidity in December in Cuba create favorable conditions for hiking or horse riding, which means you can explore Cuba’s rural areas, as well as some famous mountains and natural reserves in a more enjoyable and comfortable way. One of the most popular destinations is Vinales, where you can ride a horse to appreciate the flowering tobacco plants and trek through its famous Vinales Valley. Sierra Escambray, and Pinares de Mayarí are also welcomed by hikers. If you are a bold challenger, you should give it a try to conquer the Sierra Maestra.

Observing Birds in Natural Reserves

Seasonal migratory birds from the north flock to Cuba’s wetlands and forests in December, so it is also a good time for observing birds. Zapata National Park, Guanahacabibes National Park, and mountainous Pinares de Mayarí are some of the best birding spots in Cuba. You can also escape the crowds and go to the nature reserves in Las Terrazas, where there are plentiful endemic wildlife besides birds. Just 15 minutes from the city of Trinidad, El Cubano Nature Park is also a tropical habitat for some wild animals, and you can also have an exciting experience here.

Having Fun on Charming Beaches

Abundant charming beaches in Cuba attract a number of visitors from all over the world at any time, especially in its dry season. The sea temperature in December is warm enough for scuba diving, snorkeling and other water sports and you can see so many incredible marine creatures through the crystal clear water. Plus there are plenty of offshore activities such as sunbath and beach volleyball for you to enjoy, and you may find almost all beaches here are crowded with tourists during this month. Varadero, Playa Ancon and Caya Coco are considered to be some of the perfect places to spend a leisurely and relaxing vacation.  

Taking Part in Colorful Festivals

Cuba is a Catholic country, so Christmas in December 25th is celebrated with great enthusiasm. During this festival, you can partake traditional roast pig and classic Cuban dishes. Besides, Las Parrandas is one of the biggest December cultural events celebrated in the city of Remedios. Local Cubans hold fantastic light shows or firework displays, musical performances and street parties from 19th to 24th.  You can also experience a religious pilgrimage named the Procession of Miracles in mid-December, where you can see a great scene of thousands of pilgrims walking or crawling to the Sanctuario de San Lázaro. Last but not least,The Havana Film Festival is highly sought after by Latin-American filmmakers and is warmly celebrated in Havana on December 5th to 15th in 2024. Actually, other Cuban cities also host film festivals, but Havana is the best place to acquaint yourself with all kinds of film genres and to meet new directors and producers. At this festival, you can enjoy various film screenings and gain a lot of creative ideas shared by the professional in the field.

December Weather of Major Cuba Cities

City	Temperature	Rainfall (mm)	Humidity (%)	Sunrise/ Sunset
Havana	19.5-26.5°C (67.1°F-79.7°F)	57.6	75	06:54:36  /17:43:17
Camaguey	19.8-28.1°C (67.6°F-82.6°F)	25	83	06:32:44  /17:28:20
Holguin	20.2-28.2°C (68.4°F-82.8°F)	11	82	06:24:10  /17:21:23
Santiago de Cuba	20.5-28.5°C (68.9°F-83.3°F)	25	80	06:33:26  /17:27:55
Cienfuegos	19.9-27.1°C (67.8°F-80.8°F)	21	81	06:45:17  /17:37:22
Guantanamo	21.2-28.3°C (70.2°F-82.9°F)	24	80	06:19:16  /17:18:50
Santa Clara	19.1-26.5°C (66.4°F-79.7°F)	25	82	06:43:41  /17:34:57
Pinar del Río	19.8-26.6°C (67.6°F-79.9°F)	31	81	06:59:23  /17:50:31

Cuba Weather by Month