Cuba Weather in May

 Season: Rainy Season 

In Short: hot, rainy season begins, long daytime

Observation Deck in Vinales

Cuba has hot weather in May as a whole. The monthly average temperature reaches a high level, within the range of 22-30°C (71.6°F-86°F). A more obvious climatic change is that the rainy season in Cuba begins in May, which means rainfall gradually increases. The average total precipitation for the month amounts to 98 mm, with 6 days of rain possible. The daytime gets longer and longer from this month, as the sun roughly rises at 7 a.m. and sets at 8 p.m., indicating that there are 13 hours of daytime.

 The warmest cities in Cuba in May 

Pinar del Río: 22.9-30.7°C (73.2°F-87.3°F); Cienfuegos: 23-30.3°C (73.4°F-86.5°F); Holguin: 22.2-31.3°C (72°F-88.3°F)

 The coldest cities in Cuba in May 

Santa Clara: 22.2-29.8°C (72°F-85.6°F); Guantanamo: 22.2-29.9°C (72°F-85.8°F); Santiago de Cuba: 21.8-30°C (71.2°F-86°F)

What to Wear in May

To prevent heat stroke, you should wear light and thin clothes in May in Cuba. Breathable and sweat-absorbing tops like T-shirt or thin sun protective clothing and loose bottoms like shorts, mini skirt are more advised when you going out on clear and cloudless days. As for shoes, you can choose to wear comfortable Crocs or sports shoes. Most importantly, you must wear a sunhat or take a parasol to avoid exposing too much of your skin under the solar radiation. Mosquito repellent and cooling ointment are also essential considering the active insects and tropical climate in Cuba.

Why Travel to Cuba in May

1. The warm sunshine and pleasant temperature for most of the time in May are favorable for your Cuban travel. Although it is in the rainy season, you may just get brief showers in a few afternoons, which has almost no influence on your itinerary. 
2. May is one of the cheapest months to travel to Cuba. As the high season for tourism has ended in April, the airfares and tour prices gradually declines, which becomes more affordable for visitors. And it is easier to find hotels or villas especially at beach resorts.
3. The number of visitors visiting Cuba in May is low, which means you can explore the popular attractions at your own relaxed pace or arrange more travel destinations in your Cuban tour.
4. A few interesting and meaningful festivals are celebrated in Cuba in May, so you can enjoy various grand events such as love-based pride parade, political worker procession and other music and dance parties to get a better understanding of Cuba culture.

Top Attractions to Visit in Cuba in May

Tourism Rate:

Old Havana

Old Havana is a treasure trove of architectural art, with buildings of different styles from all periods. You can make it your first travel destination on rainy days as there are so many indoor attractions such as museums and galleries. The National Museum of Fine Arts is a must-visit for history and art enthusiasts, where an amazing collection of artworks across the ages can be seen. Located on the top floor of the Edificio Gomez Villa building, Da Vinci’s Cámara Oscura is a vantage point to overlook the entire city. Moreover, the Chocolate Museum, more like a chocolate-themed cafe, is a perfect site for those tourists with a sweet tooth.

Vinales

Vinales is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its traditional cigar plantation and unique limestone topography. The must-do things in Vinales in May are all about cigars. A visit to the cigar factory should be a priority, where you can learn about the whole process of growing and producing cigars, and taste the ready-made cigars if interested. You can also take a horse riding tour along the cigar planting farms to touch and smell fresh cigar leaves under the guidance of local farmers, or take a vintage car into the wilderness to enjoy green the natural beauty. 

Varadero

Varadero is one of the prettiest beaches in the world with blue sky, soft sand and crystal clear seawater, and is also a famous resort in Cuba’s tropical style. Taking a leisurely vacation here in hot May is definitely a smart decision. For example, you can sunbath on the beach or on a sun lounger while having a cool drink, or chat with friends pleasurably under straw huts or coconut trees. What’s more, it is also attractive to experience exciting water sports like kayaking and paragliding, or dive deep into the sea to see corals and countless gorgeous fish.

Cuba Festivals in May 2025

The International Day of Workers

Cubans attach great importance to the International Day of Workers and there are large-scale celebrations all over the country during the festival, and by far the biggest being in Havana. On May 1st every year, you can see labors wear red clothes and hold banners, posters and flags aloft to parade to the Revolution Plaza. It’s nice to take photos of this shocking scene or participate in it with little Cuban flags in hands. There are also some music performances showed by Cuban celebrities after the parade. 

Romerias de Mayo

The week-long Romerias de Mayo will begin on May 3rd and last until May 8th, 2025 in Holguin, eastern Cuba. The festival, originally a religious pilgrimage, has now been transformed into a diverse artistic and cultural event. During the celebration period, atmosphere of vitality and joy permeates the whole Holguin, and there are numerous people gathering outdoors to participate in this cultural feast. You can appreciate various types of parades, as well as infectious music and dance shows presented by the locals. 

The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia

Cubans have advanced ideas about gender issues, so they celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia every May 17th. They hold a number of entertainment activities on this day, including a characteristic pride parade and some Cuban music and dance performances. The biggest pride parade takes place on the La Rampa (Calle 23) in Havana. In addition, there are some discussions and workshops on gender topics that you can attend if you are interested.

Festival de Son

It is well known that Cuba thrives in music and you can encounter a festival related to music in any month. Festival de son is celebrated in honor of an excellent musician born in Santiago de Cuba who made great contributions to the son genre of the Cuban music. And the son genre is a blend of African and Spanish musical styles. In addition to appreciate specific musical performances and concerts, you can also watch various dance competitions such as mambo, salsa, and cha-cha styles at this festival.

May Weather of Major Cuba Cities

City	Temperature	Rainfall (mm)	Humidity (%)	Sunrise/ Sunset
Havana	22.4-29.8°C (72.3°F-85.6°F)	98	75	06:55:12  /19:57:26
Camaguey	22-31°C (71.6°F-87.8°F)	112	79	06:39:16  /19:36:35
Holguin	22.2-31.3°C (72°F-88.3°F)	36	77	06:32:05  /19:28:15
Santiago de Cuba	21.8-30°C (71.2°F-86°F)	75	80	06:33:33  /19:28:17
Cienfuegos	23-30.3°C (73.4°F-86.5°F)	113	76	06:48:48  /19:48:38
Guantanamo	22.2-29.9°C (72°F-85.8°F)	95	78	06:29:11  /19:23:41
Santa Clara	22.2-29.8°C (72°F-85.6°F)	138	78	06:46:30  /19:46:55
Pinar del Río	22.9-30.7°C (73.2°F-87.3°F)	90	75	07:02:05  /20:02:35

Cuba Weather by Month