December brings perfect weather to the Caribbean, with trade winds cooling the tropical heat and rainfall at its lowest. The best Caribbean islands to visit in December include Barbados, Aruba, St. Lucia, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, each offering pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and warm temperatures averaging 80°F.
Keep reading as we uncover the best Caribbean islands for December travel that will transform your winter escape into an unforgettable tropical adventure.
List of Contents
- 1. Barbados: Where Rum Flows Like History
- 2. Aruba: Desert Island Paradise
- 3. St. Lucia: Twin Peaks and Chocolate Dreams
- 4. Jamaica: Rhythm and Blue Mountains
- 5. Bahamas: 700 Islands of Possibility
- 6. Turks and Caicos: Conch Bar Caves and Grace Bay
- 7. Dominican Republic: Merengue and Mountain Peaks
- 8. Antigua: 365 Beaches and Nelson's Legacy
- 9. Grenada: Spice Island Perfection
- 10. St. Kitts: Sugar Trains and Volcanic Beaches
1. Barbados: Where Rum Flows Like History
Barbados perfected the art of hospitality over four centuries. The island produces some of the world's finest rum, and locals will tell you the secret: age it in bourbon barrels under the Caribbean sun.
I learned this from a fisherman in Oistins who shared his flask while we watched flying fish skip across the waves. He said the best time to see them is just after sunrise when the water is still.
The beaches on the west coast stay calm year-round, perfect for swimming. The east coast delivers powerful Atlantic swells that create natural swimming pools between the coral reefs.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: December-April
- How to Get There: Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI)
- Entrance Fee: None
- Suggested Stay: 5-7 days
- Key Areas: Bridgetown, St. Lawrence Gap, Oistins, Harrison's Cave
2. Aruba: Desert Island Paradise
Aruba sits outside the hurricane belt, blessed with steady trade winds and less than 20 inches of rain annually. The island's desert landscape creates stunning contrasts against turquoise waters.
Eagle Beach stretches for miles with powder-soft sand and shallow, calm waters. The famous fofoti trees, bent permanently by trade winds, frame perfect sunset shots.
Local tip: Visit the natural pools at Conchi during low tide. The limestone formations create perfect swimming holes protected from ocean swells.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: December-April
- How to Get There: Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA)
- Entrance Fee: None
- Suggested Stay: 4-6 days
- Key Areas: Palm Beach, Eagle Beach, Oranjestad, Arikok National Park
3. St. Lucia: Twin Peaks and Chocolate Dreams
The Pitons rise 2,600 feet straight from the sea, creating St. Lucia's iconic silhouette. These volcanic peaks guard beaches with black sand on one side and golden sand on the other.
December means chocolate harvest season. The Rabot Estate grows cacao in the shadow of the Pitons, where you can taste chocolate made from beans picked that morning.
Anse Chastanet Beach offers the island's best snorkeling, with coral reefs starting just 20 feet from shore. The fish here seem tame, often swimming alongside visitors.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: December-April
- How to Get There: Hewanorra International Airport (UVF)
- Entrance Fee: None
- Suggested Stay: 6-8 days
- Key Areas: Soufrière, Castries, Anse Chastanet, Marigot Bay
4. Jamaica: Rhythm and Blue Mountains
Jamaica moves to its own rhythm, from reggae beats in Kingston to the gentle rustle of Blue Mountain coffee plants. December brings perfect weather for exploring beyond the beaches.
The Blue Mountains produce some of the world's most expensive coffee. Local farmers still pick beans by hand, roasting them in small batches that sell out within hours of production.
You haven't experienced Jamaica until you've eaten jerk chicken from a roadside stand in Portland Parish. The secret is the pimento wood smoke and scotch bonnet peppers grown in mineral-rich volcanic soil.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: December-April
- How to Get There: Norman Manley (KIN) or Sangster (MBJ) airports
- Entrance Fee: None
- Suggested Stay: 7-10 days
- Key Areas: Negril, Montego Bay, Blue Mountains, Port Antonio
5. Bahamas: 700 Islands of Possibility
The Bahamas scatter across 100,000 square miles of Atlantic Ocean, each island offering something different. December weather stays perfect across all 700 islands, with temperatures rarely dropping below 70°F.
Swimming pigs in Exuma became famous, but locals know the real magic happens at Compass Cay, where nurse sharks glide through shallow waters like gentle giants.
Paradise Island connects to Nassau by bridge, but the real paradise lies in the Out Islands where you might be the only person on miles of beach.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: December-April
- How to Get There: Nassau (NAS) or Freeport (FPO) airports
- Entrance Fee: None
- Suggested Stay: 5-8 days
- Key Areas: Nassau, Paradise Island, Exuma, Eleuthera, Andros
6. Turks and Caicos: Conch Bar Caves and Grace Bay
Grace Bay Beach stretches for 12 miles with sand so fine it squeaks under your feet. The water stays bathwater warm year-round, perfect for December swimming.
Conch Bar Caves hide underground lakes and limestone formations that took millions of years to create. Local guides lead tours by headlamp through chambers large enough to hold cathedrals.
The barrier reef here ranks among the world's best. Snorkeling sites start just yards from shore, where sea turtles graze on seagrass beds in crystal-clear water.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: December-April
- How to Get There: Providenciales International Airport (PLS)
- Entrance Fee: None
- Suggested Stay: 5-7 days
- Key Areas: Grace Bay, Chalk Sound, Conch Bar, Smith's Reef
7. Dominican Republic: Merengue and Mountain Peaks
The Dominican Republic shares Hispaniola with Haiti but feels like a different world. December brings perfect weather for exploring both beaches and mountains that rise above 10,000 feet.
Punta Cana's beaches stretch for 20 miles, but locals escape to Playa Rincón on the Samaná Peninsula. This horseshoe bay stays empty except for occasional fishing boats and pelican flocks.
The merengue music you hear everywhere started in Santiago's dance halls. Live bands still play in neighborhood bars where couples dance until sunrise.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: December-April
- How to Get There: Punta Cana (PUJ) or Santo Domingo (SDQ) airports
- Entrance Fee: None
- Suggested Stay: 7-10 days
- Key Areas: Punta Cana, Samaná, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
8. Antigua: 365 Beaches and Nelson's Legacy
Antigua promises a different beach for every day of the year. December weather makes all 365 accessible, from secluded coves to expansive bays with beach bars.
English Harbour preserves Admiral Nelson's naval base exactly as he left it. The Georgian architecture still houses sailing crews who gather at sunset in the same taverns Nelson frequented.
Half Moon Bay curves like a crescent moon, creating natural tide pools perfect for children. The coral sand here contains crushed shells that create pink highlights in bright sunlight.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: December-April
- How to Get There: V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU)
- Entrance Fee: None
- Suggested Stay: 5-7 days
- Key Areas: St. John's, English Harbour, Half Moon Bay, Dickenson Bay
9. Grenada: Spice Island Perfection
Grenada grows more spices per square mile than anywhere else on Earth. December marks nutmeg harvest season, when the air fills with cinnamon, clove, and vanilla scents.
Grand Anse Beach curves for two miles with sand so white it reflects the sky. The water here stays calm and clear, perfect for swimming with schools of tropical fish.
At River Antoine Rum Distillery, they still crush sugarcane with a waterwheel built in 1785. The rum comes straight from wooden vats where it ages in Caribbean heat.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: December-April
- How to Get There: Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND)
- Entrance Fee: None
- Suggested Stay: 5-6 days
- Key Areas: St. George's, Grand Anse, Gouyave, River Antoine
10. St. Kitts: Sugar Trains and Volcanic Beaches
St. Kitts built the Caribbean's only scenic railway on old sugar plantation tracks. The train circles the island in three hours, passing through rainforest, cane fields, and coastal villages.
Mount Liamuiga volcano last erupted 1,800 years ago, leaving behind a crater lake accessible by hiking trail. The rainforest here grows so thick that howler monkeys sound like distant thunder.
Black volcanic sand beaches on the Atlantic side create dramatic contrasts with golden sand beaches facing the Caribbean Sea. Both stay warm enough for December swimming.
Quick Facts:
- Peak Season: December-April
- How to Get There: Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB)
- Entrance Fee: None
- Suggested Stay: 4-6 days
- Key Areas: Basseterre, Frigate Bay, Mount Liamuiga, Brimstone Hill
December transforms the Caribbean into paradise found. These islands offer everything from volcanic peaks to coral gardens, from rum distilleries to spice plantations. The trade winds blow steady, the water stays warm, and every sunset paints the sky in colors that photos never capture.
Pack light clothes and waterproof sandals. Leave room in your luggage for memories that will last long after the tan fades.
Your Caribbean December adventure starts with choosing which island calls to you first.
