How we know: Sources are listed at the end. Weather figures are official climate normals; the US travel rules are taken from the Treasury Department's OFAC FAQ page. Wildly does not publish fare averages in prose; live prices are on the linked route pages.
Read this first: US law does not allow travel to Cuba for tourism. Travel-related spending by anyone under US jurisdiction is only permitted under one of 12 categories of authorized activity (family visits, journalism, professional research, religious activity, "support for the Cuban people" and others), and OFAC's own FAQ states plainly that "travel for tourist activities is not permitted." The weather guide below is for people whose trip qualifies under one of those categories; the rules are covered in detail further down.
Havana weather by month
1991–2020 climate normals for Havana (Casa Blanca station), as published by the World Meteorological Organization and reproduced on Wikipedia:
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Rain days | |---|---|---|---|---| | January | 80°F (26.5°C) | 67°F (19.3°C) | 2.2 in | 6 | | February | 81°F (27.2°C) | 67°F (19.4°C) | 2.3 in | 6 | | March | 83°F (28.5°C) | 68°F (20.3°C) | 2.1 in | 5 | | April | 86°F (29.8°C) | 71°F (21.6°C) | 2.3 in | 5 | | May | 87°F (30.8°C) | 73°F (23.0°C) | 4.7 in | 9 | | June | 89°F (31.6°C) | 75°F (24.1°C) | 6.6 in | 13 | | July | 90°F (32.3°C) | 76°F (24.4°C) | 4.9 in | 11 | | August | 90°F (32.4°C) | 76°F (24.5°C) | 5.7 in | 12 | | September | 89°F (31.8°C) | 75°F (24.1°C) | 6.9 in | 14 | | October | 87°F (30.5°C) | 74°F (23.4°C) | 5.5 in | 12 | | November | 83°F (28.6°C) | 71°F (21.8°C) | 3.2 in | 8 | | December | 81°F (27.2°C) | 68°F (20.3°C) | 2.3 in | 7 |
The pattern is the standard Caribbean one: a dry season from roughly November to April, with highs in the low 80s and only a handful of rainy days a month, and a wet season from May to October that is hotter, more humid and coincides with the Atlantic hurricane season. September is the wettest month.
Season by season
December–March (dry season, peak). The most comfortable weather of the year and the busiest period for visitors, especially Canadians and Europeans escaping winter. Christmas–New Year is the crunch point for lodging in Havana, Viñales and Trinidad.
April–May (late dry season into early wet). Still warm and mostly dry in April; May brings the first rains and a sharp drop in visitor numbers. For weather-plus-crowd balance this is the most forgiving window.
June–October (wet season, hurricane season). Hot, humid, with afternoon storms most days from June and the highest hurricane risk from August to October. Casa particular rates are lowest; travel insurance with weather cover is essential, and any trip in this window should be booked with flexibility.
November (transition). Rain tapers, humidity drops and prices have not yet reached December levels. A good month if your trip qualifies and you can travel before the holiday rush.
US travel rules: what is actually allowed
This is the section that matters more than the weather. According to the OFAC FAQs on Cuba sanctions:
- Travel-related transactions are permitted only for the 12 categories of activity in 31 CFR § 515.560(a): family visits; official government business; journalistic activity; professional research and professional meetings; educational activities; religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops and athletic competitions; support for the Cuban people; humanitarian projects; activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; exportation, importation or transmission of information; and certain authorized export transactions (FAQ 695).
- Tourism is not one of them. FAQ 698: "Is travel to Cuba for tourist activities permitted? No."
- Individual people-to-people travel is not authorized. Group people-to-people educational travel is allowed only under the auspices of a US organization with a representative accompanying the group (FAQ 704).
- The "support for the Cuban people" general license (FAQ 707) requires a full-time schedule of activities that enhance contact with Cubans, support civil society or promote independence from Cuban authorities, and it explicitly excludes free time or recreation beyond what is consistent with a full-time schedule. It also bars direct transactions with entities on the State Department's Cuba Restricted List and lodging at properties on the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List.
- Travelers relying on a general license must keep records of their Cuba-related transactions (FAQ 695 and 707).
Wikivoyage's "Americans in Cuba" page summarizes the same regime: the restriction is on spending money in Cuba, it applies even if you travel via a third country, and travel whose primary purpose is tourism is officially not permitted. Wikivoyage's Cuba page also warns that anyone who has visited Cuba since January 12, 2021 becomes ineligible for the US Visa Waiver Program (relevant to non-US travelers who later want to use ESTA).
If your trip fits a category, read the relevant general license in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations before booking, keep an itinerary and receipts, and expect your airline to ask you to certify your category at check-in.
Cuban entry documents
Separate from the US rules, Cuba requires a tourist card (visa card) for most visitors, which Wikivoyage says is typically valid for 30 days and costs more when purchased from the US than from other departure points. Airlines flying from the US generally sell it at the airport or online before departure. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your planned return (Wikivoyage, Cuba "Get in").
Getting there from the US
Direct commercial service from the US is limited to Havana (HAV); Wikivoyage's "Americans in Cuba" page notes that US-government restrictions ended scheduled flights to other Cuban cities in 2019. According to the José Martí International Airport airlines-and-destinations list, American and Delta fly from Miami and Southwest flies from Tampa. Everyone else connects through South Florida or Tampa, or travels via a third country (which does not change the US legal requirements above).
For today's prices see Miami to Havana, Tampa to Havana and JFK to Havana. If your travel qualifies, set a price alert on your route; Wildly checks the routes you track every day and emails you when the fare drops.
Money and practicalities
US-issued credit and debit cards do not work in Cuba because of the embargo, according to Wikivoyage's "Americans in Cuba" page, so authorized travelers budget for an all-cash trip. Internet access is patchy outside hotels and public hotspots. Book casas particulares (licensed private homestays) and paladares (private restaurants) in advance in the dry season.
Where to go, by month
- December–April: Havana, Viñales and Trinidad in dry, mild weather; the north-coast beaches are at their calmest.
- May and November: The same circuit with fewer visitors and the first or last of the rain.
- June–October: Keep to Havana and the western provinces, travel with insurance, and watch the hurricane forecast.
FAQ
Can US citizens visit Cuba as tourists? No. Under OFAC regulations, travel-related transactions are only permitted for the 12 authorized categories, and tourism is not one of them (OFAC FAQ 698).
What is "support for the Cuban people" travel? A general license for a full-time schedule of activities that support Cuban civil society and independent businesses, with record-keeping requirements and no more free time than is consistent with a full-time schedule (OFAC FAQ 707). It is not a label for an ordinary vacation.
When is hurricane season in Cuba? The Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November, with the highest risk in Cuba from August to October, which is also the wettest stretch in the Havana climate normals.
Which US airports have flights to Havana? Miami (American and Delta) and Tampa (Southwest), per the Havana airport destinations list. Other US cities connect through those.
Do I need a Cuban visa? Yes, a tourist card, sold by airlines flying from the US and valid for a 30-day stay according to Wikivoyage. This is a Cuban requirement and separate from the US OFAC rules.