The Best Time to Go to Dominica
The best time to go to Dominica is between December and May. Dominica’s position in the middle of the Caribbean’s Lesser Antilles island chain gives it a year-round tropical climate, ranging from about 26 – 32°C on average. Rainfall here can be heavy and sustained however, with the rainy season lasting from June to November during which precipitation increases month on month, from around 150 – 350mm per day. As most of the rain arrives with the trade winds from the Atlantic to the northeast, the island’s central mountains shield the west coast from the worst of it, with the average annual rainfall measuring just 100cm compared to 700cm in the interior.
Travellers hoping for memorable wildlife sightings will want to time their trip to coincide with the movements of the island’s resident animals. Perhaps the most famous creature associated with Dominica is the sperm whale, with a group of these gigantic cetaceans living in the nearby waters year-round. Our expert-led safaris depart in February, April and August. Three species of sea turtle also come to Dominica to nest between the months of March and October. Leatherbacks, greens and hawksbills come to the southeast and northeast beaches between March and August, but you can also see nesting greens and hawksbills if you head to the west coast from May to October.