Month guide · Montego Bay · Jamaica
Montego Bay in December
What December is really like in Montego Bay: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
December is one of the best months to visit Montego Bay. Expect average highs of 30°C (86°F), lows of 23°C (73°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 11 hours of daylight. Pleasant and breezy; Christmas and New Year weeks are the most expensive of the year.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 30°C (86°F) / 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Sea temperature
- 27°C (81°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Montego Bay: days average 30°C (86°F) against a yearly average high of 31°C (88°F), and nights fall to about 23°C (73°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with November (31°C (88°F)), December is about as warm; by January highs stay near 30°C (86°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 06:36
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:38
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Sea
- 27°C (81°F)
Late autumn (November). Rains ease and crowds stay light before the December peak.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in January). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Grand Market — Christmas Eve street markets in Jamaican towns (24 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Historic site · Downtown Montego Bay
Sam Sharpe Square
Downtown's main square is named after Samuel Sharpe, the Baptist deacon who led the 1831 Christmas Rebellion of enslaved people and is a National Hero of Jamaica.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
Museum · Downtown Montego Bay
Montego Bay Cultural Centre
A good indoor stop on a rainy or very hot afternoon downtown.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Religious site · Downtown Montego Bay
St James Parish Church
An Anglican church built in the late 18th century in the shape of a Greek cross, rebuilt after an earthquake in 1957.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Nature · Falmouth and Trelawny coast
Luminous Lagoon at Glistening Waters
Go on a dark, moonless night for the brightest glow.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- After dark
- Nature
- Kids
- Couples
The sea averages 27°C (81°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Montego Bay.
What to pack
For highs near 30°C, lows near 23°C and 7 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Montego Bay?
One of the best months to visit Montego Bay, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are January–April. Compare every month.
Montego Bay in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Montego Bay?
It is one of the best months to visit Montego Bay. Pleasant and breezy; Christmas and New Year weeks are the most expensive of the year.
+How warm is Montego Bay in December?
Average highs are around 30°C (86°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Montego Bay in December?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.