Month guide · Montego Bay · Jamaica
Montego Bay in May
What May is really like in Montego Bay: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: SpaceEconomist192, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 31°C (88°F), lows of 24°C (75°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 13 hours of daylight. First rainy spell with afternoon showers; good-value resort rates.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 31°C (88°F) / 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 13 hours
- Sea temperature
- 28°C (82°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 7th-warmest month in Montego Bay: days average 31°C (88°F) against a yearly average high of 31°C (88°F), and nights fall to about 24°C (75°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with April (31°C (88°F)), May is about as warm; by June highs stay near 32°C (90°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:38
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 18:38
- Daylight
- About 13 hours
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F)
High season (December–April). Dry, sunny and breezy, with full resorts and the highest prices around Christmas and spring break.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Montego Bay, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
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
Neighbourhood · Falmouth and Trelawny coast
Falmouth historic town
Laid out in the late 18th century, Falmouth has a grid of Georgian buildings, the Water Square, the courthouse and the William Knibb Memorial Baptist Church, linked to the abolitionist missionary.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
The sea averages 28°C (82°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Montego Bay.
What to pack
For highs near 31°C, lows near 24°C and 9 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Montego Bay?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, December–April are better overall. Compare every month.
Montego Bay in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Montego Bay?
It is a shoulder-season month. First rainy spell with afternoon showers; good-value resort rates.
+How warm is Montego Bay in May?
Average highs are around 31°C (88°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Montego Bay in May?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.