Season guide · Turks and Caicos · Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos in the winter high season
December–March: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dwkaminski, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Dry, sunny and breezy with cooler nights, humpback whales passing the Turks Islands and the year's highest prices. Expect highs up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 21 rainy days across December–March.
Key facts
- Months
- December–March
- Temperatures
- 21°C (70°F) to 28°C (82°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 21
- Sea
- 25°C (77°F) to 26°C (79°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in the winter high season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°C (81°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 6 | 10.9 h | 5/5 |
| February | 27°C (81°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 4 | 11.4 h | 5/5 |
| March | 28°C (82°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 4 | 12 h | 5/5 |
| December | 28°C (82°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 7 | 10.8 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 28°C (82°F) against a yearly 30°C (86°F), and 21 of the year's roughly 78 rainy days fall in these 4 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in the winter high season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Humpback whale season around Grand Turk and Salt Cay (roughly January to April)
- February: Humpback whale season around Grand Turk and Salt Cay (roughly January to April)
- March: Humpback whale season around Grand Turk and Salt Cay (roughly January to April)
- December: Maskanoo — Boxing Day street festival with costumes and junkanoo on Grace Bay Road (26 December)
Make the most of the weather
Beach · Grace Bay
Grace Bay Beach
Provo's signature beach runs for several kilometres along the north shore with soft white sand and calm turquoise water, sheltered by the barrier reef offshore.
- Time needed
- Half a day or more
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Nature · The Bight
Bight Reef (Coral Gardens)
Go early in the morning when the water is calmest and turtles are most active, and float rather than stand to protect the coral.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Active
Nature · Turtle Cove
Smith's Reef
Near Turtle Cove, Smith's Reef has larger, healthier coral formations than Bight Reef, with turtles, eagle rays and reef fish.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Active
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Chalk Sound and Taylor Bay
Chalk Sound National Park
Rent a clear-bottomed kayak or paddleboard in the morning, when the wind is lighter and the water colour is strongest.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Views
- Photo spot
- Active
Beach · Chalk Sound and Taylor Bay
Sapodilla Bay
A small, sheltered bay on Provo's south coast with calm, knee-to-waist-deep water and soft sand, popular with families and locals.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
Day trips in the winter high season
- North and Middle Caicos (About 30 minutes by ferry, then driving) — North Caicos has Flamingo Pond, the Wades Green plantation ruins and quiet beaches; a causeway leads to Middle Caicos, with the Conch Bar Caves and the cliffs and lagoon at Mudjin Harbour.
- Grand Turk (About 35 minutes by air) — The capital island combines Cockburn Town's colonial Front Street, the National Museum, the lighthouse and the old salt ponds with excellent wall diving and snorkelling close to shore.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the winter high season a good time to visit Turks and Caicos?
It is a trade-off: Dry, sunny and breezy with cooler nights, humpback whales passing the Turks Islands and the year's highest prices. The best months overall are April–June.
+What is the weather like in Turks and Caicos in the winter high season?
Highs of up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 21 rainy days over the season.