September and October are the worst months for Punta Cana because of hurricanes, and sargassum seaweed can hit beaches from April to August. Month by month, from the UK.
The worst time to go to Punta Cana is September and October, the peak of the Caribbean hurricane season, with the highest weather risk and heavy rain. The second problem, less well known but more frequent, is sargassum seaweed, which can cover the beaches between April and August.
Let's look at both in detail, because the low prices in those months have a very specific explanation. And if you're flying from the UK, timing matters even more: it's a long-haul trip that you don't want to spend indoors.
In this article
- Hurricane season
- Sargassum: the problem nobody warns you about
- The worst time to go to Punta Cana, month by month
- Getting there from the UK
- Other reasons Punta Cana might not be what you're after
- The alternative: a tropical island with no hurricanes
- Frequently asked questions
- Another tropical island, in another ocean
Hurricane season
The official Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, peaking between August and October.
It's worth keeping in perspective: the chance of a hurricane hitting Punta Cana directly during your week's holiday is low. What is common is everything else:
- Whole days of rain and grey skies
- Rough seas, red flags and no swimming
- Boat trips cancelled
- Flights delayed or cancelled because of tropical storms
- Hotel activities moved indoors
If you travel in those months, take out insurance that covers weather-related cancellation and check your hotel's policy. Booking a package with an ATOL-protected operator also gives you more protection if flights are disrupted.
Sargassum: the problem nobody warns you about
For many travellers, this is the biggest disappointment. Sargassum is a brown seaweed that arrives in large quantities on Caribbean coasts, piles up on the shore and gives off an unpleasant smell as it rots.
- Usual season: April to August, with the worst months between May and July
- It varies a great deal from year to year and from beach to beach
- Big resorts clean their stretch of beach every day, which largely mitigates the problem in Bávaro and Punta Cana
- Public beaches and small coves can become unusable
There's no way to predict it months ahead. If you travel in that window, prioritise hotels that clear sargassum daily and have a good pool.
The worst time to go to Punta Cana, month by month
- December–April: the best time. Dry, sunny, no hurricanes and little sargassum. Also the most expensive and busiest, especially at Christmas, Easter and the February half-term.
- May: the rain starts and it's often one of the worst months for sargassum.
- June–July: high heat and humidity, sargassum likely, start of hurricane season. Low prices, except during UK school holidays.
- August: peak heat and rising hurricane risk, with summer-holiday prices from the UK.
- September–October: the worst months. Highest risk of hurricanes and heavy rain. Some hotels even close.
- November: improves from mid-month as hurricane season ends.
Getting there from the UK
TUI runs non-stop flights to Punta Cana from London Gatwick and Manchester, and has added seasonal departures from Belfast; other airlines connect via their hubs in Europe or the US. Non-stop seats sell out fastest in winter and during school holidays, which are precisely the months with the best weather, so book early if you want to avoid the bad months.
Other reasons Punta Cana might not be what you're after
Beyond the weather, some people come home feeling they never saw the country:
- It's a closed-resort model. Many travellers spend the whole week inside the hotel and barely set foot in the real Dominican Republic.
- Crowds. Punta Cana and Bávaro receive millions of visitors a year; the big hotels' beaches are busy.
- Little cultural variety. The area was built for beach tourism, not around a place with its own life.
- Misleading all-inclusive prices. Excursions and premium drinks cost extra and add up quickly.
For a great many people, Punta Cana is exactly what they wanted: postcard beaches, everything sorted and a fixed price. It's a destination that delivers what it promises. But if what you really wanted was a genuine tropical island, maybe you need a different destination rather than a different month.
The alternative: a tropical island with no hurricanes
Sao Tome and Principe: two volcanic islands in the Gulf of Guinea, right on the equator. The comparison is interesting precisely where Punta Cana falls short:
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São Tomé and Príncipe Circuit — 8 Days
- No hurricanes. The archipelago lies in the equatorial zone, outside the tracks of tropical cyclones. No risk season at any time of year.
- Far from Caribbean sargassum. The large seasonal seaweed influxes that blanket Caribbean beaches aren't part of the usual experience on these islands.
- No crowds. It's one of the least visited countries in the world: you can spend a whole day on a beach without seeing anyone.
- Sea at 27–29 °C all year, just like the Caribbean.
- There's a country to discover, not just a hotel: equatorial rainforest, colonial cocoa plantations, Pico Cão Grande, humpback whales from July to October and nesting turtles from September to April.
- You can stand with one foot in each hemisphere at the equator monument on Ilhéu das Rolas.
What you need to know before comparing them: there are no all-inclusive resorts or Caribbean-style tourist infrastructure here. Accommodation is simpler, there's no direct flight from the UK (you fly via Lisbon) and malaria means taking antimalarials. It's a journey of discovery, not a sunbed with a wristband.
The price is surprisingly comparable: roughly €2,200–2,700 (about £1,900–2,350) per person for eight days with flights from the UK, accommodation, guide, 4x4 and most meals. See the best time to visit Sao Tome and Principe to choose your dates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the worst month to go to Punta Cana?
September and October, because of the peak of hurricane season and heavy rain.
When is sargassum season in Punta Cana?
Usually from April to August, with the worst months between May and July. It varies a lot from year to year.
What is the best time to go to Punta Cana?
December to April: dry, sunny and no hurricane risk. Also the most expensive period.
Is it worth going during hurricane season for the price?
It can be, if you accept the risk of rainy days and take out insurance covering weather-related cancellation.
When is the cheapest time to go to Punta Cana?
June to October, during hurricane season (outside UK school holidays). For a balance of price and good weather, aim for the second half of November or early December, before Christmas.
What is the busiest time to go to Punta Cana?
Christmas and New Year, February half-term and Easter, when European and North American holidays overlap with the best weather.
Are there hurricanes in Sao Tome and Principe?
No. It lies in the equatorial zone, outside the tracks of tropical cyclones.
Another tropical island, in another ocean
Our 8-day Sao Tome and Principe circuit takes in untouched beaches, equatorial rainforest, cocoa plantations and Ilhéu das Rolas, privately and with a local English-speaking guide, from €1,250 per person (flights and insurance not included).
Read our complete Sao Tome and Principe travel guide or get in touch.