Weather and Climate

Cayo Ensenachos (and the other Cayos of Villa Clara: Cayo Santa Maria and Cayo Las Brujas) have a subtropical climate which is divided into two seasons: The DRY SEASON from November to April (which is also the busiest tourist season) and the WET SEASON from May to October.

Cuba is located at the southwestern periphery of the North Atlantic high atmospheric pressure zone; therefore its climate is influenced by the northeast trade winds during the winter and east-northeast trade winds during the summer. Average annual temperatures do not fluctuate as much as rainfall does, making these cayos a warm place to visit any time of year. Average daytime temperature usually ranges from 25 to 31 degrees C (mid 70’s to high 80’s) See the table of monthly averages below.

Since these cayos are located off the northern coast of Cuba, there’s a greater risk of an occasional cold front (frente frio), especially between December and February, when temperatures can sometimes dip to 15-18 C (60’s F) during the night so that the evenings may be cool. But these cold fronts never last very long, usually less than two days. During this period it’s wise to bring a light jacket and long pants, just in case.

Hottest months are between June and September but the trade winds and marine breeze help to keep things tolerable when the heat and humidity rise. During the wet season there are more mosquitoes, it’s recommended to bring a good repellent, preferably with a high level of DEET, and cream-type products usually remain effective for a longer period of time.

September-October is the peak of the tropical storm and hurricane season and consequently the cheapest time to travel. A major hurricane does not come every year, but when it does it can cause severe flooding, damages and ordered evacuations. Since its tourism development (1999) the "Cayos de Villa Clara" were rarely affected by major hurricanes, compared to other Cuban tourist destinations. In 2008, Hurricane Ike caused very strong waves that damaged four of the many bridges of the 48-km causeway (El Pedraplen). Temporary bypass roads were built, and still today the reconstruction of some of these bridges is not yet complete.

The most enjoyable periods (weather-wise) are usually the transitional months between the two seasons, the months of April and November. These months are usually sunny and warm (both day and night), but without the hot and sticky discomfort of the summer months.

NOTE: You should never take too seriously the weather forecast for tropical destinations because the climate is unstable therefore hard to predict, especially during the wet season (May to October) when rain is forecasted almost daily. And indeed it may rain a little each day, but more often as a short tropical downpour (usually in late afternoon or at night), it rarely rains for several hours straight.

Maximum Daytime Temperature (°C)

Minimum Night Time Temperature (°C)

Rainfall (mm)

Sea Temperature (°C)

Number of Days with Rain

Relative Humidity (%)

Lily & Normand
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