The best time of year to visit Puerto Plata

The north coast is warm all year, with daytime temperatures between 28 and 32 degrees and water that rarely drops below 26. What changes is the rain, the wind and the number of visitors. December to April is the classic high season: drier, slightly cooler evenings and the busiest months for excursions. This is also whale season in Samaná, from mid January to late March, which is reason enough to travel in winter. May to November brings warmer, more humid days and short afternoon showers that usually pass in an hour. Hotels are cheaper, beaches are quieter and the sea is at its calmest in the summer months. Hurricane season runs from June to November, but direct hits on the north coast are rare and forecasts give several days of notice. If you want to kitesurf in Cabarete, the wind is strongest from December to August. If you want flat sea for snorkelling and catamaran trips, aim for the summer.