What Is the Weather Like in St. George's Bay in December?

December marks the beginning of Grenada's dry season, making the harbour and bay area of St. George's genuinely pleasant. Expect daytime highs around 28–29°C (83–84°F), overnight lows around 23°C (74°F), and sea temperatures hovering at a warm 27°C — ideal for swimming right off the Carenage or down at Grand Anse Beach. Rainfall drops sharply from the October–November peak; you'll still get the odd afternoon shower, but nothing that will derail a day out on the water.

What Is St. George's, Grenada Like Weather-wise in December?

December is widely regarded as one of the best months to be in St. George's: the hurricane season officially closes on 30 November, the trade winds return, and the island dries out noticeably compared to October. You'll get around 8–9 hours of sunshine a day, low humidity by Caribbean standards, and very little risk of prolonged rain. The main caveat is that this is also when high-season pricing kicks in, particularly from the 15th onward as Christmas visitors arrive.

What Are the Best Things to Do in St. George's in December?

Grand Anse Beach (a short taxi ride from the capital) is at its most enjoyable in December's calm, dry weather — snorkelling, kayaking, and glass-bottom boat trips all run daily. In town, Fort George rewards a short climb with sweeping views over the harbour, while the Carenage waterfront fills with atmospheric Christmas decorations and impromptu carolling sessions in the evenings. December is also an excellent month to book a day trip to Belmont Estate in St. Patrick to see how Grenada's prized nutmeg and chocolate are produced, as tours run reliably throughout the dry season.

Is December a Good Time to Visit St. George's, Grenada?

Yes — for weather, December is as good as it gets. The combination of reliable sunshine, lower humidity, and warm seas makes it objectively the most comfortable time of year to explore the island. The trade-off is cost: hotels and guesthouses typically charge 20–40% more than low-season rates, and popular dive operators and boat charters can book out around Christmas and New Year. If you're flexible, the first two weeks of December offer high-season weather before the full rush of holiday visitors descends.

What Events and Festivals Happen in St. George's in December?

Grenada takes Christmas seriously, and St. George's is the centre of it. Look out for parol-making — traditional lantern displays hung outside homes and businesses from early December — and community carolling on the Carenage, which tends to happen on weekend evenings in the lead-up to Christmas. Midnight Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Christmas Eve is a genuine local tradition worth attending. New Year's Eve brings fireworks over the harbour; check locally nearer the date for organised events at the Esplanade and nearby resorts.

How Crowded Is St. George's in December?

St. George's is noticeably busier in December than in the low season, but Grenada has never attracted the industrial-scale cruise tourism of Barbados or St. Maarten — so crowds stay manageable. Cruise ships do call at the terminal just north of the Carenage, and on days when two or three ships dock simultaneously the market and Fort George can feel congested between roughly 9 am and 3 pm. The last week of December through New Year is the peak within the peak; if you're visiting then, book accommodation and any guided tours well in advance.

What Should I Pack for St. George's in December?

Lightweight, breathable clothing is the core of any December packing list — linen or cotton for daytime, with one layer (a light cardigan or long-sleeved shirt) for air-conditioned restaurants and the occasional cool evening. Reef-safe sunscreen is essential; the December sun is still intense. Bring sturdy walking sandals for the cobbled streets around the Carenage and Fort George, and a compact umbrella or rain shell for the brief afternoon showers that pass through even in the dry season. Snorkel gear is worth bringing if you plan to explore the Underwater Sculpture Park, though rental is available locally.

How Expensive Is St. George's in December?

December is high season, and prices reflect it. Budget guesthouses in and around St. George's typically run USD 80–120 per night, mid-range hotels USD 150–250, and waterfront or resort properties USD 300 and upward — all roughly 25–40% higher than you'd pay in September or October. Eating out is more affordable than you might expect: a proper lunch at a local rum shop or market stall costs USD 8–15, and even sit-down restaurants on the Carenage stay reasonable by Caribbean standards. Confirm rates for tours and water sports directly with operators, as December pricing can vary significantly.

Can You Swim and Snorkel in St. George's in December?

Absolutely — December is one of the best months for it. Sea temperatures sit around 27°C (81°F), visibility is typically excellent after the lower-rainfall period, and wave action is calmer than during the wetter months. Grand Anse and Morne Rouge beaches, both within a short drive of St. George's, are the go-to spots for a straightforward swim. For snorkelling with a purpose, book a boat trip to the Moliniere-Beauséjour Marine Protected Area, home to Jason deCaires Taylor's famous Underwater Sculpture Park — most operators run morning and afternoon sessions throughout December.

Things to Do in St. George's in December

December weather, activities, events & insider tips

Good time to visit Shoulder Season · Good Value

December Weather in St. George's

Long-run averages for December

82°F (28°C) High Temp

77°F (25°C) Low Temp

3.2 inches (81 mm) Rainfall

76% Humidity

9 Sunny-Day UV

⚠ Very high UV on sunny days: use sunscreen and seek shade at midday

Making the most of December in St. George's? Browse tours and activities in St. George's on GetYourGuide.

Is December Right for You?

Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking

Advantages

+ Cruise ships thin out after Thanksgiving, so Fort George's colonial alleys feel half-empty and the nutmeg-scented air around the 1750-era spice warehouse belongs to locals again. Walk slowly. Breathe. This is the real town.
+ Trade-wind pattern shifts mean mornings stay glass-calm. Good for the 8 km (5 mi) paddle out to Flamingo Bay reef. You can hear parrotfish crunch coral before you even put your mask on.
+ December 13 is Carriacou Parang Festival. String-band music drifts from house to house. Homemade sorrel wine appears in recycled rum bottles. Nobody expects you to know the chorus. Just clap on the off-bbeat.
+ Room blocks released after yacht-race week (late November) drop rates 25-30 %. The same balcony overlooking the Carenage where captains toasted with rum punch last week now costs less than a mediocre dinner back home.

Considerations

− Humidity hovers at 70 % and the UV index punches to 8. Sunburn arrives in 12 minutes, not 20. Shade is scarce on the 1 km (0.6 mi) walk up to Fort Matthew's crumbling ramparts.
− Ten days of brief, hard showers arrive without warning. The cobblestones around the market square turn slick as ice. Every taxi suddenly costs extra for 'rain short-hop' even if you're only going 500 m (1,640 ft).
− Last-minute Christmas shoppers from the diaspora pack Saturday-morning ferries from Trinidad. If you're day-tripping to Carriacou, book the 6:30 AM sailing. Or stand for two hours in a queue that smells of diesel and hair conditioner.

Settled on December? Compare hotel prices in St. George's for your dates on Trip.com.

Explore Other Months

Find the best time for your trip

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

View Year-Round Climate Guide →

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Activities in December

Top things to do during your visit

Underwater Sculpture Park Snorkel Circuits

December's calmest seas fall between 7 AM and 10 AM, when the 1 m (3 ft) vis clears to 15 m (49 ft) and the 65 concrete figures sit in sun-dappled silence rather than the churn of afternoon chop. You'll taste the faint iron of volcanic silt, hear your own breath echo inside the snorkel, and watch schools of juvenile barracuda use the statues as moving shade.

Booking Tip: Book the day before. Operators monitor marine radios for swell forecasts and will cancel if wind picks up. Look for boats that carry fewer than 12 passengers so you can float above 'Vicissitudes' without kicking someone else's fins.

Fort George to Sendall Tunnel Heritage Walks

Start at 4 PM when the 9 °C (48 °F) sea breeze slides through the embrasures and the stone still holds the day's heat against your palm. The 90-second walk through the 1894 tunnel smells of damp limestone and exhaust, then pops you out by the fish market where knife-sharpening sparks fly 2 m (6 ft) across the pavement.

Booking Tip: Self-guided is fine, but a local historian will explain why the cannons point inland (hint: 1795 Fedon rebellion) and where to spot 18th-century mason marks. Join one of the morning groups that assemble beside the yellow Esplanade kiosk.

Carriacou Parang House-to-House Crawls

Only happens mid-December: string bands roam from verandah to verandah, serenading hosts in French patois. You'll sip warm sorrel thick with cloves, taste coconut sugar cakes still soft from the iron skillet, and realise the 'rum shop' is someone's living room with the sofa pushed against the wall.

Booking Tip: No tickets. Just show up in Hillsborough after 7 PM and follow the music. Bring EC$20 bills to drop in the guitar case and a flashlight for the unlit lanes behind the Anglican church.

Grand Etang Trail Morning Treks

December trades torrential rains for mist that clings to 500 m (1,640 ft) elevation. The 3 km (1.9 mi) loop around Grand Etang lake smells of wet nutmeg and fermenting cacao. Mona monkeys crash through trumpet tree branches overhead and the air temperature drops to a cool 20 °C (68 °F) within 15 minutes of leaving the coast.

Booking Tip: Start by 8 AM before cloud cover builds. Leech socks sound excessive until you feel the first one nip inside your trainer. Guides carry them even if you don't ask.

River Antoine Distillery Rum Tours

Crushing season runs December-June; the 1840 waterwheel still turns sugarcane into frothy green juice that smells of cut grass and molasses. You'll taste 75 % 'John Crow' straight from the copper coil. Your tongue goes numb before you register the vanilla-wood notes that only appear in freshly-pressed cane season.

Public Holidays in December

Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds

25 December 2026

Christmas Day