VitaminDholidays

Vitamin D in Cuba: best months for sun and a travel guide

The best months for vitamin D in Cuba are November to May. In April, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.4 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is too hot in July and rainy or stormy in June and from August to October.

See Cuba on the interactive map Find stays in Cuba

Cuba month by month

Cuba is rated at its median coastal place, for skin type III at age 30. Click a month for the details.

MonthRatingSun windowPeak UVFull dose, age 30Full dose, age 65Afternoon highRainy days
JanuaryGood6.2 h5.79 min18 min28°C0/30
FebruaryExcellent7.1 h7.08 min14 min27°C4/30
MarchExcellent7.7 h8.07 min13 min30°C1/30
AprilExcellent8.4 h8.86 min11 min31°C6/30
MayExcellent8.7 h8.96 min11 min33°C11/30
JuneBad weather8.1 h8.07 min13 min30°C20/30
JulyToo hot9.2 h8.86 min11 min32°C0/30
AugustBad weather8.5 h8.56 min12 min31°C22/30
SeptemberBad weather8.3 h8.27 min12 min32°C18/30
OctoberBad weather7.3 h7.08 min14 min30°C16/30
NovemberGood6.2 h5.79 min18 min28°C9/30
DecemberGood5.4 h5.210 min19 min28°C4/30

Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.

Travel guide: why go to Cuba

Why go

Cuba is a colourful island of vintage cars, music, old Havana and long white beaches on its northern cays.

Best for

Culture travellers, couples and budget-minded beach goers.

What to expect

A dry season from November to April and a hot, wet season with hurricane risk from June to November. Services and supplies are limited, so bring what you need and cash. The internet is slow.

Compare stays in Cuba

Places in Cuba

Each place has its own climate, so its best months can differ from the country as a whole.

Havana best: Excellent

Vibrant capital of faded colonial grandeur, music and classic cars.

Best for culture travellers, couples

Best months November to April · Avoid too hot in May and in July; rainy or stormy in June and from August to October

Cosmopolitan capital with swinging nightlife

Varadero best: Excellent

Long white beach with big all-inclusive resorts.

Best for families, couples, groups

Best months November to May · Avoid too hot from June to September; rainy or stormy in October

Trinidad best: Excellent

Cobbled UNESCO town near the sea and sugar valley.

Best for culture travellers, couples

Best months July, November to April · Avoid rainy or stormy from May to June and from August to October

World Heritage Site with charming, colonial-era buildings

Cayo Coco best: Excellent

All-inclusive island resorts on bright shallow sea.

Best for couples, families

Best months July, November to May · Avoid rainy or stormy in June and from August to October

Cayo Santa María best: Excellent

Causeway-linked cay with a clear lagoon and quiet beaches.

Best for couples, families

Best months November to June · Avoid too hot from July to September; rainy or stormy in October

Viñales best: Excellent (inland)

Tobacco-farm valley of limestone hills.

Best for hikers, culture travellers

Best months November to May · Avoid rainy or stormy from June to October

A national park in Pinar del Rio province, with mountains and caves; it has the best-developed tourist facilities of Cuba's…

Santiago de Cuba best: Excellent

Music-rich eastern city and cradle of the revolution.

Best for culture travellers

Best months November to July · Avoid rainy or stormy from August to October

Coastal city rich in Caribbean influence and steeped in revolutionary history

Cienfuegos best: Excellent

French-style bay city, calm and elegant.

Best for culture travellers, couples

Best months November to May · Avoid too hot from July to August; rainy or stormy in June and from September to October

A French-founded city that rivaled (and eventually overtook) Trinidad as Cuba's main southern Port

Some short descriptions come from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Questions about vitamin D in Cuba

When is the best time to visit Cuba for vitamin D?

The best months for vitamin D in Cuba are November to May. In April, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.4 usable sun hours a day.

Can you get vitamin D from the sun in Cuba in December?

Yes, but slowly. In December a full dose takes about 10 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 5.4 usable hours a day.

How long do I need in the sun in Cuba?

In April, the best month, about 6 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 11 minutes at age 65. Darker skin needs longer and fair skin burns sooner, so keep sessions short. This is an estimate for planning, not medical advice.

Which months should I avoid in Cuba?

For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is too hot in July and rainy or stormy in June and from August to October.

What is the best place in Cuba for vitamin D?

In April the strongest sun of the places we rate is around Cayo Coco. Each place has its own rating, so open the place list to compare them.

Plan by month

Similar destinations

Best places for vitamin D in April · Vitamin D explained