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

The best months for vitamin D in Jamaica are December to March. In March, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 7.9 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is too hot in July and rainy or stormy from April to June and from August to November.

See Jamaica on the interactive map Find stays in Jamaica

Jamaica month by month

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

Month	Rating	Sun window	Peak UV	Full dose, age 30	Full dose, age 65	Afternoon high	Rainy days
January	Good	6.8 h	6.5	8 min	15 min	29°C	10/30
February	Excellent	7.3 h	7.5	7 min	13 min	28°C	9/30
March	Excellent	7.9 h	8.5	6 min	12 min	30°C	15/30
April	Bad weather	8.4 h	8.4	6 min	12 min	29°C	22/30
May	Bad weather	8.7 h	8.7	6 min	11 min	31°C	18/30
June	Bad weather	8.2 h	8.0	7 min	13 min	31°C	26/30
July	Too hot	8.6 h	8.5	6 min	12 min	33°C	19/30
August	Bad weather	8.6 h	8.7	6 min	11 min	32°C	22/30
September	Bad weather	7.6 h	7.9	7 min	13 min	32°C	21/30
October	Bad weather	7.6 h	7.4	7 min	14 min	32°C	22/30
November	Bad weather	5.6 h	5.5	10 min	18 min	29°C	19/30
December	Good	6.1 h	5.7	9 min	18 min	29°C	14/30

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 Jamaica

Why go

Jamaica has reggae, jerk food, waterfalls and warm blue sea, with a strong sense of place.

Best for

Couples, families, music lovers and honeymooners.

What to expect

A drier season from December to April and a wetter, stormier season from June to November. Resorts are often all-inclusive. Take care outside tourist areas and agree prices in advance.

Compare stays in Jamaica

Places in Jamaica

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

Negril best: Excellent

Seven-mile beach and clifftop sunsets.

Best for couples, backpackers, groups

Best months December to March · Avoid too hot from July to September; rainy or stormy from April to June and from October to November

White sandy beaches, countless resorts; Negril is near the western tip of the island

Montego Bay best: Excellent

Main airport town with resorts and a lively strip.

Best for families, couples

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

Filled with historical sites and monuments, Montego Bay is the second city of Jamaica.

Ocho Rios best: Excellent

Waterfalls at Dunn's River and cruise ports.

Best for families, groups

Best months January to March · Avoid rainy or stormy from April to December

Kingston best: Excellent

Capital with Bob Marley's house and a strong music scene.

Best for music fans, culture travellers

Best months December to August · Avoid rainy or stormy from September to November

The capital and largest city in Jamaica.

Port Antonio

Lush north-east, quiet and green.

Best for couples, nature lovers

Best months none · Avoid rainy or stormy all year

Treasure Beach best: Excellent

Easygoing south coast fishing community.

Best for backpackers, couples, quiet-stay seekers

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

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

Questions about vitamin D in Jamaica

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

The best months for vitamin D in Jamaica are December to March. In March, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 7.9 usable sun hours a day.

Can you get vitamin D from the sun in Jamaica in November?

Yes, but slowly. In November a full dose takes about 10 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 5.6 usable hours a day.

How long do I need in the sun in Jamaica?

In March, the best month, about 6 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 12 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 Jamaica?

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

What is the best place in Jamaica for vitamin D?

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