Vitamin D in Saint Barthélemy in October: sun, UV and what to expect
Excellent Excellent. The sun is strong for most of the day in Saint Barthélemy in October, so a full vitamin D dose takes only about 7 minutes at midday, and the usable window lasts 7.4 hours a day.
Best places in Saint Barthélemy in October: Gustavia (excellent), Saint-Jean (excellent), Colombier (excellent), Shell Beach (excellent), Flamands (excellent).
Open Saint Barthélemy for October on the map Find stays in Saint Barthélemy
How long in the sun in October?
- Plan your sun session around midday (roughly 11:00 to 15:00), when the UV Index peaks at about 7.5. With about a quarter of your skin bare, a full dose takes around 7 minutes for skin type III at age 30, and about 13 minutes at age 65.
- Stop well before your skin turns pink. At this UV level skin type III can start to burn after about 27 minutes of midday sun, so cover up, find shade and use SPF 30+ on skin that stays out.
- On clear days the UV Index reaches about 8.0, which is very strong. Keep sessions short and protect the rest of the day.
- Storm season: October is within the tropical storm season here. Storms are possible but less likely than at the peak, so check forecasts and use flexible bookings and travel insurance.
- Water, sand and light surfaces reflect UV, so at the beach you get a little more sun than the number suggests, for the good and the bad.
| Skin type | Full dose, age 30 | Full dose, age 65 | Time to burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type I | 5 min | 9 min | 18 min |
| Type II | 6 min | 11 min | 22 min |
| Type III | 7 min | 13 min | 27 min |
| Type IV | 11 min | 20 min | 40 min |
| Type V | 14 min | 27 min | 53 min |
| Type VI | 24 min | 44 min | 89 min |
Minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, at Colombier, the median coastal place. Time to burn is the time to reach one minimal erythemal dose and does not depend on age. A rough planning guide, not medical advice.
Places in Saint Barthélemy in October
| Place | Rating | Sun window | Full dose | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gustavia | Excellent | 7.4 h | 7 min | 30°C | 13/30 |
| Saint-Jean | Excellent | 7.4 h | 7 min | 29°C | 13/30 |
| Colombier | Excellent | 7.4 h | 7 min | 30°C | 13/30 |
| Shell Beach | Excellent | 7.4 h | 7 min | 29°C | 13/30 |
| Flamands | Excellent | 7.4 h | 7 min | 30°C | 13/30 |
Other months in Saint Barthélemy
- Jan Excellent
- Feb Excellent
- Mar Excellent
- Apr Excellent
- May Excellent
- Jun Excellent
- Jul Excellent
- Aug Bad weather
- Sep Bad weather
- Oct Excellent
- Nov Bad weather
- Dec Good
Best months: October, December to July. Full Saint Barthélemy guide