AI-generatedPunta Cana at a glance
- Best time
- Dec – Sep
- Warmest month
- Aug · 29°
- Warmest sea
- Sep · 29.1°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,900 h
- Rain a year
- 959 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC−4
- Elevation
- 28 m
Climate in Punta Cana
Punta Cana has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. August is the warmest month with average highs of 29 °C, while January is the coolest at 26 °C. With around 2,900 hours of sunshine a year, Punta Cana is sunny; April is the sunniest month with 8.6 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: December – September
October is the peak of the hurricane season
Keep in mindFrequent rainStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 27°
- Midday, 13:00: about 28°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 28°
- Evening, 20:00: about 27°
- Night, 23:00: about 27°
06:2718:12
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
What is the weather like in Punta Cana in October?
In October, Punta Cana is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 21 days, totalling 125 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Punta Cana.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 45 min06:27 – 18:12
- UV index
- 10 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or more
- Wind
- 17 km/haverage daily peak
- Cloud cover
- 58 %on average
- Hot days
- 1 day30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC−4America/Santo_Domingo
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %100 %
- Seaweight 25 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %67 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Punta Cana
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 28.4 – 29.5 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Punta Cana ranges from 26.4 °C in February to 29.1 °C in September. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in September, while the air already peaks in August. From September to February the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in September, eight out of ten years were between 28.6 and 29.6 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 26.7° | 26.2° | 27.2° | warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 26.4° | 25.7° | 26.9° | warm |
| MarchMar | 26.4° | 25.7° | 26.9° | warm |
| AprilApr | 26.7° | 26.1° | 27.3° | warm |
| MayMay | 27.4° | 26.9° | 28.0° | warm |
| JuneJun | 28.0° | 27.5° | 28.5° | warm |
| JulyJul | 28.3° | 27.9° | 28.7° | warm |
| AugustAug | 28.7° | 28.3° | 29.2° | warm |
| SeptemberSep | 29.1° | 28.6° | 29.6° | very warm |
| OctoberOct | 29.0° | 28.4° | 29.5° | very warm |
| NovemberNov | 28.4° | 27.7° | 28.9° | warm |
| DecemberDec | 27.4° | 26.7° | 28.0° | warm |
Sunshine hours in Punta Cana
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 7.0 of 11.7 hours of daylight in Punta Cana, 60 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Punta Cana
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 10 · very highStay in the shade around midday; SPF 50, clothing, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in May (UV 13).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 15 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 25 min
- Olive skin
- about 30 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Punta Cana: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Punta Cana has about 21 rainy days with 125 mm of rain in total.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 83 | 26° | 24° | 26.7° | 7.6 h | 12 | 38 |
| FebruaryFeb | 88 | 26° | 24° | 26.4° | 8.1 h | 10 | 32 |
| MarchMar | 89 | 26° | 24° | 26.4° | 8.2 h | 10 | 37 |
| AprilApr | 87 | 27° | 24° | 26.7° | 8.6 h | 12 | 57 |
| MayMay | 80 | 28° | 25° | 27.4° | 8.3 h | 16 | 99 |
| JuneJun | 81 | 29° | 26° | 28.0° | 8.6 h | 16 | 76 |
| JulyJul | 79 | 29° | 26° | 28.3° | 8.6 h | 19 | 95 |
| AugustAug | 77 | 29° | 26° | 28.7° | 8.2 h | 20 | 111 |
| SeptemberSep | 75 | 29° | 26° | 29.1° | 7.6 h | 19 | 126 |
| OctoberOct | 73 | 29° | 26° | 29.0° | 7.0 h | 21 | 125 |
| NovemberNov | 73 | 27° | 25° | 28.4° | 6.9 h | 18 | 108 |
| DecemberDec | 81 | 27° | 24° | 27.4° | 7.6 h | 14 | 55 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)
18.58° N, 68.40° W · 28 m · America/Santo_Domingo
Best time to visit Punta Cana
The best time to visit Punta Cana is from December to September. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from February to March. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from February to March. Rain is most frequent from April to January; the wettest month is September with 126 mm.
Punta Cana through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Punta Cana in the dry season
Feb – Mar
Excellent
- 26 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 21 rainy days in all
Punta Cana in the rainy season
Apr – Jan
Good
- 26–29 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 168 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Punta Cana for you.
Your best months: February – April
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Feb – Mar
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Feb – Mar
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Apr – Jan
12 or more rainy days
Punta Cana month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
83January26° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In January, Punta Cana is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 38 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Punta Cana.
Punta Cana in January88February26° · Sea 26° · 8 h
In February, Punta Cana is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 32 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Punta Cana.
Punta Cana in February89March26° · Sea 26° · 8 h
In March, Punta Cana is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 37 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in Punta Cana.
Punta Cana in March87April27° · Sea 27° · 9 h
In April, Punta Cana is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 57 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Punta Cana.
Punta Cana in April80May28° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In May, Punta Cana is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 16 days, totalling 99 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in Punta Cana.
Punta Cana in May81June29° · Sea 28° · 9 h
In June, Punta Cana is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.0 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 16 days, totalling 76 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Punta Cana.
Punta Cana in June79July29° · Sea 28° · 9 h
In July, Punta Cana is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.3 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 19 days, totalling 95 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Punta Cana.
Punta Cana in July77August29° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In August, Punta Cana is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 20 days, totalling 111 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Punta Cana.
Punta Cana in August75September29° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In September, Punta Cana is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 19 days, totalling 126 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Punta Cana.
Punta Cana in September73October29° · Sea 29° · 7 h
In October, Punta Cana is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 21 days, totalling 125 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Punta Cana.
Punta Cana in October73November27° · Sea 28° · 7 h
In November, Punta Cana is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 18 days, totalling 108 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Punta Cana.
Punta Cana in November81December27° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In December, Punta Cana is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 27.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 14 days, totalling 55 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Punta Cana.
Punta Cana in DecemberPunta Cana compared
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Punta Cana vs. San Juan
In October the holiday weather in Punta Cana and San Juan is about equally good (score 73 vs. 73). During the day San Juan is 2 °C warmer than Punta Cana. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Punta Cana | San Juan |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 73 | 73 |
| Daytime high | 29° | 31° |
| Sea | 29° | 29° |
| Sunshine | 7 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 21 | 20 |
| Best time | Dec – Sep | Dec – Apr |
Through the year
Dominican Republic in October: the best places
In October, Punta Cana ranks 2 of 2 destinations in this country.
- Puerto Plata30°29°74
- 2Punta CanaThis page29°29°73
Planning a trip to Punta Cana
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 8 h 50 min
- Distance
- 6,880 km
- Time zone
- UTC−4
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Punta Cana lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June: Season
- July: Season
- August: Peak
- September: Peak
- October: Peak
- November: Season
- December
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Punta Cana
When is the best time to visit Punta Cana?
The best time to visit Punta Cana is from December to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Punta Cana?
The sea temperature in Punta Cana ranges from 26.4 °C in February to 29.1 °C in September. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Punta Cana in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath.
What is the warmest month in Punta Cana?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C and nights around 26 °C. January is the coolest month at 26 °C.
When does it rain most in Punta Cana?
Rain is most frequent from April to January; the wettest month is September with 126 mm. The driest month is February with 32 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Punta Cana get?
Punta Cana gets around 2,900 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is April with 8.6 hours a day; in November there are 6.9 hours a day.
What time zone is Punta Cana in?
Punta Cana uses the time zone America/Santo_Domingo, at UTC−4 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Punta Cana?
A nonstop flight from London to Punta Cana takes about 8 h 50 min, for a straight-line distance of about 6,880 km.
When is hurricane season in Punta Cana?
Punta Cana lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Near Punta Cana
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Punta Cana
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Punta Cana's – good alternatives.