What is the weather like in Punta Cana in December?

Expect temperatures between 24°C and 27°C with 24% average rain probability and about 8 hours of sunshine daily.

What is the weather like in Punta Cana in December?

Punta Cana in December scores 66/100 based on 30 years of climate data. Solid choice for most travelers.

Who should visit Punta Cana in December?

December in Punta Cana is ideal for: Beach lovers, Outdoor enthusiasts, Photographers, Cultural tourists, Honeymoon couples.

Punta Cana Weather in December | 30-Year Forecast

Avg High

27°C

Hottest around day 1

Avg Low

24°C

Coolest around day 22

Rainy Days

11days

24% avg rain chance

Sunshine

8hrs/day

Winter season

Sea Temperature in December

Caribbean Sea(Mar Caribe)

27.8°C

Monthly Average

Water Feel

🌴Tropical

Perfect for swimming and water sports

Swim Rating

✅Excellent for swimming

Based on average sea surface temperature

Body of Water

Caribbean Sea

Mar Caribe

Punta Cana coastline

Essential Travel Info for Punta Cana

🗓️ Best Time to Visit 📖 Travel Guide 🍴 Food Guide

Currency

DOP

$ Dominican peso

Language

Spanish

Driving

Right side

Connect

Many hotels offer Wi-Fi areas in the lob...

Safety

High Safety

GPI: 1.99

Travel Intelligence

Exclusive flight analytics & health data for Punta Cana

Smart Flight Estimator

Airport-to-Airport Logistics

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Flight Connectivity Analysis

Airport traffic data & seasonal patterns

Moderate

41/ 100

Traffic Index

Balanced traffic

Peak Daily Arrivals

slots per day

Peak

May

Low

Sep

Monthly Traffic Distribution

103

Jan

108

Feb

111

Mar

108

Apr

111

May

110

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Traffic Level

Low Season

Key Connections

Toronto Pearson (YYZ)

Tocumen (PTY)

New York John F Kennedy (JFK)

Lima Jorge Chávez (LIM)

Montreal Trudeau (YUL)

Health & Safety Advisory

CDC travel health recommendations

9 Recommendations

COVID-19

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please seeYour COVID-19 Vaccinationfor more information.

Cholera

There is no longer active cholera transmission and vaccine is not recommended.

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to the Dominican Republic.Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.Travelers allergic to a vaccine component should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, are immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to the Dominican Republic. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to the Dominican Republic.

Malaria

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of the Dominican Republic take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.Transmission areasPrimarily in the provinces (including resort areas) of Azua, Elias Piña, La Altagracia, San Juan, and Santo DomingoIn the Distrito Nacional, city of Santo Domingo (the capital), primarily in the La Ciénaga and Los Tres Brazos areasRare transmission in other provincesDrug resistanceNoneSpeciesP. falciparum(100%)Recommended chemoprophylaxisProvinces (including resort areas) of Azua, Elias Piña, La Altagracia, San Juan, and Santo Domingo: Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine2All other areas: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only)4Updated April 23, 2025See footnotes

Measles

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according toCDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.

+3 more

Source: CDC Travelers' Health

View Complete Health Guide

Is December a Good Time to Visit Punta Cana?

👍Solid choice for most travelers(66/100)

Short Answer

Beach lovers rejoice: Punta Cana's December features 27.8°C sea temperatures alongside 27°C air temps. Just 24% rain risk makes this prime swimming season.

Decision Factors

Vaccinations required

Yellow Fever

Warm tropical seas

27.8°C sea temperature - Tropical Bath

Seismically active region

29 earthquakes recorded in this month (30-year data)

Rough sea conditions

1.86m average wave height - Surfers Only

Health precautions needed

Be aware of: Leptospirosis, Melioidosis, Dengue

Plenty of sunshine

10h of sunshine daily

Good For

🏖️
Beach lovers
27.8°C warm seas and 24% rain probability
🥾
Outdoor enthusiasts
Ideal hiking conditions: 27°C, 24% rain chance
📸
Photographers
10h sunshine, 61% clear skies for golden hour shots
🏛️
Cultural tourists
Comfortable conditions for exploring museums and sites
💑
Honeymoon couples
Wedding score 95/100 with romantic weather conditions

Who Should Avoid

👴
Elderly travelers
77% humidity creates difficult conditions

"According to 30YearWeather's analysis of 30 years of NASA POWER satellite data,Punta Cana in December averages 27°C with 24% precipitation probability."

📊 Source: 30YearWeather.com🛰️ Data: NASA POWER (1991-2021)View Methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions: Punta Cana in December

What are the temperatures in Punta Cana in December?

Daytime highs average 27°C, nights drop to 24°C. Temperatures remain fairly consistent.

How many rainy days in Punta Cana in December?

Expect around 11 days with measurable rainfall. Rain is unlikely to disrupt plans.

What to wear in Punta Cana in December?

Comfortable casual wear with a light jacket for evenings.

Is December peak season in Punta Cana?

This is typically peak season with higher prices. Book 2-3 months ahead.

Punta Cana Weather in December