How warm is Punta Cana in December?

Typical highs are about 82°F and the sea is about 83°F. That is warm enough for long swims without a wetsuit.

Is there sargassum in Punta Cana in December?

In a typical year seaweed is very high in December. It is usually lightest in January and February and heaviest in November and December. Landings vary a lot by year, wind and currents; Veabird's weekly sargassum report and each beach's page have the current forecast.

Is December hurricane season in Punta Cana?

No. Storm risk is very low in December.

How crowded is Punta Cana in December?

Typically very busy, around Christmas & holiday break. The quietest months are usually September and October.

Punta Cana in December

December is a middling month for Punta Cana: a typical day grades C-, the 8th best of the 12 months. Expect highs near 82°F, water around 83°F and about a 61% chance of rain on a given day. Sargassum (seaweed) is usually very high in December. Beaches are typically very busy (Christmas & holiday break).

Typical dayC-8th of 12 months

Highs / water82°FSea 83°F

Rain chance61%on a given day

SeaweedVery hightypical year

CrowdsVery busyChristmas & holiday break

Storm riskVery lowoutside storm season

Punta Cana month by month

Typical grade and high for each month. Higher is better: A+ to F.

November: C- · December: C- · January: B-. The best months are usually January, February and March, and the weakest are July and August.

Best beaches in Punta Cana in December

Resorts with the best typical December, and their grades for the next few days.

Beach	Typical Dec	Seaweed	This week
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana	B-	High	SatC-SunC-MonCTueCWedC
Riu Palace Bávaro (Arena Gorda)	B-	High	SatC-SunC-MonC-TueCWedC
Excellence El Carmen Resort	B-	High	SatD+SunC-MonCTueC+WedC-
Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana	B-	High	SatD+SunC-MonCTueC+WedC-
Excellence Punta Cana	B-	High	SatD+SunC-MonCTueC+WedC-
Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana	B-	High	SatD+SunC-MonCTueC+WedC-
Grand Sirenis Punta Cana Resort	B-	High	SatDSunC-MonC-TueC+WedC-
Zoetry Agua	B-	High	SatD+SunC-MonCTueC+WedC-

Grades for the next few days from Veabird's beach forecast, updated Oct 3, 18:00 UTC. Higher is better: A+ to F.

Better beach options in December

Elsewhere in the Caribbean, Cuba's Cays (A-), Varadero & Havana (A-) and the Leeward Islands (A-) usually grade higher in December. Further afield: Huatulco (A), Puerto Vallarta (A) and Los Cabos (A). Every destination in December.

Questions

Is December a good time to visit Punta Cana?: December is a middling month for Punta Cana: a typical day grades C-, the 8th best of the 12 months. Expect highs near 82°F, water around 83°F and about a 61% chance of rain on a given day. Sargassum (seaweed) is usually very high in December. Beaches are typically very busy (Christmas & holiday break).
How warm is Punta Cana in December?: Typical highs are about 82°F and the sea is about 83°F. That is warm enough for long swims without a wetsuit.
Is there sargassum in Punta Cana in December?: In a typical year seaweed is very high in December. It is usually lightest in January and February and heaviest in November and December. Landings vary a lot by year, wind and currents; Veabird's weekly sargassum report and each beach's page have the current forecast.
Is December hurricane season in Punta Cana?: No. Storm risk is very low in December.
How crowded is Punta Cana in December?: Typically very busy, around Christmas & holiday break. The quietest months are usually September and October.

Plan it

Punta Cana & East Coast: this week's forecast, beach by beach
Caribbean Beach Report: this week, updated every Monday
Compare dates and beaches on the map

Typical-month numbers from Veabird's year-ahead outlook for the 63 resorts here (median resort): 6 years of ERA5 climate normals, the seasonal pattern of the Atlantic sargassum belt, holiday crowd calendars and historical storm tracks. Any given year can differ; check the 16-day forecast before you go.