Central America & Caribbean

The Bahamas in December

Early December is excellent value. Christmas through New Year is the priciest stretch, capped by Junkanoo on Boxing Day.

GoodMild, highs near 79F (26C), first cold fronts

Harbor and pastel buildings, Nassau and Paradise Island, Bahamas — The BahamasPhoto: Der-wuppertaler, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

December is a good month to visit The Bahamas. Early December is excellent value. Christmas through New Year is the priciest stretch, capped by Junkanoo on Boxing Day.

Weather: Mild, highs near 79F (26C), first cold fronts
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 5 of 5

What December is like in The Bahamas

December is mild, with highs near 79F (26C), and the first cold fronts arrive. Early December is excellent value, with good weather and moderate prices. Christmas through New Year is the priciest stretch of the year, capped by Junkanoo on Boxing Day, December 26, in Nassau.

It suits families and couples who want a warm holiday escape. Book the holiday weeks early, since the best resorts sell out months ahead. If you want the best value, come in the first half of December. If you want warmer water, April and May are better.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about The Bahamas this month.

Junkanoo on Boxing Day

Costumed groups parade down Bay Street in Nassau before dawn on December 26. It is the country's defining cultural event.

Early-December value

The first weeks are quieter and cheaper than the holidays. The weather is usually great.

A warm Christmas

Resorts put on holiday events, and the beaches are sunny.

What to pack for December

A light layer for cool evenings
Reef-safe sunscreen
A rash guard for cooler water
Earplugs if you are staying near the Junkanoo route

Our timing tip

Buy Junkanoo bleacher seats ahead, and book holiday-week rooms several months out.

Book The Bahamas for December.

Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.

Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in The Bahamas
Opens a hotel search for The Bahamas in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in The Bahamas
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in The Bahamas
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in The Bahamas for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in December

Junkanoo

Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year's Day every year

Pre-dawn parades of costumed groups, cowbells, and goatskin drums rush down Bay Street in Nassau. The country's defining cultural event; bleacher seats sell ahead.

Things to do in The Bahamas

Full guide

Exuma Cays by boat

A day through the cays: Thunderball Grotto, the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay, iguanas on the cays, and sandbars at low tide. Calm-sea days in spring and early summer are the best.

Tickets and tours →

Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park

A no-take marine reserve run by the Bahamas National Trust, reached by boat. Some of the healthiest reefs in the country.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Harbour Island's pink sand

Three miles of pink-tinged sand on the Atlantic side of Eleuthera, reached by a short water taxi from North Eleuthera airport.

Tickets and tours →

Atlantis, Paradise Island

The mega-resort's water park, aquariums, and marine habitat. Day passes are available but limited; check before planning a visit.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Nassau on foot

Queen's Staircase, Fort Fincastle, and Arawak Cay's fish fry stalls for conch salad. Cruise-ship days make downtown crowded.

Tickets and tours →

Andros blue holes

The largest Bahamian island is mostly wild, with inland and ocean blue holes, a huge barrier reef, and world-class bonefishing.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Skip Nassau and Paradise Island in March if you are not there for spring break; go to Eleuthera, the Exumas, or Andros instead.
Check the Nassau cruise schedule: downtown and Paradise Island beaches are packed on multi-ship days and noticeably quieter on light days.
Book Exuma boat tours for the first departure of the day; the pig beach and grotto get crowded as the day tours stack up.
Target the two value windows: late April to May, and early November to mid December outside Thanksgiving week.

Know before you go

September and early October: some Out Island resorts, restaurants, and dive shops close for several weeks. Nassau's big resorts stay open year-round.
Winter cold fronts can cancel boat tours and ferries for a day or two; build slack into an Exumas itinerary between December and March.
The Abacos and parts of Grand Bahama were heavily damaged by Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Much has been rebuilt, but some properties never reopened; confirm current status before booking.
Junkanoo nights (Boxing Day and New Year's Day) close roads in downtown Nassau and shift business hours around the parades.

The Bahamas in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit The Bahamas?

December is a good month to visit The Bahamas. Early December is excellent value. Christmas through New Year is the priciest stretch, capped by Junkanoo on Boxing Day.

What is the weather like in The Bahamas in December?

Mild, highs near 79F (26C), first cold fronts.

Is The Bahamas crowded in December?

The Bahamas is busy in December, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.

What is happening in The Bahamas in December?

Junkanoo (boxing day (december 26) and new year's day every year).