Holguín province has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons. The dry season runs from November to April, when temperatures sit between 22°C and 28°C, humidity is manageable, and rain is rare. This is the most comfortable time to visit and coincides with the peak of European and Canadian package tourism at the beach resorts.
The wet season from May to October brings afternoon downpours, higher humidity, and the risk of hurricanes between August and October. Temperatures rise into the low thirties. The rains rarely last all day — mornings are usually clear — but outdoor activities become less reliable, and the mountains in the south can be effectively inaccessible after heavy rain.
Romerías de Mayo takes place each May, when the city of Holguín hosts a week-long cultural festival centred on a pilgrimage to the Loma de la Cruz. The streets fill with music, theatre, visual art, and processions drawing participants from across Cuba and the wider Caribbean. If you are in eastern Cuba in May, it is worth timing your visit to the city for this week.
The shoulder months of November and April offer the best combination of good weather and slightly fewer tourists at the beach resorts.