The best time to visit Tobago

Tobago is warm all year, so the question is less about heat and more about rain, crowds and what you want to see. It also sits at the southern edge of the hurricane belt, far less affected by storms than islands further north. Here is how the year breaks down.

There is no truly bad time to come to Tobago, only different times.

The classic window: the most sun, the least rain, calm seas and the best underwater visibility for snorkelling and diving. It is peak season for a reason, and the period most of our winter weeks fall in. If you want reliable beach weather and bright days, aim here.

Dry-season calm, the best water for snorkelling.

The wet season is greener, lusher and quieter, with lower prices and fewer visitors. Rain tends to come in short, warm bursts rather than all-day grey, and the rainforest is at its most alive. If you do not mind the odd downpour and you like having a beach to yourself, this is a lovely, underrated time.

Leatherback turtles nest on the north-coast beaches roughly March to August, best from April to June. Diving is good all year but clearest in the dry months. And the Tobago Heritage Festival, a two-week celebration of the island's folk traditions, food and music, runs from late July into August, a wonderful, very local time to visit.

For first-timers who want the postcard, come between January and April. For value, fewer people and a greener island, the shoulder months of November, early December and May are quietly excellent. Premura runs one curated week each month, so whichever you choose, it is already shaped and handled.