THERE ARE GENERAL SEASONS FOR THESE ROUTES – they are book ended by the Hurricane / Cyclone SEASON

Caribbean Cruising Seasonality Overview

⛵ Prime Cruising Season

• Mid-November to Early June

• Why: This is the dry season with steady easterly trade winds, relatively calm seas, and minimal risk of hurricanes.

• Best for: Island-hopping, rallies, and longer stays in anchorages. Most cruisers arrive post-hurricane season and depart before June.

CALIFORNIA TO PANAMA CRUISING SEASONALITY

🧭 GENERAL TIMING OVERVIEW

FLORIDA TO TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 🇺🇸➡️🇹🇹 (via Eastern Caribbean)

Best Season to Depart:
🟢 November – April (Trade wind season, pre-hurricane haul-outs in June)

ROUTE

• Florida → Bahamas (optional) → Puerto Rico → Virgin Islands → Windwards → Grenada → Trinidad

• Longer distance, often close-hauled or beam reach, especially heading east from the DR

CONDITIONS

• Winter (Nov–Mar): Prime conditions with steady trades

• April–June: Less wind, hotter

• July–Nov: Hurricane season — but Trinidad is below the hurricane belt and considered a safe zone

FEATURES

• Must “slog east” from Bahamas to Puerto Rico (the thorny path)

• More marina options, vibrant cruiser culture

• Grenada and Trinidad offer haul-out and hurricane storage

 MEXICO TO THE MARQUESAS

Seasonal Departure Window:
🟢 Mid-March to early May (ideal trades, ITCZ more stable)

Typical Route:
Puerto Vallarta / La Cruz / Barra de Navidad →
San Benedicto (Revillagigedo Islands – optional) →
~2,800–3,100 NM open-ocean passage to Hiva Oa or Nuku Hiva

Key Factors:

• One long bluewater push: ~18–25 days nonstop for most yachts

• Fewer weather “gates,” but more preparation needed for fuel, food, and mental pacing

• Well-traveled path for Pacific Puddle Jump, Ocean Posse, and other rallies

• Reliable SE trade winds south of ~8–10°N

Pros:

• No complicated clearances or transit zones

• Cleaner wind patterns once south of the ITCZ

• Good prep infrastructure in La Cruz and PV

Cons:

• No real bail-out options once you leave

• ITCZ can be squally and unpredictable in El Niño years

PANAMA → GALÁPAGOS → MARQUESAS

Seasonal Departure Window:
🟢 Late February to May (after ITCZ stabilizes)

Typical Route:
Panama →
Galápagos (1,000 NM) →
Marquesas (3,000–3,100 NM)

Key Factors:

• Leg 1: Panama to Galápagos = variable winds, possible calms, may require diesel motor-sailing

• Galápagos stop requires permits (advance agent arrangements, environmental rules, time-limited stays)

• Leg 2: From Galápagos, strong equatorial countercurrent can be a push westward, then good trades begin ~4–5°S

Pros:

• Breaks the journey into manageable legs

• Cultural and natural highlight: Galápagos is extraordinary

• Ideal for boats with kids or crew needing a break

Cons:

• Bureaucratic and expensive Galápagos stop (~$1,000–$2,000+ with agents and fees)

• Galápagos anchorages are surge-prone and crowded

• ITCZ and doldrums still require smart routing

Core Mediterranean Cruising Season

• High Season (June – September)

  • Weather: Hot, dry, with light winds in many areas.

  • Best for: Warm-water swimming, coastal town exploration, and social events.

  • Challenges: High marina prices, crowded anchorages and ports, limited transient slips.

  • Key Locations: Balearics, Côte d’Azur, Sardinia, Amalfi Coast, Cyclades.

• Shoulder Seasons (May & October)

  • Weather: Milder temperatures, fewer tourists, better availability.

  • Best for: Passage-making, exploring cultural sites, calmer marinas.

  • Popular Routes: Greece > Turkey > Malta or Italy > Spain.

• Off Season (November – April)

  • Weather: Variable with storms and stronger winds (e.g. Mistral, Bora, Sirocco).

  • Use Case: Long-term marina stays, haul-outs, maintenance, cultural travel.

  • Note: Many islands and marinas reduce services or close entirely.

 Wind Patterns to Watch

• Meltemi (Aegean, summer): Strong N/NE winds, July–August.

• Mistral (France): NW winds, can reach gale force any time but especially spring/fall.

• Sirocco (Central/South Med): Warm, dusty SE winds—can limit visibility.

National Hurricane Center https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

GULFSTREAM

1 FLORIDA EAST COAST

2 GEORGIA & SOUTH CAROLINA

3 NORTH CAROLINA & THE CAPES

4 VIRGINIA MARYLAND CHESAPEAKE

5  NE

WEATHER

   BERMUDA – AZORES

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=epac&fdays=2

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=atlc&fdays=2

PACIFIC WEATHER  | CARIBBEAN WEATHER | ATLANTIC WEATHER | CLIMATOLOGY  | LIGHTNING  DENSITY | CLOUDS

For localized weather including Climatology please visit each maritime area:

Maritime Climatology

or climate science is the scientific study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time. 

Climatology EASTERN PACIFIC

Climatology Western Caribbean

Climatology MID ATLANTIC

Understanding Pilot Charts and How they Can Help in Planning YOUR ROUTE ALONG THE PANAMA POSSE

At the point when the Atlantic and Pacific Hurrican Season Bengins  begins we look at Cliamtology>
We consider June  the start of the Pacific and Atlantic  Hurricane season – however the majority of what they call “significant storms” or NAMED STORMS tend to start  in August and this proceeds through END OF OCTOBER
 

Over time and outside the Hurricane season we  find out about the breezes and flows in these regions though experiences and local maritime knowledge – but a prudent mariner makes examinations and derives routes from the combined history of hundreds of years of observations compiled into Pilot Charts.

Pilot Charts are worried about cruising conditions, there is a diagram for every month of the ear for each section. For the North Atlantic, there is a different graph for the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, which  we zoomed in on here
Every one of these locales have a graph for every month. You can in this way utilize the graph to find out about the breezes and flows in every month.

Pilot Charts Show Winds, Currents and Major Hurricane Tracks of Past Storms

On each Month’s Pilot Chart are Windroses  of winning breezes – indicating both bearing and intensity and probability of winds. Likewise appeared on each outline are the flows and tempests for the 12 months recorded.

Where Pilot Charts Came From

The tropical storm data is fascinating, yet the measure of information gathered on winning breezes, flows, air temperatures and intensity probability is amazing.Before modern day satellite weather observations which is now at the cutting edge age, this information was gathered from ships afloat, by sections into the boat’s log and onto diagrams. It was first accumulated, physically, into an organized  framework by Lieut. M. F. Maury, U.S. Naval forces who examined a large number of boats’ logs and diagrams in the mid 1800s to make the data accessible to ships underway. 

SEA STATE DUE TO SURFACE WINDS

(as a general rule of thumb within 2-3 hours of wind)
Wind to Waves
kts | feet 

10 | 2′ 
12 | 3′
15 | 4′
20 | 6′
25 | 8′
30 | 10-12′

In open ocean most seas propagate 600 nm in 24 hours so if a system changes wind directions 150 nm from you wait 6 hours for the effect

PACIFIC WEATHER  | CARIBBEAN WEATHER | ATLANTIC WEATHER | CLIMATOLOGY  | LIGHTNING  DENSITY | CLOUDS

Click here for the ENHANCED DIGITAL Marine Graphical Composite Forecast Map for Eastern North Pacific >>

National Hurricane Center https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

SYNOPTIC WEATHER MAP PACIFIC

CALIFORNIA – TURTLE BAY

TURTLE BAY – CABO

UPPER SEA OF CORTEZ

LOWER SEA OF CORTEZ

CABO – BANDERAS BAY

2) Cabo Corrientes
As you head towards Barra de Navidad – rounding this Cape has the usual negative effects on sailing – watch for gust currents a.m.o

Swell along the coast

3) Tehuantepec

We’ll discuss these strategies over then next few month – our goal is to cross when conditions are favorable or alternatively hug the beach well reefed – when in doubt we’ll chat up the local port captain in Huatulco or Chiapas MX. Hug the beach and you’ll be fine – this very localized wind

But watch out for wind gusts more than the steady forecast models

4) El Salvador Bar Crossing
Many have had issues with swells over 3 feet so watch the bar like a hawk – new dredging may improve the entry

Swell Forecast

5) PAPAGAYOS

Last year’s fleet has plenty of experience with these sustained gusts of wind up to 55 knots ! The most successful strategy was day sailing – near shore – in 20 – 30 nm hops with one foot on the beach (less than 1/2 nm off shore). These Papagayo winds are designed to test you – your vessel and your crew. But once you make it to Costa Rica your wind blasted faces will have some good stories to tell.  If you look at the forecast models look at the wind gusts and use those as your guide as these gusts occur 50% of the time.

5) PUNTA MALA – PANAMA

Another key stop on your way into the bay of Panama – Wait for favorable conditions to round the point and watch for square waves due to the tidal range – best rounded around slack low tide – wait at Playa Venao before you round up. Your only out is to ease off and head for the Las Perlas or tough it up to Isla Iguanas.

6) LIGHTING, SQUALLS AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY

We recommend you to carry insurance for your vessel as each season – vessels get struck by lightning along the central American coast. There are no blind spots – from Chiapas, MX – to Panama is an area affected by lighting.
Costa Rica’s lighting season starts in late April – deploy any and all lightning and grounding strategies you deem relevant including wrapping and grounding the base of your mast with unused anchor chain when anchoring and praying to Neptune. It ends in late October early November. Participants in the Panama Posse develop their own strategies based on prior reports of vessel which have succumbed to lightning strikes in the past.
Even partial and side strikes in marinas or moorings can cause damage to sensitive electronics and systems.

• • For some statistics follow this link »
  • To View live Lightning maps of the area follow this link »
  • To view a historic play back of lighting strikes follow this link »

Density of lighting strikes in_central America

7) PANAMA CANAL TRAFFIC

As you get closer to the heavy traffic canal zone – here is a live snapshot of AIS signals

GALAPAGOS