The Maldives in December: Dry season returns — and Christmas is the year’s priciest week.

December falls in the dry season (Iruvai (north-east monsoon)). Daily air temperatures run 26-30°C, the sea sits around 28°C, and rainfall averages 115mm across about 9 days. Sunshine averages 8 hours a day and humidity sits near 80%. Rain in the Maldives falls as short, heavy showers rather than all-day grey — bright spells break up most days even in the wettest months.

Dry season returns — and Christmas is the year’s priciest week. December marks the return of the dry north-east monsoon. Rainfall drops, the sun reasserts itself, the lagoons calm down, and the Maldives slides back into its postcard self — sunny, still and clear.

December averages 115mm of rain over roughly 9 rainy days — moderate — daily showers that usually pass quickly. The Maldives spans 870km north to south, so the far north and far south can diverge by a week or two on monsoon timing; central-atoll figures are quoted here.

Dive visibility in December is good. Whale sharks year-round at South Ari Atoll. Reef visibility back to dry-season clarity. Calm lagoons returning across the central atolls.

On a 1-5 scale where 5 is the year's peak, December sits at a price level of 5 and a crowd level of 5. This is a high-demand month — book several months ahead and expect the year's top rates. Typical December rates per night for two: local-island guesthouses $100–180, 4-star resorts $580–950, 5-star resorts $950–1,900, and ultra-luxury islands $2,200–4,800 (bed & breakfast basis; transfers and the USD 6–12 per-adult-per-night green tax extra).

In December, a 4-star all-inclusive resort typically runs about USD $900–1,500 per night for two, depending on the island and villa category; 5-star all-inclusive plans price higher. Most resorts sell all-inclusive as a supplement of roughly USD 85-220 per person per night over bed & breakfast — 4-star islands at the lower end, 5-star at the upper. December is high season, so book the plan at reservation time — upgrading on-island costs more — and note festive or event gala dinners are billed on top of any all-inclusive package.