San Juan Islands FAQs

Find out all you need to know about visiting San Juan Islands.

When is the best time to visit San Juan Islands?

Benefitting from an average of 247 days of sunshine a year and half the amount of rainfall of Seattle, the San Juan Islands have a temperate year-round climate where temperatures rarely exceed 24°C in the summer and rarely fall below 7°C in the winter.

The best time to visit the San Juan Islands is between May and October when the majority of the archipelago’s wildlife can be spotted. See orcas, humpback whales, porpoises, seals, otters, bald eagles and salmon.

What is the time difference between the UK and San Juan Islands?

GMT – 8 hours

What places combine well with San Juan Islands?

As Seattle is the main gateway city to the islands, it’s easy to combine a trip to the San Juan Islands with a trip to Washington’s capital. Road tripping between the two is also encouraged as there is plenty to see along the way.

What are the main cultural events in San Juan Islands?

April – Tour de Lopez Bicycle Ride, Lopez Island
July – Orcas Island Cidre & Mead Festival
July – San Juan Island Lavender Festival
August – Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival
October – Savour the San Juans – annual festival on all 3 major islands showcasing the local farms, food and wine as well as two film festivals, a brew fest and public harvest dinners