Best Time to Visit Cancun (for Best Weather & Affordability)
In 1525, the Spanish explorer, Hernan Cortes, crossed the base of the Yucatan Peninsula. He raised his spyglass toward the north and smiled.
You’ll be smiling, too, if you choose to visit this sun-blessed land almost any time of year. The ideal vacation offers a respite from work, cold weather, and everyday stress. Cancun, Tulum, and Riviera Maya in Mexico do that and more.
In Short: What’s the Best Time to Go to Cancun, Mexico?
In Cancun, the sun almost always shines (200 days a year), and the water is always warm enough to swim in. Even during the fall rainy season, the rains are usually brief, and their added benefit is that they cool the air and lower prices.
Best Time to Visit Cancun for Avoiding Crowds:
If you want to avoid the crowds, visit Cancun from June to September when the crowds stay away. Summer is hot and rainy, with temperatures averaging 32 degrees Celsius / 90 degrees Fahrenheit. But if you don’t mind the heat, you’ll find Cancun far less crowded. However, it’s very humid as well.
Inland temps are 10-15 degrees warmer, so it’s better to plan those excursions during winter rather than in the heat of spring or summer.
Best Time to Visit Cancun for Great Deals:
The best Cancun deals are available from the months of June to September when the weather’s hot and rainy. September, October and November are hurricane season and most tourists keep away at this time. So you’ll get some really fantastic deals on trips, stay, and flights around this time.
Cancun doesn’t see major hurricane activity often, but when it does it is severe. It’s up to you to decide if the savings are worth the risk. The last was was when Hurricane Wilma visited in October 2005 and when Hurricane Delta visited in October 2020. Fingers crossed, it will be quite some time before the next major hurricane.
Best Time to Visit Cancun for Swimming, Snorkeling, and Diving:
The average annual temperature of Cancun is 78 degrees F, with late spring and summer highs in the 90’s and nighttime lows in the 50’s and 60’s.
Winter temps are in the 70’s and ’80s, and the ocean is still pleasant in the ’72ish. Locals will tell you that July and August are the best months for swimming, with September and October following close behind with just a few rainy days.
Cancun is the best spot to see the endangered sea turtles coming in to lay eggs from May through October. And if you visit anytime from July to December, you can see the baby turtles hatching and going out to sea in some parts of Mexico. The overlapping time between July to October is ideal for visiting Cancun, if you want to catch both these activities together – sea turtles laying eggs and babies hatching.
For snorkeling and diving, you’ll find that the tours often take you to Isla Mujeres where the water is much more clear and the marine life is more vibrant. There are also plenty of cenotes to see for both snorkeling and diving. For more advanced divers and free divers, there’s always an underwater museum in Cancun.
You’ll need light clothes and swimwear year-round, but it’s advisable to pack a light jacket or sweater for winter evenings.
Best Time for to Visit Cancun for Whale Sharks:
The endangered whale sharks visit the Cancun waters in late May and stick around till mid-September. There are many local tours that will take you to specific spots where you can swim with whale sharks.
In recent years whale sharks have been “late” and start showing up in June, so if you want to play it safe I’ll say late June and July would be best. When they come, they show up around Isla Holbox and Isla Mujeres, so you can head to either spot, or take a day trip from Cancun, Playa del Carmen or even Tulum.
If you want to make sure you swim with one of these majestic creatures, with absolutely no chance of missing them, visit during July and August.
The Best Travel Seasons in Cancun
When is the Hurricane Season in Mexico?
If the possibility of a hurricane scares you, then skip August, September and October when the risk is the highest.
While the Yucatan Peninsula doesn’t experience a hurricane every year, you might get evacuation alerts, heavy rainfall, and postponed flights. In fact, it just happened in October 2020 with Hurricane Delta and it wasn’t fun.
When is the High Season in Cancun?
Ramping up for Christmas and New Year’s in Cancun is definitely a thing.
High Season begins in mid-December and continues through till the end of March when Cancun has the best weather. Lots of snowbirds are flocking to Mexico during that time, so make sure your accommodation and especially the rental car is pre-booked at least a month in advance.
Christmas Week is the most expensive, with hotels and flights costing the most. Trips, excursions, everything is at a premium!
The influx of tourists continues till the end of March and the crowds can get too much sometimes, especially in the Zona Hotelera. But these few months are definitely one of the best times to be in Cancun, Mexico.
If you want to get away from some of the crowds during peak season in Cancun, head over to the Isla Mujeres, Playa Mujeres, or the Riviera Cancun.
Some of the most popular hotels in these areas include the All-Inclusive Now Jade Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun, Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort, Atelier Playa Mujeres – All-Inclusive, or Hotel Posada Del Mar.
When is the Low Season in Cancun?
June through October is the rainy season or low season in Cancun. This is the time when you can dig up the best deals on flights, trips, and hotels. Lighter on the pocket, these months are hotter and rainier than usual, with July and October being the hottest.
The low season is considered the low season because it’s actually the hurricane season in the Yucatan Peninsula. And although the probability of being caught in a hurricane is low, it does exist. Hurricane Wilma visited the area in October 2005 and Hurricane Delta visited in October 2020.
If you don’t mind taking your chances with delayed flights or weather warnings, you’ll find some amazing travel deals at this time of the year.
Does Cancun have a Shoulder Season?
That in-between time when the weather is getting closer to perfection and the crowds won’t drive you mad does exist! The shoulder season in Cancun lasts from April to May barring Easter Week, and then again from November to mid-December barring Thanksgiving Week.
Visit Cancun during these months and you’ll get reasonably priced deals for hotels especially if you book for longer periods of time. Flights and excursions will also be cheaper than in the high season.
With the exceptions of Holy Week and Thanksgiving Week, you’ll find that shoulder season is perfect for a more relaxing holiday in Cancun or in other parts of Mexico.
Cancun Weather by Month
(it can also be applied to: Tulum, Playa del Carmen and other places in Riviera Maya)
There are no bad seasons in this sun-kissed oasis and every month of the year brings its own delights.
Cancun in January
Average Temperature: 54° – 84° F
Highlights: Mostly Good Weather | El Dia de Los Reyes (12th Day of Christmas) | Ano Nuevo
January in Cancun sees the end of the Christmas celebrations and the parties coming to an end. But it’s still a great month to explore the nearby jungles and Incan ruins.
The weather is not as humid as it is otherwise, and the ocean temperature is cooler at around 80 degrees F but still okay enough for swimming. The clear visibility makes it the opportune time for snorkeling and diving.
Cancun in February
Average Temperature: 70° – 95° F
Highlights: Sunny days | Carnaval
February is one of the best times to visit Riviera Maya. Cancun in February is when you can avoid the crowds coming down for Christmas and Spring Break.
This doesn’t mean that it’s not busy so definitely book your rental car in advance.
While it can get very hot and humid it will bring you plenty of bright sunny days and cooler evenings.
Sargassum might be present on some days, but it’s not a peak time for it.
Cancun in March
Average Temperature: 68° – 88° F
Highlights: Cloudy days | Kukulkan at the Spring Equinox | Wine and Food Festival
March in Cancun sees a popular Wine and Food Festival that’s visited by international chefs and winemakers over the 5-day duration.
Cool days with clear skies and with a few showers sprinkled in are the perfect welcome for spring in Cancun. The humidity is more than February but it’s still perfect for hiking or touring.
On the day of the Spring Equinox, head over to Chichen Itza to see the Kukulkan with the rest of the crowds. When the sun’s light reaches the Temple of the El Castillo, it looks like the feathered serpent god Kukulkan coming down the side of the temple. This same effect can be seen for a few days before and after the equinox.
The water visibility and temperature are still perfect for diving and swimming. And the weather at night is perfect.
Cancun in April
Average Temperature: 70° – 95° F
Highlights: Sunny days | Easter Week | Children’s Day (El Día Del Niño)
With almost no rain, the weather in April is pretty dry