Best time to visit · Cancún · Mexico
The best time to visit Cancún
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The best time to visit Cancún is December to April, the dry season, when days are sunny, humidity is lower and the sea is calm and clear; it is also the busiest and most expensive period, especially at Christmas, New Year and spring break. May and November are good-value shoulder months. September and October are the wettest months and the peak of hurricane season.
Key facts
- Best months
- December–April
- Shoulder season
- May–August and November
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 33°C (91°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 28°C (82°F))
- Rainiest month
- September (~14 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- September
Seasons
Cancún is hot and tropical all year, with a dry season from about December to April and a wetter, more humid season from May to November, when afternoon storms are common. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November and peaks from August to October, and sargassum seaweed can affect beaches, mostly from spring to late summer.
March–May
Spring
Hot, dry and sunny, with spring-break crowds in March and Easter holidays in March or April; May is quieter, but sargassum can start to appear.
June–August
Summer
Hot and humid with afternoon storms, the start of hurricane season and whale-shark tours; busy in July with family holidays.
September–November
Autumn
The wettest months and peak hurricane risk in September and October, with very low prices; November is drier and good value.
December–February
Winter
The dry high season: warm, sunny days, occasional breezy cool fronts and the highest prices around Christmas and New Year.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28°C | 20°C | 7 | 26°C | 11 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| February | 29°C | 20°C | 4 | 26°C | 11.4 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| March | 30°C | 21°C | 3 | 26°C | 12 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| April | 31°C | 23°C | 3 | 27°C | 12.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| May | 32°C | 24°C | 5 | 28°C | 13.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 32°C | 25°C | 11 | 28°C | 13.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| July | 33°C | 25°C | 8 | 29°C | 13.3 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August | 33°C | 25°C | 10 | 29°C | 12.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| September | 32°C | 24°C | 14 | 29°C | 12.2 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| October | 31°C | 23°C | 13 | 28°C | 11.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| November | 30°C | 22°C | 9 | 27°C | 11.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 28°C | 21°C | 8 | 26°C | 10.9 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Día de Reyes with rosca de reyes cake (6 January) |
| February | Cancún Carnival (usually February or early March, before Lent) |
| March | Spring equinox serpent shadow at Chichén Itzá (around 20–21 March); Spring break (mostly March) |
| April | Semana Santa (Holy Week) holidays (March or April) |
| June | Whale-shark season begins (usually around June) |
| July | Whale-shark season (usually June to mid-September) |
| September | Mexican Independence Day celebrations (night of 15 September and 16 September) |
| October | Day of the Dead festivities begin, including Xcaret's Festival de Vida y Muerte (usually late October to early November) |
| November | Día de Muertos and Hanal Pixán, the Yucatecan Day of the Dead (1–2 November) |
| December | Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe (12 December); Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations at resorts and in Punta Cancún |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in September, and the sights are quietest in September. Many visitors avoid September–October.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Cancún?
The best time to visit Cancún is December to April, the dry season, when days are sunny, humidity is lower and the sea is calm and clear; it is also the busiest and most expensive period, especially at Christmas, New Year and spring break. May and November are good-value shoulder months. September and October are the wettest months and the peak of hurricane season.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Cancún?
Usually in September. The wettest month and the peak of hurricane season; the lowest prices, but plans may be disrupted.
+What is the rainiest month in Cancún?
September, with about 14 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Cancún get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 33°C (91°F) and lows of 25°C (77°F).