Month guide · Cancún · Mexico
Cancún in December
What December is really like in Cancún: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Xe3osc, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is one of the best months to visit Cancún. Expect average highs of 28°C (82°F), lows of 21°C (70°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 10.9 hours of daylight. Pleasantly warm and drier, with the busiest and most expensive weeks of the year over Christmas and New Year.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 28°C (82°F) / 21°C (70°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 26°C (79°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Cancún: days average 28°C (82°F) against a yearly average high of 31°C (88°F), and nights fall to about 21°C (70°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with November (30°C (86°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 28°C (82°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:17
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 18:09
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Sea
- 26°C (79°F)
Winter (December–February). The dry high season: warm, sunny days, occasional breezy cool fronts and the highest prices around Christmas and New Year.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 5 for crowds (the peak is February at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in February). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe (12 December)
- Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations at resorts and in Punta Cancún
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Museum · Southern Hotel Zone
Museo Maya de Cancún and San Miguelito
Opened in 2012 at km 16.5 and run by Mexico's national institute of anthropology and history (INAH), the museum displays Maya pottery, jade, sculpture and finds from Quintana Roo's sites, including prehistoric human remains found in flooded caves near Tulum.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Historic site · Southern Hotel Zone
El Rey archaeological site
Combine it with Playa Delfines across the road; go early or late to avoid the strongest sun.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Market · Downtown Cancún
Mercado 28
Downtown's best-known market is a horseshoe of stalls selling hammocks, silver, embroidered blouses, ceramics and souvenirs at lower prices than in the Hotel Zone, with small fondas in the central courtyard serving Yucatecan lunches.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Free
Experience · Downtown Cancún
Parque de las Palapas
Come after sunset when the stalls are busiest, then walk to nearby Avenida Yaxchilán for dinner or a drink.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Kids
The sea averages 26°C (79°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Cancún.
What to pack
For highs near 28°C, lows near 21°C and 8 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Cancún?
One of the best months to visit Cancún, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are January–April. Compare every month.
Cancún in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Cancún?
It is one of the best months to visit Cancún. Pleasantly warm and drier, with the busiest and most expensive weeks of the year over Christmas and New Year.
+How warm is Cancún in December?
Average highs are around 28°C (82°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cancún in December?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.