Month guide · Cancún · Mexico
Cancún in May
What May is really like in Cancún: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Peter Maas 16:07, 3 December 2006 (UTC), CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 32°C (90°F), lows of 24°C (75°F), about 5 rainy days and roughly 13.1 hours of daylight. Hot and humid with calm seas; quieter and better value, but sargassum can arrive on east-facing beaches.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 32°C (90°F) / 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days
- About 5
- Daylight
- About 13.1 hours
- Sea temperature
- 28°C (82°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 3rd-warmest month in Cancún: days average 32°C (90°F) against a yearly average high of 31°C (88°F), and nights fall to about 24°C (75°F). Rain falls on roughly 5 of its 31 days. Compared with April (31°C (88°F)), May is about as warm; by June highs stay near 32°C (90°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:09
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 19:18
- Daylight
- About 13.1 hours
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F)
Spring (March–May). 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.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is February at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in February). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Cancún, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Beach · Costa Mujeres
Isla Blanca
Bring water, food and shade; facilities are basic, and a high-clearance car or taxi helps on the access road.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
- Active
Beach · Punta Cancún
Playa Chac Mool and Playa Gaviota Azul
Just south of Punta Cancún around km 9–10, these neighbouring public beaches have white sand and the first open-Caribbean views of the Hotel Zone, handy for a swim between restaurants and bars.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Experience · Bahía de Mujeres
MUSA Underwater Museum of Art
Visit with a tour operator that includes the marine-park fee, and wear a rash guard rather than ordinary sunscreen.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Kids
- Nature
- Iconic
Experience · Caribbean Sea
Swimming with whale sharks
From about June to mid-September, whale sharks, the world's largest fish, gather to feed off the north-eastern tip of the Yucatán, and licensed boats from Cancún, Isla Mujeres and Holbox take swimmers out to snorkel beside them under strict rules on numbers and distance.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Nature
- Iconic
- Active
The sea averages 28°C (82°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Cancún.
What to pack
For highs near 32°C, lows near 24°C and 5 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Cancún?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, December–April are better overall. Compare every month.
Cancún in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Cancún?
It is a shoulder-season month. Hot and humid with calm seas; quieter and better value, but sargassum can arrive on east-facing beaches.
+How warm is Cancún in May?
Average highs are around 32°C (90°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cancún in May?
Expect rain on about 5 days of the month.