Month guide · Cancún · Mexico
Cancún in October
What October is really like in Cancún: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
October is a month many travellers avoid. Expect average highs of 31°C (88°F), lows of 23°C (73°F), about 13 rainy days and roughly 11.6 hours of daylight. Still rainy, humid and within hurricane season, with low prices and quiet beaches.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 31°C (88°F) / 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days
- About 13
- Daylight
- About 11.6 hours
- Sea temperature
- 28°C (82°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in October
October is the 7th-warmest month in Cancún: days average 31°C (88°F) against a yearly average high of 31°C (88°F), and nights fall to about 23°C (73°F). Rain falls on roughly 13 of its 31 days. Compared with September (32°C (90°F)), October is about as warm; by November highs stay near 30°C (86°F).
- Sunrise (15 October)
- About 06:43
- Sunset (15 October)
- About 18:23
- Daylight
- About 11.6 hours
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F)
Autumn (September–November). The wettest months and peak hurricane risk in September and October, with very low prices; November is drier and good value.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, October rates 2 for crowds (the peak is February at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in February). That makes October one of the better-value months to book.
Events in October
- Day of the Dead festivities begin, including Xcaret's Festival de Vida y Muerte (usually late October to early November)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in October
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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
Beach · Southern Hotel Zone
Playa Delfines (El Mirador)
Check the flag colour before swimming and stay on the sand on red-flag days; bring shade, as there is little natural cover.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Views
Experience · Bahía de Mujeres
MUSA Underwater Museum of Art
The Museo Subacuático de Arte has hundreds of life-size sculptures by Jason deCaires Taylor and other artists placed on the seabed between Cancún and Isla Mujeres to form artificial reefs.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Kids
- Nature
- Iconic
Island · Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres
Take the ferry from Puerto Juárez for the lower fare, rent a golf cart to circle the island and stay for sunset at Playa Norte.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Views
The sea averages 28°C (82°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Cancún.
What to pack
For highs near 31°C, lows near 23°C and 13 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is October a good time to visit Cancún?
A month many travellers avoid, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, December–April are better overall. Compare every month.
Cancún in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is October a good time to visit Cancún?
It is a month many travellers avoid. Still rainy, humid and within hurricane season, with low prices and quiet beaches.
+How warm is Cancún in October?
Average highs are around 31°C (88°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cancún in October?
Expect rain on about 13 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.