Month guide · Playa del Carmen · Mexico
Playa del Carmen in May
What May is really like in Playa del Carmen: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Río Secreto, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 32°C (90°F), lows of 24°C (75°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 13.1 hours of daylight. Humidity rises and visitor numbers drop; seaweed is often present on some beaches.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 32°C (90°F) / 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- 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 Playa del Carmen: 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 6 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 06:11
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 19:18
- Daylight
- About 13.1 hours
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F)
Dry season (December–April). Sunny, breezy and the most comfortable weather, with occasional windy cold fronts; peak prices and crowds.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Playa del Carmen, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Nature · South of Playa del Carmen
Río Secreto
Tours run in small groups; book ahead and leave cameras behind, as phones are not allowed on most tours.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Nature
- Active
- Rainy day
- Kids
Nature · Puerto Aventuras area
Cenote Azul
An open-air cenote about 20 km south of town, with several connected pools of clear blue water, fish and a rock ledge for jumping.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Active
Nature · Puerto Aventuras area
Cenote Cristalino
Pair it with Cenote Azul on the same morning; both are close to the highway.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Puerto Aventuras area
Cenote Jardín del Edén
A large open cenote surrounded by jungle, popular with snorkellers for its fish and turtles and with divers for its caverns, and with cliffs for jumping into the deep water.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Photo spot
The sea averages 28°C (82°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Playa del Carmen.
What to pack
For highs near 32°C, lows near 24°C and 6 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Playa del Carmen?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, November–April are better overall. Compare every month.
Playa del Carmen in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Playa del Carmen?
It is a shoulder-season month. Humidity rises and visitor numbers drop; seaweed is often present on some beaches.
+How warm is Playa del Carmen in May?
Average highs are around 32°C (90°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Playa del Carmen in May?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.