Month guide · Tulum · Mexico
Tulum in May
What May is really like in Tulum: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Popo le Chien, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 32°C (90°F), lows of 23°C (73°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 13.1 hours of daylight. Hot and humid with fewer visitors; sargassum is often present and sea turtles begin nesting.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 32°C (90°F) / 23°C (73°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 2nd-warmest month in Tulum: days average 32°C (90°F) against a yearly average high of 31°C (88°F), and nights fall to about 23°C (73°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 06:13
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 19:19
- Daylight
- About 13.1 hours
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F)
Dry season (December–April). Sunny, warm and less humid, with calm seas and clear cenotes; peak prices, especially at Christmas, New Year and Easter.
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
- Sea turtle nesting season (usually May to October)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Nature · Cobá road
Cenote Calavera
Use the ladder if you are unsure of the jump; the water is several metres deep.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Tankah Bay
Dos Ojos cenote
About 20 km north of Tulum, the 'two eyes' are two linked cenotes opening into one of the world's longest underwater cave systems.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Active
- Photo spot
- Rainy day
Nature · Cobá road
Cenote Car Wash (Aktun Ha)
Combine it with a visit to Cobá on the same day, since it is on the way.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
Nature · South of Tulum
Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido
Two open, jungle-ringed cenotes on either side of the highway about 4 km south of town, sold on a single ticket.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Off the beaten path
The sea averages 28°C (82°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Tulum.
What to pack
For highs near 32°C, lows near 23°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 Tulum?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, November–April are better overall. Compare every month.
Tulum in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Tulum?
It is a shoulder-season month. Hot and humid with fewer visitors; sargassum is often present and sea turtles begin nesting.
+How warm is Tulum in May?
Average highs are around 32°C (90°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Tulum in May?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.