Cancun In December: Everything You Need To Know

Being one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world, people are likely to visit Cancun at all times of the year. Because the climate in Cancun and the Riviera Maya is semi-tropical, you can visit at nearly any time of the year and expect to have a warm tropical vacation.

But when exactly is the best time to visit?

If you were to ask me, I’d tell you that I love visiting Cancun during low-humidity months like December/January.

Others may love visiting in March/April for spring break madness, June/July for summer vacation, or September/October for the unbeatable low-season deals. The answer really depends on what you want out of your trip.

If you’re looking into taking a trip to Cancun in December, you’ll want to consider a few things. You’ll want a good understanding of the weather, hotel/flight deals, crowds and more to find out whether Cancun in December is right for you.

To help you plan your Cancun vacation, we’ve compiled this post to help you learn more about whether you should visit Cancun in December.

This post may contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful and free content. Thanks a lot!

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Cancun In December: At-A-Glance

December is arguably the best month to visit Cancun! It’s one of the best winter months to visit Cancun due to fewer crowds, cheaper accommodations, cheaper flights, and lower chances of tropical storms.

Days are warm and nights are cooler. What that means is that you’ll be able to enjoy outdoor activities with sunshine and enjoy evening strolls without sweating the whole time.

• Crowd Levels: Lower
• Temperature: Highs of 83°F (28°C), lows of 70°F (21°C).
• Humidity Levels: Not too bad.
• Ideal time for budget travelers: Yes
• Events This Month: Mayakoba Golf Tournament, Cancun Marathon, Holy Ship! Wrecked Music Festival, Christmas, New Year’s Eve

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What Are Cancun’s Travel Seasons?

There are three distinct travel seasons for Cancun: high season, low season, and shoulder season. Before we dive into Cancun’s travel seasons, here’s a quick breakdown of how the weather fluctuates throughout the year in Cancun.

• WET SEASON: The wet season runs from May to October and tends to be actually hotter than the dry season.
• HURRICANE SEASON: Hurricane season spans June to November, with a higher likelihood of storms from August to October. Actual hurricanes are rare though, so it’s still a decent time to visit if you don’t mind periodic rain showers here and there throughout the day. (The area has seen only two hurricanes in the past 30 years.)
• DRY SEASON: The dry season is from December to April. Travelers will find cooler, more pleasant temperatures.

High Season In Cancun

Cancun’s high season typically stretches from late December to April. 

This is peak season across the world’s sunbelt—especially in Mexico! From Christmas onward, expect Cancun and the rest of Mexico to be very busy. Cancun’s pristine white sands will be covered with flocks of tourists ranging from kids on their winter break, party-goers flocking in for Cancun’s infamous Spring Break events, and more.

Because of the increase of tourism during the high season, you can expect a similar spike in airfares, hotel rates, and all-inclusive resort costs as well. Especially around Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Spring Break!

Pro Tip: To get around this, visit Mexico in early December, before all the mayhem begins!

Low Season In Cancun

Cancun’s low season runs from May through October because this time period coincides with Mexico’s main rainy season. You can expect super hot, sticky, and sweltering days with frequent downpours and unpredictable weather. Cancun’s hurricane season also falls within the low season.

While it is the rainy season, rest assured you likely won’t be rained in during your entire vacation. The rain typically comes in short bursts–a downpour for a few days followed by sunny skies the next.

Also during the summer months, the shorelines of Mexico tend to draw in a lot of seaweed (sargasso). Hotels and resorts do their best to clean up the seaweed but do expect to see more seaweed than normal during the low season.

Since tourists tend to avoid Cancun during this time, you can often find the best hotel deals in the low season. You’ll get crowd-free beaches, cheaper airfare and hotel rates, and better hospitality. The is often considered the best time to visit Cancun if you’re traveling on a budget.

Shoulder Season In Cancun

In our opinion, the best time to go to Cancun is the shoulder months of April, May, November, and December. During these months, you’ll experience lesser crowds and more mild weather conditions, and pretty reasonable rates.

We especially love going towards the end of November/first week of December right after Thanksgiving. We’ve been three times during this timeframe and have always been met with nearly perfect weather!

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Cancun In December: What To Expect

Come December, Cancun will experience near-perfect weather. Days are warm and nights are cooler. What that means is that you’ll be able to enjoy outdoor activities with sunshine and enjoy evening strolls without sweating the whole time.

There could very well be light rain, but if rain comes, it falls mainly in the evening or for really short periods of time during the day.

Otherwise, the days are beautiful, warm, and sunny! In fact, December marks the beginning of the dry season in Cancun which runs from December through March.

I am someone who is always cold (even when my friends are perfectly fine in the same weather) and in December, I don’t need to bring a jacket or coverup with me. That there alone tells you how gorgeous the December weather is in Cancun.

In terms of how Cancun in December will impact your wallet, what you’ll find is good news! Because December is one of Cancun’s shoulder season months, hotels and resorts often will reduce their nightly rates in December.

You’ll also find that this is the optimal time to visit Cancun’s popular attractions (swimming in cenotes, Chichen Itza, Xcaret Eco Park, etc) as there won’t be long waits or huge crowds.

You’ll also find less crowded beaches, restaurants, and pools at your resort. And while there will be fewer tourists around, nearly everything is open so there will be lots of things to do!

Read Next: Xcaret Park Review: Is This Eco-Park Worth The Money?

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Cancun Weather In December

Temperature: Highs of 83°F (28°C), lows of 70°F (21°C). Skies are most of the time clear and sunny. It’ll be sunny and hot (but not too hot) during the days, and cooler in the evenings. Very rarely will you need a long sleeve at night.

Humidity: Humidity is lower than June through November, hovering around the 86% max and 75% min range. This is pretty darn low for Cancun and you won’t get that hot sticky feeling on your trip.

Rain: December is the 6th wettest month of the year with 7 rainy days on average. Hurricane season has passed, so chances of you running into a hurricane on your travels are extremely slim to none. There could be rain, but it happens usually during the night.

Hours of Sunshine: 8 hours

Sea Temperatures: 81°F (27°C)

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December Events In Cancun

Holy Ship! Wrecked Music Festival – An electronic music festival (usually takes place on a cruise ship) now held at a luxury resort for four days and nights of dance music.

Cancun Marathon – Every year on the first weekend of December, runners from all over the world gather for the Cancun Marathon, also known as one of the most beautiful marathons in the world.

Christmas / Winter Holiday Season – Christmas week is really busy in Cancun. The schools are closed, meaning the kids are off for winter vacation. You’ll easily find that the beaches and hotels are crowded. If you don’t like crowds, you should avoid the last two weeks of December as well as the first week of January.

New Year’s Eve – As with many other party destinations around the world, Cancun turns into a major party city for New Year Eve. Expect huge parties at the clubs and bars and lots of fireworks!

Don't Miss: 25 Essential Cancun Travel Tips: Things I Wish I Knew Before My Mexico Trip

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Best Time To Visit Cancun For Perfect Weather

Cancun has great weather for much of the year, but for the best weather you should visit between the months of December and April. The average temperature stays around the mid-80’s, with little to no rain on most days.

It’s important to keep in mind around March and April the spring breakers will start to visit Cancun, which can lead to high crowds and busy areas.

So while the weather might be amazing, if you’re looking to avoid these groups of rowdy travelers, you’ll want to travel closer to the December, January or February months.

This time is great as the temperature is extremely comfortable, without having to worry about hurricanes or too much rain in general. It’s ideal weather to spend time on the beach, while not feeling too hot or cool.

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Best Time To Visit Cancun For The Best Deals

Cancun has a peak tourist season, as well as a low tourist season during the year. Due to the great weather during the summer/spring seasons, November through April are typically the busiest months in Cancun.

Beyond the weather, though, these times are most popular due to the holidays. Lots of people go on vacations to Cancun in November and December for holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

On top of that, it is also particularly common for people who live in cooler areas to visit and escape the cold winter weather.

The popularity of these times of the year generally leads to a more expensive trip overall, with higher flight prices, hotel rates, and resort costs.

So, if you’re looking to snag a deal on your Cancun vacation, you’ll want to look into visiting between May and November.

This time of year brings fewer tourists due to the higher likelihood of rain and some inclement weather. Hotels, all-inclusive resorts, and airlines will usually lower their prices to attract tourists.

However, if you wait until the sweet spot between September and October, you can enjoy some of the more comfortable temperatures with a lower likelihood of bad weather (and still take advantage of those great deals).

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Best Time To Visit Cancun For Avoiding Crowds

If you’re looking to avoid crowds, you’ll want to keep a few details in mind while planning your visit to Cancun.

As we discussed before, the holidays are a popular time for people to visit Cancun – specifically in November and December, and March and April for spring break. If you’re looking to avoid massive crowds, you’ll want to make sure you visit outside these months at the very least.

For the least amount of tourists visiting while you’re on your trip, you’ll want to look into visiting sometime in October or September.

Lots of people flock to Cancun for their summer vacations throughout June, July and August, leading to lower crowds than the holidays but still a sizable amount of tourists.

September and October lie in the sweet spot where you’re just out of the summer, but the holidays haven’t come up yet.

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Best Time To Visit Cancun For Swimming, Snorkeling and Diving

Cancun is a great place to visit if you’re looking to spend some serious time outdoors and in the water! There are a lot of opportunities to swim, snorkel, go diving and engage in other activities during your vacation.

If you want to do any of these things while in Cancun, you’ll want to visit during a month where the water is warm, and the weather is beautiful.

To have the best time on the beaches while in Cancun, you’ll want to go during the summer or early fall months. July, August, September and even October guarantee the warmest water of the year, allowing you to enjoy long periods of time swimming and snorkeling.

For the lowest likelihood of rain and bad weather, you can avoid hurricane and rain season by going closer to June and July. This is also a great time to see the most amount of marine life, including turtles and sharks.

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Best Time to Visit Cancun for Whale Sharks

Speaking of sharks, did you know whale sharks are some of the most popular marine life people come to see when visiting Cancun? Don’t worry, despite them being in the shark family, they’re actually docile and friendly, and love to feed on plankton (not people).

To maximize your chances of seeing a whale shark when on vacation, you’ll want to visit Cancun during shark season. This season primarily takes place in June and July when the water is warm and the weather is at its best.

Sometimes, though, shark season extends past these couple months and can span anytime between mid-May and mid-September.

It’ll be hard to plan your trip around the potential for an extended season, so it’s best to just book your trip near June/July.

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Best Time To Visit Cancun For Nightlife

Beyond visiting Cancun to enjoy the beautiful beaches and resorts, many people go to take part in the vibrant nightlife. Cancun is infamous for its party life and lively nighttime entertainment, with tons of restaurants and nightclubs you can visit each night to guarantee a fantastic time.

If partying is one of your vacation priorities, you will want to visit Cancun either during March and April, or during the summer months.

March and April are when many people come out to Cancun during spring break–you can find lots of beach parties during the day, and packed nightclubs later on in the evenings.

The summer is another popular time for the younger crowd to come out to party, as the weather is at its best and it stays warm late into the night.

If you’re looking for a lively crowd to party with, but don’t exactly want to deal with all the craziness of spring break, you can also visit Cancun during October, November or December.

A lot of people (us included) tend to visit during this time to visit the various clubs and other attractions Cancun has to offer. And unlike the spring and summer months, this time of year the people visiting tend to be older and more relaxed.

If that sounds more like you, I’d skip March/April and visit towards the end of the calendar year!

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Is December A Good Time To Visit Cancun?

December is arguably the best month to visit Cancun, so the answer is an astounding yes!

It’s one of the best winter months to visit Cancun due to lesser crowds, cheaper accommodations, cheaper flights, and lower chances of tropical storms.

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Is Cancun Cold in December?

While it might be cold in December for many other cities/destinations in the world, Cancun is not one of those places. In fact, December is arguably the best time to visit Cancun, Mexico!

Days are warm, nights are cool and comfortable, and skies are almost always sunny and clear. Average highs are around 82°F (27°C). Average temperatures rarely fall below 76°F.

Get ready for some near-perfect weather in December!

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Does It Rain All Day in Cancun During the Rainy Season?

Yes and no. While there is a possibility it could rain all day, there’s also the possibility that it could rain for 30 minutes during the day with nothing but sunlight the rest of the time. It could also rain overnight with no rain in sight in the daytime.

The rain can be heavy at times in Cancun, but it is unlikely to rain for the whole of your trip. Usually, if it does rain, it will only last for 1-3 days.

Rest assured, if you do vacation during the rainy season, you will not be rained in during your entire vacation!

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Essential Travel Tips For Cancun, Mexico

• To make sure you bring all the right travel gear and have all your bases covered, always check the weather forecasts before you leave on your trip to Cancun. No matter the season, it’s smart to bring a windproof umbrella and light rain jacket with you.
• There’s been sort of a seaweed problem in Cancun. Want to make sure you’re going to be getting crystal clear waters? Check the latest seaweed conditions report before heading to the beaches on Cancun or Isla Mujeres.
• The most popular times to visit Cancun range from June to early August and November to March (high season). If you’re looking for a quieter experience, plan your trip for mid-August to October.
• Cancun hurricane season runs from June through November. Most weather experts recommend purchasing travel insurance if you plan on visiting during hurricane season.
• Bring pesos with you just in case you need to pay with cash. Pick up pesos from an ATM wherever you depart from before heading to Cancun. Not all places accept credit cards on the island (small shopfronts, food vendors, etc.), and ATMs are few and far between.
• When using a credit card, choose to pay in the local currency instead of your home currency. You’ll get a better exchange rate and will be paying less than the home currency option. (In my case, I would pay in $MXN instead of in $USD.)
• The tap water in Mexico is not safe to drink. Instead of spending your money on plastic water bottles, bring a reusable water bottle and a rechargeable Steri-Pen (the way more environmentally friendly option).
• Cancun is extremely tourist-friendly. If you can’t speak a lick of Spanish, you’ll be okay. Cancun largely caters to English-speaking visitors, and you’ll find that English is spoken by most locals, hotel/restaurant staff, and tour guides.
• Cancun is pretty safe, but always practice self-awareness and caution. Certain areas of Mexico have long held a reputation for being unsafe due to cartel violence, but resort areas and tourists are not targeted. Just exercise increased caution as you would anywhere–avoid being flashy, don’t walk around alone at night, be wary of your surroundings, and you should be just fine.
• No matter what you’re budget is, you’ll find tons of accommodation options in Cancun. Most budget accommodations and hostels are located in downtown Cancun, while luxury and resort options are largely found in the Hotel Zone or more remote areas nearby such as Playa Mujeres or Puerto Morelos.
• Taxis in Cancun are costly, and buses are cheap. Taxis in Cancun follow a set price (Ex: ~$45 from Playa del Carmen to Cancun’s Hotel Zone; ~$26 from Cancun International Airport to the Hotel Zone).
• Many travelers opt for local bus transportation, which is reliable, frequent, and inexpensive (under $1/ride) to ride between the Hotel Zone and downtown Cancun.
• Looking for transportation priced somewhere in the middle? A private transfer booked ahead will be your best bet. We typically opt for private transfers whenever we are going from hotel to hotel (where it’s harder to find bus stops or taxis).

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Other Popular Destinations Near Cancun, Mexico

• Isla Mujeres
• Playa Del Carmen / Riviera Maya 
• Isla Holbox
• Cozumel
• Tulum

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Cancun In December: Frequently Asked Questions

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We hope you found this post useful and now have a better idea of whether Cancun in December is right for you. We love visiting this time of year. Between December and January, these months are tied for the “best” time to go to Cancun — at least for us!

If Cancun in December is NOT what you thought it was, consider visiting Cancun during another month of the year. Check out our other Cancun guides by month:

• The Best Time To Visit Cancun: A Month By Month Guide
• Cancun In January
• Cancun In February
• Cancun In March
• Cancun In April
• Cancun In May
• Cancun In June
• Cancun In July
• Cancun In August
• Cancun In September
• Cancun In October
• Cancun In November
• Cancun In December

Want more Cancun travel tips? You might like:

7 Best All-Inclusive Resorts In Riviera Maya, Mexico

25+ Exciting Things To Do In Cancun To Make Your Trip Unforgettable

25 Essential Cancun Travel Tips: Things I Wish I’d Known Before My Mexico Trip

14 Unforgettable Things To Do On Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Secrets Or Excellence Resorts: Which All-Inclusive Resort Is Better?

Xcaret Park Review: Is It Worth The Money?