Country guide
Mexico weather by month
February to April is the clearest choice for a Mexico beach holiday, with average daytime temperatures rising from 27°C to 29°C and 6 rain days per month. Summer brings warmer seas but much more frequent rain, so it suits travellers who can keep plans flexible. These averages describe Mexico’s featured beach destinations rather than every part of the country: useful for choosing coastal weather, but not a reliable temperature guide for inland city stays.
- Hottest month
- 30.2°CAugust
- Coolest month
- 26.1°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 29.3°CSeptember
- Destinations tracked
- 5warmest: Puerto Vallarta
Mexico, month by month
A little perspective
Mexico through the year
Country figures are the mean of the 5 destinations listed below; individual resorts can differ by several degrees.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26.1°C | 21.2°C | 26.1°C | 5.9 | 46 | 9 | 75% |
| Februarybest | 26.8°C | 21.6°C | 25.8°C | 7.1 | 28 | 6 | 85% |
| Marchbest | 27.6°C | 22.1°C | 25.7°C | 7.5 | 28 | 6 | 93% |
| Aprilbest | 28.8°C | 23.3°C | 26.3°C | 7.6 | 30 | 6 | 99% |
| May | 29.7°C | 24.4°C | 27.4°C | 7.2 | 79 | 12 | 100% |
| June | 29.6°C | 25.4°C | 28.2°C | 4.9 | 182 | 19 | 100% |
| July | 30.1°C | 25.8°C | 28.8°C | 5.4 | 141 | 19 | 100% |
| August | 30.2°C | 25.8°C | 29.2°C | 5.0 | 175 | 22 | 100% |
| September | 29.7°C | 25.4°C | 29.3°C | 3.9 | 220 | 25 | 100% |
| October | 28.8°C | 24.5°C | 28.9°C | 4.7 | 183 | 20 | 100% |
| November | 27.6°C | 23.0°C | 27.8°C | 5.9 | 69 | 11 | 94% |
| December | 26.7°C | 21.9°C | 26.7°C | 5.9 | 45 | 9 | 85% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
When to go to Mexico
Daytime highs average 25°C or more in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. The sea reaches a swimmable 22°C from January to December. Winter (December to February) averages 27°C by day - genuine winter sun. September is the wettest month (220 mm) and February the driest (28 mm).
Destinations in Mexico
Each has a 12-month table; our most searched places have month-by-month detail pages.
| Destination | Hottest month | Coolest month | Months 25°C+ | Sea (warmest) | Flight from London |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancun | August 30°C | January 25°C | 12 | 29°C | 10 h 42 min |
| Riviera Maya | August 30°C | January 26°C | 12 | 29°C | 10 h 48 min |
| Playa del Carmen | August 30°C | January 26°C | 12 | 29°C | 10 h 48 min |
| Tulum | August 30°C | January 26°C | 12 | 29°C | 10 h 54 min |
| Puerto Vallarta | May 32°C | January 28°C | 12 | 30°C | 12 h 18 min |
Warmest place in Mexico each month
| Month | Warmest destination | Day | Coolest destination | Day | Warmest sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Puerto Vallarta | 28°C | Cancun | 25°C | Riviera Maya 27°C |
| February | Puerto Vallarta | 28°C | Cancun | 26°C | Riviera Maya 26°C |
| March | Puerto Vallarta | 29°C | Cancun | 27°C | Playa del Carmen 27°C |
| April | Puerto Vallarta | 30°C | Cancun | 28°C | Tulum 27°C |
| May | Puerto Vallarta | 32°C | Cancun | 29°C | Tulum 28°C |
| June | Puerto Vallarta | 31°C | Cancun | 29°C | Riviera Maya 28°C |
| July | Puerto Vallarta | 31°C | Cancun | 30°C | Puerto Vallarta 30°C |
| August | Puerto Vallarta | 31°C | Cancun | 30°C | Puerto Vallarta 30°C |
| September | Puerto Vallarta | 30°C | Cancun | 29°C | Puerto Vallarta 30°C |
| October | Puerto Vallarta | 30°C | Cancun | 28°C | Puerto Vallarta 30°C |
| November | Puerto Vallarta | 30°C | Cancun | 27°C | Tulum 28°C |
| December | Puerto Vallarta | 28°C | Cancun | 26°C | Tulum 27°C |
The drier stretch: winter into spring
January to April offers the most straightforward balance of warmth and fewer rain days. February to April is the driest stretch shown, making it the strongest choice if beach time matters more than the warmest possible sea. Water temperatures hold at 26°C throughout this period, while afternoons become progressively hotter towards April. January is slightly cooler by day, which may appeal if you prefer walking around to lying in the heat. Evenings remain warm on average, though a light layer is a sensible option if you feel the cool after swimming. December also offers a gentler balance than the wetter summer months, without giving up warm beach weather.
Summer warmth comes with a wetter forecast
May marks the shift towards wetter weather, with 12 rain days, before June and July each reach 19. Daytime averages sit at 30°C from May through September, so summer is not dramatically hotter than late spring; the bigger catch is the frequency of rain. September is the wettest month shown, with 25 rain days, making fixed outdoor plans a less comfortable bet. The sea reaches 29°C from July through October, appealing if very warm water is your priority. Pack light clothing and rain protection, and leave room to rearrange beach time. October remains relatively wet, while November brings a clearer move back towards the drier part of the year.
Choosing between destinations, beaches and cities
Puerto Vallarta is the warmest of the featured destinations across the year, averaging about 30°C by day, while Cancun is the coolest at about 28°C. That gives heat-lovers a useful steer, but an annual average cannot tell you which destination will be drier during your stay. Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and Tulum also contribute to the overall monthly picture; separate local figures would be needed for a closer comparison. For beaches, favour February to April for fewer rain interruptions. For city time within a coastal holiday, the cooler winter months may be more comfortable for walking. For inland cities, check the local forecast rather than assuming these beach temperatures apply.
A little more detail
Mexico weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
When is the best time to visit Mexico?
Weighing warmth, low rainfall and sunshine across 5 destinations, the best months for Mexico are March, April, February. August is the hottest month (average high 30.2°C) and January the coolest (26.1°C).
How many months is Mexico over 25°C?
12 months average a daytime high of 25°C or more across our Mexico destinations.
Which is the hottest place in Mexico?
Over the year, Puerto Vallarta has the highest average daytime temperature of the 5 Mexico destinations we track (29.9°C averaged across all months).
When is the best balance of beach warmth and less rain?
February to April offers the strongest balance in these averages, with 6 rain days per month and warm afternoons. Choose February for slightly gentler daytime heat, or April if you prefer hotter weather. The sea averages 26°C throughout.
When is the sea warmest?
The sea averages 29°C from July through October, the warmest stretch shown. The trade-off is frequent rain, so these months suit travellers who value very warm swimming water and can adapt their beach plans to the weather.
Are evenings cool enough to need warm clothes?
Average nights range from 21°C in January to 26°C in July and August across the featured destinations. Light clothing should suit many coastal evenings, with a light layer if you feel chilly. Those temperatures should not be assumed for inland city stays.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at 5 destination points.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C