#1Hot
Puerto Vallarta
- Day
- 31.8°C
- Sea
- 25.8°C
- Sun
- 8.4h
- Rain days
- 3
Your May weather guide
Weather in Mexico in May
May is a good month for Mexico if you want hot weather and warm swimming water, but your choice of coast matters. Country averages reach 30°C by day, with the sea at 27°C and 12 rainy days, so this is not a reliably dry beach holiday everywhere. Puerto Vallarta is the better fit for fewer wet days; Cancun and the Riviera Maya suit travellers who prioritise warmer water and can keep their plans flexible.
Long-term climate averages, not a forecast · 1991-2020
- Average daytime high
- 29.7°Cacross 5 destinations
- Average night-time low
- 24.4°Cafter dark
- Sea temperature
- 27.4°Cwarm enough to swim
- Rainy days
- 12days1 mm or more
Mexico, month by month
Turn up the warmth
Warmest places in Mexico in May
Ranked by average daytime high. The full comparison is in the table below.
#2Hot
Tulum
- Day
- 29.3°C
- Sea
- 27.9°C
- Sun
- 6.7h
- Rain days
- 14
#3Hot
Riviera Maya
- Day
- 29.2°C
- Sea
- 27.9°C
- Sun
- 6.8h
- Rain days
- 14
#4Hot
Playa del Carmen
- Day
- 29.2°C
- Sea
- 27.9°C
- Sun
- 6.8h
- Rain days
- 14
#5Hot
Cancun
- Day
- 29.1°C
- Sea
- 27.5°C
- Sun
- 7.2h
- Rain days
- 13
Mexico destinations ranked for May
All 5 places we track in Mexico, ordered by daytime high.
Scroll sideways for more weather, down for more places. Click a heading to sort.
| # | Destination | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puerto Vallarta | 31.8°C | 21.4°C | 25.8°C | 8.4 h | 3 | 12 h 18 min |
| 2 | Tulum | 29.3°C | 25.2°C | 27.9°C | 6.7 h | 14 | 10 h 54 min |
| 3 | Riviera Maya | 29.2°C | 25.1°C | 27.9°C | 6.8 h | 14 | 10 h 48 min |
| 4 | Playa del Carmen | 29.2°C | 25.1°C | 27.9°C | 6.8 h | 14 | 10 h 48 min |
| 5 | Cancun | 29.1°C | 25.3°C | 27.5°C | 7.2 h | 13 | 10 h 42 min |
5 destinations shownClimate averages, not a forecast.
May climate overview
Daytime highs across Mexico in May run from 29.1°C (Cancun) to 31.8°C (Puerto Vallarta). In Puerto Vallarta about 100% of May days reach 25°C. Nights average 24.4°C; the coldest 10% of nights in Cancun fall to 24°C or below.
Rainfall in May
Expect around 12 rainy days (1 mm or more) in May, with Puerto Vallarta the driest (3 days) and Playa del Carmen the wettest (14 days). The wettest May at Puerto Vallarta between 1991 and 2020 was 2014 with 113 mm; the driest was 1991 with 0 mm.
Sea temperature
The sea averages 27.4°C around Mexico in May - warmest at Tulum (27.9°C). That is comfortable for swimming.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 7.2 hours of sunshine a day on average, out of 13.0 hours of daylight (sunshine estimated from cloud cover).
May against the rest of the year in Mexico
May is the 3rd warmest month of the twelve in Mexico. It is 0.9°C warmer than April and 0.1°C cooler in June. The hottest month here is August (30°C) and the coolest January (26°C).
Which part of Mexico in May?
- Most sunshine: Puerto Vallarta, 8.4 h a day.
- Driest: Puerto Vallarta, about 3 rainy days.
- Warmest sea: Tulum, 28°C.
- Hottest: Puerto Vallarta, 32°C by day.
- Coolest (better for walking and cities): Cancun, 29°C.
What to pack for Mexico in May
Based on the averages: summer clothes for the day; a rain jacket - roughly 12 wet days; swimwear - the sea is 27°C.
Similar weather elsewhere in May
Within 1.5°C of Mexico's May daytime average: Hanoi (31°C), Hurghada (31°C, sea 25°C), Las Vegas (30°C), Montego Bay (30°C, sea 28°C), Kuala Lumpur (30°C). See the full ranking for May.
Puerto Vallarta: fewer rainy days, stronger heat
Puerto Vallarta offers the clearest trade-off: fewer rainy days, but hotter afternoons. With 3 rainy days in May, it is the strongest choice among these destinations if dry weather matters most. Daytime temperatures reach 32°C, so plan active outings for earlier in the day and leave room for shade around midday. Lightweight clothing, sun protection and easy access to drinking water make sense here. Nights average 21°C, offering more relief from the heat than on the Caribbean coast. The sea is 26°C, still warm for swimming, though cooler than around Cancun. Choose it if you prefer drier conditions and can comfortably manage the daytime heat.
Cancun and the Riviera Maya: warm water, more wet days
Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya have similar May temperatures: 29°C by day and 25°C at night. That means slightly less daytime heat than Puerto Vallarta, but warmer evenings with less chance to cool down outdoors. Breathable clothes are useful well beyond sunset, and accommodation with cooling is worth prioritising if warm nights affect your sleep. The sea reaches 28°C, making this coast the better match if warm swimming water leads your decision. The catch is rain: Cancun has 13 rainy days, while the other destinations have 14. Keep outdoor plans flexible and pack a light waterproof rather than expecting an entirely dry stay.
A little more detail
Mexico in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Where is the hottest place in Mexico in May?
Puerto Vallarta is the warmest of the 5 places we track in Mexico in May with an average high of 31.8°C; Cancun is the coolest at 29.1°C.
Is the sea warm in Mexico in May?
The sea averages 22°C or more at Puerto Vallarta (26°C), Tulum (28°C), Riviera Maya (28°C), Playa del Carmen (28°C), Cancun (28°C) in May.
How much warmer is Mexico than London in May?
Mexico averages 30°C by day in May, compared with London's 17°C. Expect a substantial change in how you dress and pace your day: lighter clothing and breaks from the midday heat will be more useful than a typical London spring wardrobe.
Will I need a jacket in the evenings?
A warm jacket is unlikely to be a priority at these destinations. Puerto Vallarta averages 21°C at night, while Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya average 25°C. Pack mainly light evening clothes, with an optional layer for personal comfort.
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