#1Hot
Puerto Vallarta
- Day
- 30.4°C
- Sea
- 29.5°C
- Sun
- 4.8h
- Rain days
- 19
Your October weather guide
Weather in Mexico in October
October is a good month for Mexico if you want warmth and can accept rain, but it is not the best fit for a holiday built around dry weather. Country averages reach 29°C by day, with the sea also at 29°C, while 20 rainy days make flexible plans important. Among the coastal destinations here, Puerto Vallarta is the warmest choice; Cancun and the Riviera Maya offer slightly lower daytime temperatures, though neither promises a dry alternative.
Long-term climate averages, not a forecast · 1991-2020
- Average daytime high
- 28.8°Cacross 5 destinations
- Average night-time low
- 24.5°Cafter dark
- Sea temperature
- 28.9°Cwarm enough to swim
- Rainy days
- 20days1 mm or more
Mexico, month by month
Turn up the warmth
Warmest places in Mexico in October
Ranked by average daytime high. The full comparison is in the table below.
#2Hot
Tulum
- Day
- 28.6°C
- Sea
- 28.8°C
- Sun
- 4.6h
- Rain days
- 20
#3Hot
Riviera Maya
- Day
- 28.5°C
- Sea
- 28.8°C
- Sun
- 4.6h
- Rain days
- 20
#4Hot
Playa del Carmen
- Day
- 28.4°C
- Sea
- 28.8°C
- Sun
- 4.6h
- Rain days
- 21
#5Hot
Cancun
- Day
- 28.1°C
- Sea
- 28.5°C
- Sun
- 4.9h
- Rain days
- 21
Mexico destinations ranked for October
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 | 30.4°C | 23.6°C | 29.5°C | 4.8 h | 19 | 12 h 18 min |
| 2 | Tulum | 28.6°C | 24.5°C | 28.8°C | 4.6 h | 20 | 10 h 54 min |
| 3 | Riviera Maya | 28.5°C | 24.6°C | 28.8°C | 4.6 h | 20 | 10 h 48 min |
| 4 | Playa del Carmen | 28.4°C | 24.6°C | 28.8°C | 4.6 h | 21 | 10 h 48 min |
| 5 | Cancun | 28.1°C | 25.0°C | 28.5°C | 4.9 h | 21 | 10 h 42 min |
5 destinations shownClimate averages, not a forecast.
October climate overview
Daytime highs across Mexico in October run from 28.1°C (Cancun) to 30.4°C (Puerto Vallarta). In Puerto Vallarta about 100% of October days reach 25°C. Nights average 24.5°C; the coldest 10% of nights in Cancun fall to 24°C or below.
Rainfall in October
Expect around 20 rainy days (1 mm or more) in October, with Puerto Vallarta the driest (19 days) and Cancun the wettest (21 days). The wettest October at Puerto Vallarta between 1991 and 2020 was 2019 with 292 mm; the driest was 1995 with 37 mm.
Sea temperature
The sea averages 28.9°C around Mexico in October - warmest at Puerto Vallarta (29.5°C). That is comfortable for swimming.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.7 hours of sunshine a day on average, out of 11.5 hours of daylight (sunshine estimated from cloud cover).
October against the rest of the year in Mexico
October is the 7th warmest month of the twelve in Mexico. It is 0.9°C cooler than September and 1.2°C cooler in November. The hottest month here is August (30°C) and the coolest January (26°C).
Which part of Mexico in October?
- Most sunshine: Cancun, 4.9 h a day.
- Driest: Puerto Vallarta, about 19 rainy days.
- Warmest sea: Puerto Vallarta, 30°C.
- Hottest: Puerto Vallarta, 30°C by day.
- Coolest (better for walking and cities): Cancun, 28°C.
What to pack for Mexico in October
Based on the averages: summer clothes for the day; a rain jacket - roughly 20 wet days; swimwear - the sea is 29°C.
Similar weather elsewhere in October
Within 1.5°C of Mexico's October daytime average: Ho Chi Minh City (30°C), Montego Bay (30°C, sea 29°C), Kololi (30°C, sea 29°C), Hurghada (30°C, sea 27°C), Goa (30°C, sea 28°C). See the full ranking for October.
Which part of Mexico should you choose?
For the highest temperatures among these destinations, choose Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast: days reach 30°C and the sea is equally warm. Its 19 rainy days are slightly fewer than elsewhere here, but that is not enough to make it a reliably dry choice. On the Caribbean coast, Tulum reaches 29°C, while the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and Cancun sit at 28°C. That modest difference may suit travellers who prefer less daytime heat. Evenings do not offer much cooling: nights stay at 24°C in Puerto Vallarta and Tulum, and 25°C in the other destinations. Choose for your preferred level of warmth rather than expecting a major change in rain risk.
What to pack and how to plan your days
Pack light clothing for warm days and evenings, along with a waterproof layer that is comfortable in the heat. With country averages of 20 rainy days and 4.7 hours of sunshine, October calls for flexible outdoor plans rather than an expectation of clear skies throughout your stay. The rainy-day figures do not tell you when rain will arrive or how long it will last, so do not assume mornings or afternoons will always be dry. Leave room to move outdoor time around the forecast. At midday, plan breaks from the heat; after dark, temperatures remain warm enough that evenings are unlikely to feel like a cool reset.
A little more detail
Mexico in October FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Where is the hottest place in Mexico in October?
Puerto Vallarta is the warmest of the 5 places we track in Mexico in October with an average high of 30.4°C; Cancun is the coolest at 28.1°C.
Is the sea warm in Mexico in October?
The sea averages 22°C or more at Puerto Vallarta (30°C), Tulum (29°C), Riviera Maya (29°C), Playa del Carmen (29°C), Cancun (29°C) in October.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in October?
Sea temperatures are warm across these destinations, ranging from 28°C in Cancun to 30°C in Puerto Vallarta. Tulum, the Riviera Maya and Playa del Carmen all average 29°C. Water temperature is unlikely to be the obstacle, but warmth alone does not establish safe swimming conditions.
How much warmer is Mexico than London in October?
Mexico averages 29°C by day, compared with London's 15°C, so expect a clear shift towards warm-weather clothing. Mexico's average night temperature is 24°C, meaning the warmth continues after sunset rather than giving way to the cooler conditions you may associate with October.
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