Your April weather guide
HotWeather in Riviera Maya in April
April is a good time to visit Riviera Maya if you want hot weather and warm water without expecting completely dry skies. Average daytime highs of 28.5°C make this a clear change from a UK spring, while the sea sits at 27°C. The catch is some rain, with about 7 rainy days during the month. It suits travellers happy to take midday gently and keep their plans flexible rather than rely on uninterrupted sunshine.
Long-term climate averages for Playa del Carmen, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Riviera Maya, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Playa del Carmen.
- Average daytime high
- 28.5°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 30°C
- Average night-time low
- 24.2°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 22°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +15.0°C
- London averages 13.5°C in April
- Sea temperature
- 27.0°C
- year to year: 27°C to 27°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 7.5h
- 60% of 12.5 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 7
- 36 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 76%
- Days over 25°C
- 100%
- 6% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 32.6°C
- 2015-04-29
- Record low 1991-2020
- 16.9°C
- 2019-04-10
- Flight from London
- ≈ 10 h 48 min
- 8025 km, long-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How April compares
April is the 6th warmest month of the year in Riviera Maya. Within Mexico it is 3rd of 5 (Mexico in April). Against London's average high of 13.5°C in April, Riviera Maya is 15.0°C warmer by day and 19.1°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in April
The typical April day in Riviera Maya peaks at 28.5°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 29.6°C or more. About 100% of days top 25°C and 1 in 16 pass 30°C. Nights average 24.2°C; one night in ten drops to 21.9°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest April day here reached 32.6°C (2015-04-29) and the coldest night 16.9°C (2019-04-10).
Rain in April
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 7 days with 1 mm or more, 36 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest April was 2010 with 138 mm, the driest 2002 with 7 mm. Humidity averages 76%, which makes the heat feel heavier than the thermometer suggests.
Sea temperature in April
The sea averages 27.0°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 26.6°C to 27.4°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (29.2°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 7.5 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 12.5 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:30 and sets about 19:07 local time in mid-April. Average cloud cover is 40%.
Is April a good time to visit Riviera Maya?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, manageable rain and long sunny days. The best months for Riviera Maya on our scoring are March, April, February; months averaging 25°C or more: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
Hot days, with little cooling after dark
Plan for summer clothing throughout your stay, not just around midday. With an average night low of 24.2°C, evenings remain warm, so light, loose clothes are more useful outdoors than heavy layers. Humidity averages 76%, which can make the heat feel more tiring when you are walking around. Leave room for shade and breaks rather than packing the hottest part of the day with activity. April is hot without routinely reaching 30°C, but that does not make it mild. For a UK traveller used to London's April daytime high of 13.5°C, the change will feel substantial, especially when there is little relief after sunset.
Plenty of daylight, but allow for rain
April offers about 7.5 hours of sunshine within 12.5 hours of daylight, giving you scope to enjoy time outdoors without treating every hour as a sunbathing opportunity. About 7 rainy days means rain is a realistic part of the trip, though it need not dominate your decision. Keep outdoor plans movable and pack a light waterproof that will not feel too cumbersome in the warmth. The monthly averages cannot tell you when rain will fall or how long any wet spell will last, so do not assume it will only rain overnight. April suits you better if some cloud and changes of plan are acceptable.
A little perspective
Riviera Maya through the year
April is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25.8°C | 21.8°C | 26.6°C | 6.0 | 46 | 11 | 73% |
| Februarybest | 26.6°C | 22.4°C | 26.4°C | 7.2 | 26 | 7 | 86% |
| Marchbest | 27.3°C | 23.0°C | 26.4°C | 7.5 | 32 | 7 | 93% |
| AprilSelectedbest | 28.5°C | 24.2°C | 27.0°C | 7.5 | 36 | 7 | 100% |
| May | 29.2°C | 25.1°C | 27.9°C | 6.8 | 96 | 14 | 100% |
| June | 29.3°C | 25.7°C | 28.4°C | 4.8 | 183 | 20 | 100% |
| July | 29.9°C | 26.0°C | 28.7°C | 6.0 | 106 | 17 | 100% |
| August | 30.1°C | 26.1°C | 29.1°C | 5.6 | 136 | 20 | 100% |
| September | 29.6°C | 25.6°C | 29.2°C | 4.3 | 192 | 24 | 100% |
| October | 28.5°C | 24.6°C | 28.8°C | 4.6 | 192 | 20 | 100% |
| November | 27.2°C | 23.2°C | 28.0°C | 5.8 | 76 | 12 | 93% |
| December | 26.4°C | 22.4°C | 27.2°C | 6.0 | 49 | 11 | 84% |
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
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in April
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Mauritius · 29°C by day · sea 28°C
Flic en Flac
Cuba · 28°C by day · sea 26°C
Varadero
St Lucia · 29°C by day · sea 27°C
St Lucia
Antigua · 27°C by day · sea 27°C
Antigua
Barbados · 28°C by day · sea 27°C
Barbados
A little more detail
Riviera Maya in April FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Riviera Maya hot in April?
Riviera Maya is hot in April: the average daytime high is 28.5°C and nights average 24.2°C. About 100% of April days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Riviera Maya in April?
The sea around Riviera Maya averages 27.0°C in April, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 27°C to 27°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Riviera Maya in April?
Riviera Maya sees about 7 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 36 mm of rain in a typical April. The wettest April between 1991 and 2020 was 2010 (138 mm) and the driest was 2002 (7 mm).
How sunny is Riviera Maya in April?
Riviera Maya gets around 7.5 hours of sunshine a day in April out of 12.5 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Riviera Maya compare with the UK in April?
Riviera Maya is on average 15.0°C warmer than London by day in April (28.5°C against 13.5°C).
What is the hottest April on record in Riviera Maya?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest April day in Riviera Maya reached 32.6°C on 2015-04-29, and the coldest night dropped to 16.9°C on 2019-04-10.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in April?
Yes. At 27°C, the sea is warm enough for swimming rather than a bracing dip. That makes April a good fit if spending time in the water matters to you, although water temperature alone does not tell you about daily swimming conditions.
Is April among the best months to go?
Yes. April sits alongside March and February among the best months for Riviera Maya. It offers hot days and warm swimming water, with some rain to allow for. It is a strong choice if warmth matters more to you than completely dry weather.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 10 h 48 min, so this is a long-haul trip rather than a quick hop for warmer weather. April's hot days and warm sea provide a clear weather contrast with home, but you need to be comfortable with the journey.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Playa del Carmen. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 5 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.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