Weather in Riviera Maya in January

How January compares

January is the 12th warmest month of the year in Riviera Maya. Within Mexico it is 3rd of 5 (Mexico in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Riviera Maya is 18.4°C warmer by day and 19.6°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in January

The typical January day in Riviera Maya peaks at 25.8°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 27.5°C or more. About 73% of days top 25°C. Nights average 21.8°C; one night in ten drops to 18.8°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 29.4°C (2017-01-22) and the coldest night 14.6°C (2019-01-28).

Rain in January

Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 11 days with 1 mm or more, 46 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 1994 with 128 mm, the driest 2001 with 9 mm. Humidity averages 76%.

Sea temperature in January

The sea averages 26.6°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 26.1°C to 27.0°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (29.2°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 6.0 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:27 and sets about 18:28 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 46%.

Is January a good time to visit Riviera Maya?

It is a reasonable choice: hot days but expect showers. 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.

Warm enough for summer clothes, with a layer for evenings

Expect to spend much of the day in light summer clothing. Around 73% of January days reach 25°C, while days reaching 30°C are absent from the figures, so this is a sensible month if intense heat puts you off. Humidity averages 76%, though, so it can still feel sticky, and shade at midday remains welcome. Nights average about 22°C, making evenings generally warm rather than chilly. Pack a light layer as well: the colder nights reach around 19°C or lower. Compared with London's January daytime high of 7.4°C, the warmth is a substantial change, without needing Riviera Maya's hottest weather to get it.

Good swimming weather, but allow for rain and cloud

The sea is warm enough for swimming, with January temperatures ranging from 26°C to 27°C across years. That makes this a useful choice if getting into the water matters more than having blazing sunshine throughout the day. Sunshine averages about 6 hours out of 10.9 hours of daylight, so expect a mix rather than uninterrupted sun. Rain is also a real planning consideration: bring a light waterproof and keep outdoor plans flexible. The rainy-day figure does not tell you how long each spell lasts, so neither a washout nor a brief shower should be assumed. January works best if you are happy to enjoy warm conditions even when the sky is cloudy.