Your March weather guide
HotWeather in Riviera Maya in March
March is a good choice for Riviera Maya if you want warm swimming weather and hot days without regularly facing extreme heat. Daytime highs average 27°C, nights stay around 23°C and the sea is a comfortable 26°C. The catch is humidity, which can make being out and about feel more tiring than the temperature suggests. Some rain is part of the picture, so go expecting sunshine rather than a guarantee of dry weather.
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
- 27.3°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 29°C
- Average night-time low
- 23.0°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 20°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +16.8°C
- London averages 10.5°C in March
- Sea temperature
- 26.4°C
- year to year: 26°C to 27°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 7.5h
- 63% of 11.9 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 7
- 32 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 74%
- Days over 25°C
- 93%
- 1% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 33.3°C
- 2010-03-12
- Record low 1991-2020
- 14.8°C
- 1996-03-11
- 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 March compares
March is the 8th warmest month of the year in Riviera Maya. Within Mexico it is 3rd of 5 (Mexico in March). Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Riviera Maya is 16.8°C warmer by day and 19.7°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in March
The typical March day in Riviera Maya peaks at 27.3°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 28.6°C or more. About 93% of days top 25°C and 1 in 111 pass 30°C. Nights average 23.0°C; one night in ten drops to 20.1°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 33.3°C (2010-03-12) and the coldest night 14.8°C (1996-03-11).
Rain in March
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 7 days with 1 mm or more, 32 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 1994 with 84 mm, the driest 2010 with 6 mm. Humidity averages 74%.
Sea temperature in March
The sea averages 26.4°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 25.9°C to 26.9°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), 11.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:57 and sets about 18:58 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 38%.
Is March 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 need for evening layers
For a UK traveller, March will feel like a substantial change: Riviera Maya's average daytime high is 16.8°C above London's. Days reach 25°C about 93% of the time, while reaching 30°C is unusual, at 1%. That suits travellers who want reliable warmth but would rather avoid more intense heat. Humidity averages 74%, though, so loose, breathable clothes will be more useful than judging comfort by the thermometer alone. Plan active time for the cooler parts of the day and allow for shade around midday. Evenings generally stay warm enough for light clothing, although a light layer is sensible if you tend to feel the cold.
Plenty of outdoor time, but keep plans flexible
March brings about 7 rainy days, so a completely dry holiday is not something to count on. It is still a sensible month for spending time outdoors, with about 7.5 hours of sunshine across 11.9 hours of daylight. That leaves scope to enjoy the warmth without making every plan depend on uninterrupted sun. Keep something waterproof handy and leave room to rearrange outdoor time if rain arrives. The monthly figures do not tell you when it will fall or how long a wet spell will last. Sun protection remains important, and choosing accommodation with somewhere comfortable to sit under cover is a practical precaution.
A little perspective
Riviera Maya through the year
March 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% |
| MarchSelectedbest | 27.3°C | 23.0°C | 26.4°C | 7.5 | 32 | 7 | 93% |
| Aprilbest | 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 March
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Riviera Maya in March FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Riviera Maya hot in March?
Riviera Maya is hot in March: the average daytime high is 27.3°C and nights average 23.0°C. About 93% of March days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Riviera Maya in March?
The sea around Riviera Maya averages 26.4°C in March, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 26°C to 27°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Riviera Maya in March?
Riviera Maya sees about 7 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 32 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 1994 (84 mm) and the driest was 2010 (6 mm).
How sunny is Riviera Maya in March?
Riviera Maya gets around 7.5 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.9 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Riviera Maya compare with the UK in March?
Riviera Maya is on average 16.8°C warmer than London by day in March (27.3°C against 10.5°C).
What is the hottest March on record in Riviera Maya?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in Riviera Maya reached 33.3°C on 2010-03-12, and the coldest night dropped to 14.8°C on 1996-03-11.
Is the sea warm enough to swim in March?
Yes. The sea averages 26.4°C, with a year-to-year range of 26°C to 27°C, making March suitable for swimming on temperature grounds. That warmth is a reason to choose this month if spending time in the water matters to you.
Is March a good month to choose over February or April?
March, April and February are all among Riviera Maya's best months for weather. March offers hot days, warm water and some rain. It is a strong choice, but these figures do not establish a clear weather advantage over the neighbouring months.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London is about 10 h 48 min, so this is a long-haul choice for warm weather. The temperature change is substantial, but weigh that benefit against how much of your holiday you want to spend travelling.
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