Tulum weather by month

When to go to Tulum

For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. October is the wettest month (198 mm, about 20 rainy days) and February the driest (26 mm). The sea is warmest in September at 29.2°C and coolest in February at 26.3°C.

Getting there

A direct flight from London Gatwick to Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport Tulum (TQO, 21 km from Tulum) takes roughly 10 h 54 min - long-haul (7 h+) by UK standards. Time-zone: America/Cancun.

Records and extremes, 1991-2020

The hottest day recorded in Tulum between 1991 and 2020 reached 33.7°C on 30 August 2019; the coldest fell to 14.6°C on 28 January 2019. In August one day in ten tops 31.4°C and about 63% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to 18.7°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was October 2005 with 686 mm, against a October average of 198 mm.

December to February: warm days and more comfortable nights

December and January suit travellers who want warmth without Tulum's highest temperatures. Daytime averages of 26°C are still good for spending time outside, while nights at 22°C offer more relief than summer evenings. Pack light clothing, with a light layer if you tend to feel cool after dark. Rain remains a consideration: December and January each average 11 rain days, so leave some room to rearrange outdoor plans. February is the better weather bet, with 7 rain days and slightly warmer afternoons. Sea temperatures of 26-27°C across this period mean swimming need not wait until the hotter months.

March to May: the strongest balance, then a wetter turn

March and April offer the clearest balance of warmth, sunshine and relatively few rainy days. March averages 28°C by day, rising to 29°C in April, and both bring 8 hours of sunshine alongside 7 rain days. These months suit travellers who want plenty of outdoor time without the more frequent rain of summer. Plan shade breaks around midday rather than treating the sunshine as a reason to stay out continuously. May keeps April's daytime warmth, but its 14 rain days make a flexible schedule more useful. Nights also reach 25°C, so light sleepwear and a room you can keep cool become more important.

June to November: wetter weather, then an easing

June starts a wetter stretch, with 20 rain days and 5 hours of sunshine. July and August offer more sunshine and fewer rain days than June, but daytime averages reach 30°C and nights stay at 26°C. This period suits travellers comfortable with hot evenings and plans that can shift around rain. September is hardest for frequent wet weather, averaging 24 rain days and 4 hours of sunshine. October has fewer rain days but is the wettest month overall, so it is not a dependable choice for uninterrupted outdoor time. The sea stays warm at 29°C from July through October, though warmth alone should not determine swimming plans. November brings an improvement: days ease to 27°C and rain days fall to 12, making it a more balanced option.