Tulum · Month comparison
September vs January
January ranks #2 overall vs September at #11. Prime dry season: low humidity, clear Caribbean water, manageable crowds post-New Year.
September
#11 of 12 months
Worth considering
Avoid. Peak hurricane month, heaviest rain, extreme humidity — lowest prices reflect the conditions.
- ↑Absolute cheapest month: rates 60–70% below dry season peak, almost everything negotiable
- ↑Practically empty: cenotes, ruins, and the beach road without another tourist in sight
January
#2 of 12 months
Best match
Prime dry season: low humidity, clear Caribbean water, manageable crowds post-New Year.
- ↑Driest and most comfortable conditions: 28°C with 74% humidity and 9.2h of sun daily
- ↑Cenotes at their clearest and least crowded — Dos Ojos and Gran Cenote genuinely peaceful in January mornings
| Factor | September | January |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 2 | 9 |
| Value score | 10 | 5 |
| Crowd score | 9 | 5 |
| Events score | 2 | 5 |
| Atmosphere | 3 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 32°C | 28°C |
| Monthly rain | 189mm | 38mm |
| Daily sunshine | 6.5hrs | 9.2hrs |
September trade-offs
- ↓Peak hurricane month: highest statistical probability of a named storm making landfall on the Yucatán coast
- ↓Wettest month (189mm) with 6.5h sunshine — extended multi-day rain events not unusual
- ↓Some beach clubs, boutique hotels, and tour operators close entirely for the month
January trade-offs
- ↓Post-New Year prices remain elevated; beachfront boutique hotels at seasonal premium
- ↓North wind (Nortes) can bring cooler breezy days and choppy Caribbean surf in early January
- ↓The digital nomad and wellness crowd is firmly in residence — Tulum is not undiscovered
Scores compare months within Tulum. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →