Cancun December — the Hotel Zone beach in the festive season with turquoise Caribbean water

Cancun · Mexico

December

Christmas and New Year bring peak holiday pricing back — excellent weather but pay accordingly.

Best match

#4 of 12 months

There are better months for Cancun — see the full ranking below.

See when to go instead →

Climate

High

28°C

Low

21°C

Rain

65mm

Sun

7.5hrs/day

30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5

How December scores in Cancun

Weather
Outstanding
Value
Below average
Crowds
Below average
Events
Very good
Atmosphere
Excellent

What you gain in December

  • Dry season fully re-established: 65mm rain and 7.5 sunshine hours signal the return of reliable Caribbean beach weather
  • Christmas and New Year in the Hotel Zone is genuinely festive — large-scale events, poolside celebrations, and NYE beach parties throughout the strip
  • Centro's Las Posadas (Dec 16–24) and Christmas markets offer authentic Mexican celebration within a 20-minute taxi of any Hotel Zone resort

What you sacrifice

  • Christmas and New Year weeks (Dec 22–Jan 2) command rates approaching Spring Break levels — the second most expensive window of the year
  • Hotel Zone crowds spike sharply over the holiday period; beach loungers and restaurant tables require advance planning
  • The best rooms in the best resorts are booked months ahead for the festive period — last-minute availability is limited and expensive

How December compares to November (best month)

FactorDecemberNovember
Weather
9
7
Value
3
7
Crowds
3
8

December in other destinations

Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Cancun, not across destinations. Methodology →