Cancun in December: Your guide to weather, events & travel

There’s something special about Cancun in December that makes you want to stay out from sunrise to sunset. The air is warm but gentle, holiday lights flicker along the beach bars, and locals set up bright nativity scenes that spill onto the sidewalks. You’ll hear live music drifting from restaurants at night and see families gathering for tamales as the sun sets over the sea.

Cancun can get busy with the holiday rush setting in, but it never feels overwhelming with the right plan. An advisor from TravelJoy can help you create the perfect itinerary to bypass crowds even during the busy season. They can snag seats at beachfront holiday feasts, point you to neighborhood plazas hosting live music and festive lights, and line up reef tours early in the day so you enjoy the best of Cancun without the crowds.

Yes. December is one of the best times to visit Cancun. Daytime temperatures hover in the low 80s, with cooler evenings that make strolling the beach or enjoying dinner under the stars comfortable. The start of the dry season means you’ll see less rain and humidity compared to summer, and the sea stays warm enough for swimming.

December kicks off the peak season in Cancun, with the island becoming busier as Christmas and New Year’s approach. Hotels fill quickly, beaches feel livelier, and prices tend to rise. If you visit earlier in the month, though, you’ll still find sunny days and a festive mood without the peak holiday crowds.

While December may not be the cheapest time in Cancun, the payoff is warm weather, colorful events, and the energy of a city gearing up for the upcoming celebrations. Planning ahead helps, and an advisor from TravelJoy can guide you toward quieter stretches of beach in Punta Nizuc or Puerto Juarez, help you time reef tours before peak holiday traffic, and line up local events so you can experience Cancun’s December magic without the stress.