Best Time To Visit Playa del Carmen: When To Go (And Avoid)
In this article, you’ll learn the best (and worst) times to visit Playa del Carmen, when hurricane season is and the best time to get the cheapest prices.
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Ashley Metcalfe
June 19, 2024
Wondering when is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen Mexico?
This is one of the top questions we get from friends and family. After spending 3 months in Playa del Carmen, we’ve got a good feel of the weather and crowd situation.
In this article, you’ll learn the best (and worst) times to visit Playa del Carmen, when hurricane season is and the best time to get the cheapest prices.
But if you’re in a hurry – here’s the quick answer:
The best time to visit Playa del Carmen is mid-April to June. You get the sunshine without it being too humid, fewer crowds (after Holy Week) and leave just before the real rainy season starts.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Time to Visit Playa del Carmen
Sunshine isn’t the only factor that goes into choosing the best time to visit Playa del Carmen.
You’ve got so many other factors to consider like:
- Humidity
- Sargassum season (it’s a thing)
- Hurricane/cyclone season
- Prices
- Events and
- Crowds
Everyone’s needs, wants and preferences are different. You have to decide when the best time to visit Playa del Carmen is based on how you like to travel.
For example, Matthew and I love visiting top destinations when there are fewer crowds of tourists which is usually in the ‘shoulder seasons’. We don’t mind a few days of rain if it means we don’t have to beat people to the beach.
If sunshine and events are a big factor for you, you’ll have to deal with crowds but you also get the best weather in Playa del Carmen.
Answer these questions to help you choose the best time to visit Playa del Carmen:
- Does a bit of rain bother you?
- Are you looking to hit the beach most days?
- Do you mind some humidity?
- Do you care if there are huge crowds of people around?
You can make a list of your preferences to help you decide the best time to visit Playa del Carmen. This makes planning, booking and organizing your trip so much easier.
Read This: Long Term Rentals Playa del Carmen in 2021 [Prices, Info, Locations &More)
And This Next: Which SIM Card To Buy In Playa del Carmen?
When Is The Best Time To Visit Playa del Carmen?
The best time to visit Playa del Carmen is February, March, April (after Semana Santa/Holy Week), May, and November.
The thing you have to watch for in Playa del Carmen is rain and hurricanes. The wet season is usually June-October and it can be a bad time to visit during those months.
Stats on Playa del Carmen Weather & Seasons
- Warmest month in Playa del Carmen: August (91°F | 33°C)
- Coolest month in Playa del Carmen: January (64 °F | 18°C)
- Rainiest month in Playa del Carmen: October
- Driest month in Playa del Carmen: March
- Most crowded months in Playa del Carmen: December/January
- Least crowded months in Playa del Carmen: June, July, August
Best Months to Tisit Playa del Carmen
The best months to visit Playa del Carmen are May and August! May is a great time because you get all the sunshine, fewer crowds and the humidity isn’t so sticky.
August is the month just before the 2 rainiest months hit and the weather is still good. It was so lovely when we were there (low number of tourists too!).
Why did these months win?
We didn’t want to include popular times to visit like December or January because you get a sea of crowds, high humidity, and a skyrocket in prices for everything (think double for accommodation costs).
You have to factor in events like Christmas and New Year’s Eve because that draws huge crowds to Playa del Carmen and you wouldn’t want to miss out on your spot at the beach.
Worst Months To Visit Playa del Carmen
Yes, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine, even in a paradise destination like Playa del Carmen. There are certain months to avoid visiting Playa del Carmen, especially if you hate the rain (or hurricanes for that matter!).
The worst month to visit Playa del Carmen is: October.
Why?
October is the rainiest month and it also happens to be hurricane season.
We can attest to this as we were in Playa del Carmen from September to December. In October, I think we had 2 hurricanes hit us that were category 2 and above. This left us locked in our apartment for a couple of days and the sunshine took a while to come back out.
However…
In saying that, we still enjoyed our time because there were basically no crowds of tourists roaming the popular beach town.
There’s nothing greater than getting a top tourist destination all to yourself.
Temperature Year-Round
Playa del Carmen weather is beautiful. I mean you are practically in paradise so it’s hard to complain about the weather. The annual average temperature in Playa del Carmen is 78.4°F or 25.8°C.
August is the warmest month in Playa del Carmen while January is the coldest (in PDC terms).
Precipitation Year-Round
The rainiest month in Playa del Carmen is October. September and October are known to be the usual months for hurricanes to hit the coast.
While we were there, we had 2 hurricanes that were Category 2 or above in October which lasted 2-3 days. It wasn’t too bad in our experience – the power went out for the night but that was pretty much it. We were impressed at how well-prepared Mexicans were for the storm and felt very safe.
Sunshine Year-Round
The best time to visit Playa del Carmen for some sunshine is November to May. We were Playa del Carmen digital nomads for 3 months from September to December and we can confirm the weather was amazing during November and December but…
…so came the swarm of crowds.
You have a nice window of time to enjoy the beach and the sunshine and get in some cool activities like visiting cenotes.
The Weather Seasons In Playa del Carmen: Wet and Dry
Playa del Carmen has 2 seasons: wet season and dry season. Wet season is when rain and hurricanes come through the Quintana Roo peninsula.
The dry season is when it gets really hot and humid giving you plenty of chances for beach days.
Dry Season In Playa del Carmen
What’s the dry season like in Playa del Carmen?
Three Words: Sticky. Sunshine. Crowds.
Best things to do in Playa del Carmen during the dry season:
- Spend the day exploring cenotes
- Relax and swim on the beach
- Eat The 4 Best Tacos In Playa del Carmen (click here)
- Spend the day at Xcaret Water Park & Resort
- Day trips to Tulum, Akumal or Cancun
- Weekend trip to Cozumel for scuba diving or staying at an all-inclusive resort
Pros of visiting Playa del Carmen in the dry season:
- Less likelihood of rain
- Lots of festivals and events happening
- Most activities are open
Cons of visiting Playa del Carmen in the dry season:
- Top tourist attractions such as beaches will be crowded
- Prices will be much higher eg. accommodation costs
- Peak tourist season (November-May)
Wet Season In Playa del Carmen
What’s the wet season like in Playa del Carmen?
Three Words: Rain. Rain. And More Rain. Plus less crowds.
Oops, more than 3 words! But you get the picture!
Best things to do in Playa del Carmen during the wet season:
- Take a cooking class
- Go on a food tour around PDC
- Explore underground cenotes
- Visit the Frida Kahlo Museum
Pros of visiting Playa del Carmen in the wet season
- Fewer chances of being surrounded by crowds of tourists
- Typical tourist attractions will be less crowded than in the dry season
- You can still get fairly rain-free days in September
- Prices are likely to be cheaper for things like accommodation
Cons of visiting Playa del Carmen in the wet season
- High chances of rainy days (and when it rains…it pours in Playa)
- Fewer activities to do because of possible hurricanes and showers
When can you get the best prices in Playa del Carmen?
It only makes sense that you get the best prices during the low season in Playa del Carmen. If you like to make sure you get value for money, it could be smart to travel to Playa del Carmen during the low season (June-October) to save some cash.
You won’t get the best weather and might encounter some rainy days or hurricanes, but you’ll likely pay as cheap as half what it would usually cost.
For example, our Airbnb apartment cost us $689 USD when we rented it in September and the price had gone up to $1,479 USD in December.
Yes…more than double the original price!
Read More: Cost of Living Playa del Carmen Digital Nomad (1 Month)
When is the busiest time of year in Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen has always been a top destination in Mexico for travelers all around the world. The busiest time of year in Playa del Carmen is December and January.
Why?
One word: holidays.
Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations make it the busiest time to visit Playa del Carmen. There are lots of events happening around town and lots of people plan their vacations during these months. December and January are also the start of the dry season when there’s lots of sunshine, making it a popular choice for vacationers.
Best Time To Visit Playa del Carmen In Our Opinion Is…
May and November!
As some might call it – these are shoulder months, where it’s not quite peak and not quite low season. We love visiting popular destinations during these times because we aren’t big fans of huge crowds of tourists.
We don’t mind little showers here and there, especially if it means our accommodation costs half what it would be normally. This gives us the budget to do more activities and have a more chilled time in Playa del Carmen.
Playa del Carmen is a top destination for travelers all over the world. Choose the best time to visit Playa del Carmen for yourself and you’re bound to have a fantastic time! You have beautiful beaches, delicious Mexican food and the chance of a great time – no matter what weather you get!
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen?
In terms of the weather, any time between November to May is the best time to visit for lots of sunshine and minimal rain. For fewer crowds, the shoulder months of May, August and November are ideal!
If you’re chasing the best prices, traveling between June and October is when you’ll save money – just beware that this is the wet season, so expect rain and possible hurricanes!
What are the events happening in Playa del Carmen?
There are popular events in Playa del Carmen like Semana Santa (Holy Week), Cinco de Mayo, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Halloween, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and so many more!
It’s always going to be more crowded and expensive over these times, so make sure you factor that into your travel!
When are the cheapest flights to Playa del Carmen?
In general, the best times to book a cheap flight to Playa del Carmen are late January-February, late April-early June and October. These are the low seasons in Playa and it’s just before or after the various holiday events.
What airport do I fly into for Playa del Carmen?
The closest airport to Playa del Carmen is Cancun International Airport (approximately a 1-hour drive away).
The easiest way to travel from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen is to organize a private transfer. For approximately $45 USD you can be picked up from the airport and dropped at your hotel in Playa del Carmen.
Is Playa del Carmen or Tulum better?
Trying to decide between Playa del Carmen and Tulum? There’s pros and cons for both, but if you’re a digital nomad or remote worker, Playa del Carmen is the better option! On the other hand, Tulum has the best beaches along the coast and is the winner for things to do and see.
As digital nomads, we found that Tulum is still a great place for a day trip or weekend away, but Playa del Carmen caters really well to the digital nomad community, which is why it gets our vote!
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We want to hear from you…
What months do you prefer to travel to Playa del Carmen? Does the weather greatly impact where you go to a certain destination? Let us know by commenting below. We read every response!
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