Best Time To Visit Tulum: Avoiding the Tulum Rainy Season

While there’s never a wrong time to go to Mexico, there is the best time to visit Tulum, depending on what you’re going for. In this guide to the best time to go to Tulum, I’m breaking down some of the best months to travel to Tulum based on your preferences. After all, the weather in Tulum in February significantly differs from Tulum weather in June! And have you heard about the Tulum hurricane season?

Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?

The Insurance companies I recommend are Hey Mondo and Safety Wing

Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single-trip cover, annual multi-trip cover, and long-term travel cover. Safety Wing is great value, with monthly coverage starting at $45.08. It’s super easy to use, and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy.

Read my full travel insurance post here, where I go into detail about all companies. 

When is the Best Time to Travel to Tulum?

I think the weather in Tulum in November through February is ideal for spending lazy days on the beach. The weather in Tulum in December is unbelievably beautiful—Christmas on the beach, anyone? And the incredible Tulum weather in January is perfect for ringing in the new year.

During this time of year, there isn’t much rain, temperatures drop during the mornings and evenings, and humidity is still high, but nothing like the summer months. For great Tulum weather, January is an excellent time to visit—it’s ideal for trying the top things to do in Tulum without worrying about excessive heat.

The Tulum weather in March is generally hot but comfortable enough for exploring the beach, towns, and cenotes. Since the Tulum weather in April is warm yet mild, it’s also a great time of year to vacation in Mexico.

Tulum in July often experiences oppressive heat and humidity. You walk outside and will immediately be glistening with sweat! It isn’t easy to walk anywhere and do much during the day. While this isn’t so bad for tourists, it makes it hard for those of us who live and work here.

Quick Tip: Book accommodation, tours, and transport ahead of time online to save money and stress. 

Best Tulum ToursClick here to check out the top Tulum tours
Best Tulum Accommodation: Click here to check out the best accommodation in Tulum
Best Tulum Transport: Click here to book a bus, ferry, or train in Tulum

 

The only month I recommend avoiding altogether is October, as the weather in Tulum in October is usually peak Tulum hurricane season! Since the storms can last for days, October is not the best time to go to Tulum.

Pro tip: don’t pay any attention to the weather reports in Tulum, as they almost always predict thunderstorms and showers. While you may get a small afternoon rain shower for about 10 minutes, the sky is usually cloud-free.

If you are looking for all kinds of excursions and car rentals in Riviera Maya, take a look at what my friends from Turismo Channel have! You can check out their tours by clicking here and using the following discount codes for the best prices clairecaroff (car rental), claire10off (for 10% off group tours), claireprivate (for a discount on private tours). You can also send her a WhatsApp message quoting the codes above if you need more information.

getting from Cancun Airport to Tulum

Quick Tip: I highly recommend booking all of your Mexico transportation with GottoGo. You can search for buses, shuttles, ferries, and Flights on their website. What I love most about them is their customer service. I know these guys personally from living in Guatemala, and they look after their customers.

If anything happens and you get delayed and miss your bus, you can just call them, and they are always there to help. If you book through them, you will pay a little more than booking in person at the bus station. But it’s worth it for the ease and security. Click here to search for transportation in Mexico.

Best Time to Visit Tulum: When is the High Season in Tulum?

Tulum’s high season is considered November until mid-January since the weather in Tulum in November is so lovely. This time of year is when most visitors from the USA and Canada come to escape the winter and explore the best cenotes in Tulum.

Since the beautiful Tulum weather in November, December, and January attracts tourists, these are some of the most expensive months to visit Tulum. But don’t let that put you off—you can still find fantastic deals on flights using comparison websites like CheapOAir or cashback sites like WayAway.

You can also save money by booking airport transfers and rental cars ahead of time to lock in the best rates. Prices tend to increase if you wait and book at the last minute. Don’t forget to purchase a Priority Pass membership before heading to the airport to relax in the lounge and avoid significant crowds.

Other peak times to visit Tulum include American Spring Break, Easter, and August. Tulum in August is very hot, but this is when many Europeans take their vacations and travel to Mexico.

Quick Tip: You can book Tulum tours from Living Dream Mexico. They have a lot of options to choose from:

DREAM TULUM
DISCOVER TULUM AND COBA
TULUMSTAGRAM

Best Time to Travel to Tulum for Minimal Crowds

The low season in Tulum is just before summer because the Tulum weather in May is scorching. Tulum in September is also somewhat unpleasant, and the weather in Tulum in October can be unpredictable. Plus, these months often fall in the heart of the Tulum rainy season. While prices on flights, hotels, and excursions are typically lower, these months aren’t the best time to visit Tulum.

best time to visit tulum Where to stay in Tulum

Need Somewhere to Stay in Tulum?

I wrote a guide to the Top Boutique Hotels in TulumWhere to Stay in Tulum, and The Best Hostels in Tulum, Mexico.

Here are my picks:

Top Budget Pick:
Chill Inn
Top Boutique Pick: Elements Tulum Boutique Hotel
Top Resort: Nah Uxibal Villa and Casitas
Top Luxury Pick: Nomade Tulum

When is the Best Time to Visit Tulum for Parties?

You can ALWAYS find a party in Tulum, no matter the time of year! If you want to party, December through January are the best times since New Year’s offers Tulum’s biggest and best parties. I’m talking about parties in cenotes, in the jungle, at the beach—parties EVERYWHERE.

Tulum also has many EDM festivals to look out for if that’s your scene. Spring Break is more of a Cancun thing, but you’ll still find plenty in Tulum. You should also check out the nightlife in Playa del Carmen.

Quick Tip: View my full Mexico packing guide here including a downloadable checklist. And check out my Mexico Essentials shopping list here.

Best Time to Go to Tulum to Avoid Sargassum

One of my most frequently asked questions about the best time to travel to Tulum is when to plan a trip to avoid sargassum. The truth is, no one can definitively say. Generally speaking, sargassum arrives during summer since Tulum in August is nice and warm.

Thankfully, there’s so much more to Tulum than the beach. If you’re planning a trip and discover sargassum is expected, swim in cenotes instead. Book accommodations with a pool, and you can take day trips to Cozumel and Isla Mujeres for sargassum-free beaches.

So, When IS the Best Time to Travel to Tulum?

The best times to visit Tulum are February through April (outside of Spring Break and Easter). The weather in Tulum in February is cool and mild, and these spring months are typically less busy and cheaper. During the high season, prices can be triple what they are during the low season! So, the shoulder season is the best time to go to Tulum on a budget.

Is a Visa Needed to Visit Tulum?

Your nationality will dictate whether you need a Visa to visit Tulum. Is a Mexican visa required for US citizens to visit Tulum? No, it’s not—if the stay is under 90 days, Americans can visit Tulum. Most foreign travelers won’t need a Visa but rather a tourist card. If you want to stay in Tulum longer than six months, you must apply for Mexican residency.

QUICK TIP: Book your tours, rental cars, and transfers through my local contacts

I’ve been working with Living Dreams Mexico for years and they are who I send all my family and friends to when they visit the Riviera Maya. I really can recommend them enough for private tours and experiences. They have solid 5* reviews on Trip Advisor and Google from almost 4000 reviewers! You can view all their tours here.

If you’re looking for private airport transfers and rental cars then Vanessa and Oliver from Turismo Channel are personal friends of mine and I can 100% recommend them to make an inquiry click here and complete the form. Someone will be in touch within 24 hours.

Tulum Travel Guide Planning

🧳 Any recommendations on what I should pack for Tulum?

Yes! I have created a whole packing guide to Tulum which you can read here and you can also check out my packing list for Tulum on Amazon here.

🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m in Tulum?

I strongly recommend using GottoGo. You can book almost all transport in the major Mexican tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.

🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in Tulum?

I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide

If you are traveling to Cancun you can use GoCity and save up to 55% of the initial cost of entrance tickets to various museums, tours, and attractions!

If you are traveling to Playa del Carmen then I recommend booking through my friend Vanessa at Turismo Channel. You can check out their tours by clicking here and using the following discount codes for the best prices clairecaroff (car rental), claire10off (for 10% off group tours), claireprivate (for a discount on private tours). You can also send her a WhatsApp message quoting the above codes to receive the discount.

👩‍⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?

I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance.

I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here

✈️ Any flight recommendations?

WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go-to flight searching platforms.

📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?

I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.

With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using eitherAirhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.

🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?

The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.comHotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.

🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?

I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack. 

Best Time To Visit Tulum: Pin For Later

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Final Thoughts On the Best Time to Visit Tulum

Hopefully, this guide to the best time to travel to Tulum for beautiful weather and minimal crowds is helpful as you plan your next vacation! Tulum is a stunning travel destination any time of year, but Tulum in July is exceptionally hot, while the weather in Tulum in December is mild and comfortable. Don’t forget to plan your trip outside the Tulum rainy season, too!