Mexico, North America

Riviera Maya in December

First half is calm, gorgeous, and fairly priced; Christmas through New Year's is the year's most expensive stretch at full occupancy.

GoodDry season begins, highs near 82F (28C)

Maya ruins above the beach at Tulum — Riviera MayaPhoto: FeldBum, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

December is a good month to visit Riviera Maya. First half is calm, gorgeous, and fairly priced; Christmas through New Year's is the year's most expensive stretch at full occupancy.

Weather: Dry season begins, highs near 82F (28C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 5 of 5

What December is like in Riviera Maya

December brings the start of dry season. Highs sit near 82F (28C), days are sunny, and the water is clear. The first half of the month is calm, gorgeous and fairly priced. From Christmas through New Year's, resorts run at full occupancy, prices hit their annual peak, and popular cenotes and beach clubs fill by late morning.

December suits families on winter break who book early, and anyone who can travel in the first two weeks for great weather at better prices. If you need the holiday weeks, reserve months ahead. Budget travelers should look at late November or mid January instead.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Riviera Maya this month.

Early December calm

The first half of the month has dry-season weather with thinner crowds and fair prices.

Comfortable ruin days

Cooler air makes Chichen Itza and Tulum pleasant to explore, especially at opening.

Holiday festivities

Resorts and Playa del Carmen's Quinta Avenida get festive for Christmas and New Year's.

What to pack for December

Reef-safe sunscreen
A light sweater for breezy norte evenings
Water shoes for cenotes
Something dressy for a holiday dinner

Our timing tip

Travel before about December 20 for the best mix of weather and price, and book New Year's Eve dinners and tours well ahead.

Book Riviera Maya for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Riviera Maya
Opens a hotel search for Riviera Maya in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Riviera Maya
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Riviera Maya
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Riviera Maya for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

Things to do in Riviera Maya

Full guide

Chichen Itza

One of the great ancient sites of the Americas, about two hours inland. Arrive at opening or stay nearby the night before; midday brings heat and tour-bus density.

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Tulum ruins

Maya walls on a cliff above turquoise water. Go first thing, then swim below or at nearby beaches before the heat peaks.

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A cenote day

Mix an open cenote, a cavern, and a jungle swim: Gran Cenote, Dos Ojos, and dozens more. Mornings beat the tour groups; bring biodegradable sunscreen only.

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Cozumel diving and snorkeling

The ferry from Playa del Carmen takes about 45 minutes. The island's leeward reefs offer calm, clear water even when mainland beaches have seaweed.

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Isla Mujeres or Holbox

Slow-paced island antidotes to the hotel zone: golf carts, beach shacks, and on Holbox, summer whale sharks and bioluminescent nights.

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Whale shark snorkeling

Roughly June through mid September, boats from Cancun, Isla Mujeres, and Holbox reach summer aggregations of the world's biggest fish. Book a licensed operator.

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Beat the crowds

Aim for the twin sweet spots: late November to mid December, and mid January to mid February. Both deliver dry-season weather without peak-week pricing or spring-break energy.
Do ruins and cenotes at opening time, always: this single habit dodges both the heat and the tour-bus schedule, which runs on a late-morning arrival wave everywhere.
Skip Cancun's hotel zone in March: spring break concentrates almost entirely there, and Puerto Morelos, Akumal, and Tulum stay far calmer the same week.
Base off-peak beauty on the islands: Isla Mujeres and Holbox absorb far fewer cruise and resort crowds, and Cozumel's west side is the region's calm-water insurance policy.

Know before you go

This coast runs year-round: resorts, ruins, and parks do not close for a season. The real variables are hurricane season, June 1 to November 30, and the sargassum seaweed window, which in recent years has run roughly April through August with big year-to-year swings.
Sargassum is beach-specific, not region-wide: east-facing mainland beaches catch the most, while Cozumel's west coast, Isla Mujeres' north beach, and every cenote stay clear. Check current sargassum maps before locking a summer beachfront splurge.
A tropical storm or hurricane can close airports, ferries, and tours for days; resorts are practiced at riding storms out, but September and October bookings should always be refundable and insured.
Archaeological sites are open daily year-round, but capacity rules and midday heat are real: opening hour is the golden hour at Chichen Itza and Tulum in every season.

Riviera Maya in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit Riviera Maya?

December is a good month to visit Riviera Maya. First half is calm, gorgeous, and fairly priced; Christmas through New Year's is the year's most expensive stretch at full occupancy.

What is the weather like in Riviera Maya in December?

Dry season begins, highs near 82F (28C).

Is Riviera Maya crowded in December?

Riviera Maya is busy in December, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.