Cancun weather in December is warm, mostly dry and a little cooler at night than the rest of the year. Long-term averages for the Cancún airport station put the typical high at about 29°C (84°F) and the low at about 20°C (68°F), with rain on roughly 8 days and around 80 mm for the month. Hurricane season is over by then. The thing that actually shapes a December trip is the “norte”, a cold front that brings a day or two of wind and grey sky, and the 2026 forecast calls for four of them this December.
December in Numbers
| Cancún | December | January, for comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Average daily high | 28.9°C / 84.0°F | 28.5°C / 83.3°F |
| Average daily low | 20.0°C / 68.0°F | 19.3°C / 66.7°F |
| Average rainfall | 79.5 mm / 3.1 in | 56.4 mm / 2.2 in |
| Days with rain | About 7.7 | About 6.4 |
| Hours of sunshine in the month | About 195 | About 217 |
These are 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Cancún airport and observatory station, as compiled from Mexico’s national weather service data. Averages hide a lot, so read them as “what a normal December feels like”, not a forecast. A rainy day in December usually means a passing shower or a grey morning, not the hour-long downpours of September.
The Nortes: Four Cold Fronts Expected
Between October and spring, cold air from North America pushes south across the Gulf of Mexico. On the Yucatán Peninsula these fronts are called nortes. When one arrives, the wind swings to the north, the sky clouds over and the sea gets rough for a day or two. After it passes the air is clear and dry, and evenings are the coolest you’ll feel all year.
For the 2026 to 2027 season, Meteored México director Juan Antonio Palma projected 25 fronts reaching the peninsula, above a typical season of about 22, with four of them in December. That was reported by Diario de Yucatán on September 25, 2026. The same report mentioned temperatures dropping as low as 5°C in some areas of the peninsula, which is an inland figure. On the coast in Cancún, a strong norte night is more like a light jacket evening.
The practical advice is short. Pack one warm layer, keep any boat trip flexible, and don’t panic if the forecast shows a grey day. It’ll pass.
What December Means for the Beach and the Water
Most December days are beach days. The sea stays warm enough for swimming, and the clear air after a front makes the water look its most turquoise. The exception is the day a norte blows in. Waves build on the east-facing beaches of the Hotel Zone, and lifeguards may fly the red flag at spots like Playa Delfines. The calmer north-facing beaches, from Playa Tortugas toward Playa Langosta, are the usual backup.
Sargassum is the good news. Researchers at the UNAM group that monitors it treat November to March as the low season, with December to February the least likely months for heavy landings. On October 5, 2026 the weekly How Is The Sargassum report said the Navy estimated about 10,000 tons offshore, down from over 46,000 in early September, after a record summer. Expect clean beaches on most days by December, with the Riviera Maya south of Playa del Carmen the last to clear.
The Calendar: Quiet Early, Packed Late
December is really two months in one. The first half is calm, with good weather and hotel rates that haven’t hit the holiday peak yet. The second half is the busiest stretch of Cancún’s year.
| Dates in 2026 | What’s going on | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| December 1 to 11 | Shoulder season after Thanksgiving | Best value of the month, light crowds |
| December 12 | Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe | Processions and church celebrations, busy roads near churches |
| Third week onward | School holidays in the US, Canada and Mexico begin | Prices and occupancy climb fast |
| December 24 to January 1 | Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day | Peak demand, full restaurants, busy airport |
If you can choose your dates, the first ten days of December give you the same weather as Christmas week at a fraction of the price. Our Christmas and New Year guide covers the holiday week itself.
What December Means for Your Airport Transfer
Our rates don’t go up for the holidays. From Cancún Airport it’s from $32 USD to the Hotel Zone and downtown, from $60 to Playa Mujeres, from $69 to Playa del Carmen and from $125 to Tulum town, per vehicle, one way, for 1 to 6 passengers. We checked those against our published table on October 12, 2026, and they’re the same on December 24 as on December 4.
What does change is availability. Vehicles are finite, and the days around Christmas and New Year fill up. If you’re landing between December 19 and January 2, book the transfer when you book the flight. Weather delays are also more likely at the departure end this month, with winter storms in the US and Canada. A driver who follows your flight number takes care of that without any calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit Cancun?
Yes. It’s dry, warm and past hurricane season, with sargassum at its seasonal low. The first half of the month is calmer and cheaper than Christmas week.
How cold does Cancun get in December?
Average lows are about 20°C (68°F). After a cold front, evenings can feel cooler, so bring one light jacket or sweater.
Does it rain in Cancun in December?
A little. The long-term average is about 8 days with some rain and around 80 mm for the month, usually as short showers or grey spells during a cold front.
How many cold fronts will hit Cancun in December 2026?
The seasonal outlook reported by Diario de Yucatán in September 2026 projected four cold fronts reaching the Yucatán Peninsula in December, out of 25 for the whole season.
Do transfer prices go up at Christmas?
Not ours. Rates from Cancún Airport stay the same all year, from $32 USD per vehicle to the Hotel Zone. Book early for the holiday weeks, because availability is what runs short.
Related Guides
- Cancun Weather in November 2026
- Christmas and New Year in Cancún 2026
- Best Time to Visit Cancún, Month by Month
- Sargassum in Cancún and the Riviera Maya
Sources: Climate normals for the Cancún airport and observatory station, 1991 to 2020, from the Cancún climate table on Wikipedia, based on Servicio Meteorológico Nacional data. Cold front outlook from Diario de Yucatán, September 25, 2026. Sargassum figures from the How Is The Sargassum report of October 5, 2026. Low season per the UNAM group GIES, via El Universal. Transfer rates from the Yesmytransfer.com published rate table, verified October 12, 2026.
