Playa del Carmen in May

May is hot and the rains return late in the month. Highs are 90°F (32°C), the sea is 82°F (28°C) and the chance of a wet day climbs to 15% to 40%. It is quieter, and whale shark season opens on May 15.

May at a glance

Temperature	90°F (32°C) by day, 70 to 72°F (21 to 22°C) at night
Sea temperature	82°F (28°C)
Rain	1.7 to 4.7 in per sliding 31-day period, 15% to 40% chance of a wet day
Humidity	Muggy on 89% to 99% of days (dew point measure)
Sargassum (typical)	Often present. The heavier months run from April to October.
Hurricane season	Outside the hurricane season, which opens June 1.
Crowds	Quieter. The low season has started.
Best for	Warm-water swimming with fewer people, and the start of whale shark season (a day trip).

Long-term averages, not a forecast. A range spans the month, low to high. Climate: Weather Spark (Cozumel and Cancun airport records plus NASA MERRA-2 data, 1980 to 2016).

Weather

In May, daytime highs are 90°F (32°C) and nights are 70 to 72°F (21 to 22°C). Weather Spark's average rainfall is 1.7 to 4.7 in per sliding 31-day period, and the chance of a wet day (at least 0.04 in of rain) is 15% to 40%. The sea is 82°F (28°C). On Weather Spark's dew point measure, 89% to 99% of days are muggy.

May is the turning point. The chance of a wet day rises from 15% at the start of the month to 40% at the end, and Weather Spark's wet season begins on May 25.

It also gets heavy. Muggy days go from 89% to 99% of days, and cloud cover rises from 37% to 64%.

Sea and beach

Sargassum is often present from April to October. This is the typical pattern, not a forecast, and it changes by beach and by day.

The whale shark swimming period off Isla Mujeres and Holbox runs May 15 to September 17, according to SEMARNAT's management plan. It is north of Playa del Carmen, so plan it as a separate day trip, and do not touch the animals. Green and loggerhead turtles are nesting on the central Quintana Roo coast. It is outside hurricane season, which opens June 1.

What is on in May

Labor Day. May 1, 2027 is a Saturday, so there is no Monday long weekend. (date published)

Crowds and rates

May is the start of the low season, so beaches and restaurants have more room. The high season ended in mid-April.

See dates and rates

What to pack

Light clothes, a compact rain jacket for the end of the month, quick-dry swimwear, sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent.

Plan May

The warm sea is the draw in May. A few places to start.

Questions

Is May a good time to visit Playa del Carmen?

Yes if you want warm water and fewer people. Highs are 90°F (32°C) and the sea is 82°F (28°C). Rain returns late in the month, and the chance of a wet day reaches about 40% by May 31.

Is it rainy season in Playa del Carmen in May?

It starts at the end of May. Weather Spark puts the wet season at May 25 to November 4. For Mexico as a whole, the Servicio Meteorologico Nacional expected the 2026 rains to start in May, build in June and ease in July.

When does whale shark season start near Playa del Carmen?

The swimming period off Isla Mujeres and Holbox opens May 15 and runs to September 17 (SEMARNAT). These tours are north of Playa del Carmen.

Is there sargassum in Playa del Carmen in May?

Often. The heavier months run from April to October, with the Atlantic-wide peak in June or July. It varies by beach and by day.

Sources

Every figure on this page comes from the sources below. Climate numbers are long-term averages from one source for all twelve months. Sargassum is described as a typical pattern and is never a forecast.