January is the Cancún in the brochure, after the New Year crowd has gone home.
Weather#
| Typical | |
|---|---|
| Days | ~28°C / 82°F, sunny, breezy |
| Nights | ~20°C / 68°F |
| Rain | Little |
| Sea | ~26°C / 79°F, clearest of the year |
| Sargassum | Lowest |
| Nortes | A grey windy day or two possible |
December before, February after.
Prices#
New Year week to about the 3rd, then ordinary high season until Easter. Cancún on a budget, first time in Cancún.
What's on#
Día de Reyes on the 6th with rosca de reyes; the start of whale shark season is months away but the sailfish are in; the dry-season cenotes are at their clearest.
What to do#
The sea at its best: Isla Mujeres by ferry, a cenote day, Chichén Itzá or Tulum early (day trips), the beaches of the hotel zone and Playa Delfines. One evening in downtown Cancún where locals eat. Things to do, the 5-day itinerary.
Pack#
Sun clothes, reef-safe sunscreen, one light layer for breezy nights and a norte. With kids, for couples.
Off the hotel zone#
Post your dates on Roavi Community: travellers in Cancún in January appear together, and Local Friends who live downtown reply. A Local Friend for one evening is the Parque de las Palapas, the marquesitas and the taquería the hotel zone never mentions. How to meet other travellers covers the Mexico community; travel buddy in Mexico the rest of the country.
Cancún in January? Spend one evening with someone who lives there.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
What is the weather like in Cancún in January?
Dry and sunny with a steady breeze: highs around 28°C (82°F), lows around 20°C (68°F), little rain. Cold fronts from the north occasionally bring a grey, windy day with highs in the low twenties. Sea around 26°C (79°F).Is there seaweed in Cancún in January?
Very little. December to March is the clearest window for sargassum on the Mexican Caribbean; beaches are usually at their best. Check recent photos of your stretch anyway; currents can surprise.Is January expensive in Cancún?
The first two or three days are New Year peak. From about the 3rd prices settle to high-season rates, still the expensive half of the year but far below Christmas week.What is a norte in Cancún?
A cold front from the US that reaches the Yucatán in winter: a day or two of wind, grey skies, choppy sea and temperatures in the low twenties. Beaches fly red flags; it passes quickly and the sun returns.