If you are planning a trip to Tulum in May, you must wonder what the weather is like.
Tulum has plenty of stunning natural wonders, but most of them are situated outdoors. Without nice weather, the beautiful beaches, cenotes, and Mayan Ruins of Tulum are not going to be that nice, sometimes even inaccessible.
Luckily, May is one of the best times to visit Tulum. It is the transition between Tulum’s dry season and wet season, which means visitors are likely to see clear skies and nice weather for the majority of the month. But with any transition month, May comes with quite unpredictable weather that you must take into account when planning your Tulum itinerary!
There are definitely pros and cons to visiting Tulum in May, so read on to find out how you can make the most out of your trip!
Weather in Tulum In MAy – Quick Glance
| Average Temperature | 28 ℃ | 82 ℉ |
| Average Highs | 31 ℃ | 88 ℉ |
| Average Lows | 24 ℃ | 75 ℉ |
| Average Day Temperature | 28.3 ℃ | 83 ℉ |
| Average Night Temperature | 25.3 ℃ | 78 ℉ |
| Average Sea Temperature | 28 ℃ | 82 ℉ |
| Average Sunshine Hours Per Day | 8 Hours | |
| Average Monthly Rainfall | 108 mm | 4.3 in |
| Average Rain days | 7 days | |
| Average Daylight | 13 hours | |
| Average Humidity | 77% |
As a transition month between the dry and wet season, visitors are more like to find clear skies and lots of sunshine in the earlier half and lots more rain in the latter half of May.
The temperature has substantially risen from April, and quite frankly, it is a bit of a worry for those looking to explore the outdoors. Though the humidity is still relatively low when compared to the rain season, it is a deadly combo with high temperatures.
Temperature in Tulum in May
Averaging a high temperature of 31 ℃ (88 ℉), there is no doubt that May in Tulum is starting to get warm. This is the temperature you usually get in Tulum’s summer months such as July and August. But unlike those summer months, May is marked by relatively low humidity, especially in the earlier half.
This makes it a little bit more tolerable to explore the natural wonders of Tulum, such as the Mayan Ruins or the beach. You’ll sweat less compared to the summer months, which means you are less likely going to dehydrate and get a heat stroke. But visitors still need to be super careful with the heat and humidity.
There is no doubt that May in Tulum is hot, but at least the humidity won’t be as bad as the summer.
The night time average temperature is very comfortable in Tulum in May. At an average of 24 ℃, the weather is just warm enough to go out at night in a t-shirt and shorts or a flowy dress. You most likely won’t need a jacket, even if you are getting a breeze near the beaches of Tulum.
The sea temperature is at 28℃ (82 ℉), which is actually cooler than most of the year. Though it is slightly cooler, it is still a bit too warm to cool down in. The difference between the water temperature and the outside temperature is small, and visitors likely won’t find too much relief in the sea.
We would recommend you to swim in the fresh cenotes near Tulum if you are looking for cooler water.
Precipitation in Tulum in May
As the transition between Tulum’s dry and wet season, May is a month with unpredictable precipitation. Depending on the year, sometimes you can have rainstorms that last for days, and sometimes you can have sun the entire month.
On average, you can expect to see about 7 days of rain in May, with most of the rain days occurring in the latter half of the month.
This is considered pretty low for Tulum, especially when compared to Tulum’s hurricane season, which occurs in September and October. When it rains in Tulum, it rains like in most tropical places – in big powerful but short bursts. The rain isn’t going to stop you from sightseeing in Tulum.
It might actually cool you down, especially if you’ve been out exploring for a long time in the day.
Sunshine in Tulum in May
There is an average of eight hours of sunshine per day in Tulum in May. With 13 hours of daylight per day, 8 hours of sunshine on average is incredible. Though 5 hours of no sunshine per day seems a bit much, you’ve to account for the rainy days which bring the average down.
8 hours of sunshine is plenty enough to enjoy all the outdoor activities of Tulum – going to the beach, swimming in the cenotes, taking a day trip to Chichen Itza, or just out exploring Tulum and all its boutiques and nice restaurants.
In fact, if you are going to sunbathe on the beach or try one of the water sports such as snorkeling or diving, make sure you put on some sun protection.
Sargassum Seaweed In Tulum in May
The sargassum seaweed has plagued the stunning beaches of Tulum for many years now. Not only do they give off a disgusting sulfur-like smell (think rotten eggs), but they also cover up the gorgeous white sand. It turns the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea into an ugly brown.
The sargassum seaweed situation in Cancun and Tulum has been getting worse year after year, thanks to the effects of global warming.
And unfortunately, May is typically when the seaweed has just arrived. The seaweed season in Tulum usually starts in April and lasts until August. But each year the weather has been more unpredictable than the last. Sometimes the seaweed comes earlier and sometimes they come later.
But historically speaking, you are very likely to encounter sargassum seaweed when visiting Tulum in May.
Luckily, there are parts of Tulum Beach that are privately owned by hotels. These hotels hire someone to clean up the seaweed every day to make sure guests can enjoy the beaches the way they are supposed to be enjoyed.
So if you see lots of seaweed, consider staying in one of the nice hotels in Tulum Beach Zone.
Better yet, there are plenty of stunning cenotes in Riviera Maya that are a short ride from Tulum. Since the water from those sinkholes comes from underground, they are amazing all year round.
Pros of Visiting Tulum in May
There are plenty of pros when visiting Tulum in May, here are the top ones.
Flights and Hotels Are Cheaper
Since May is the shoulder season in Tulum, many hotels are starting to offer deals on their accommodation. Not only does that mean you can snag a place to stay for cheaper than usual, but you have more chances of booking one of the most popular hotels in Tulum.
The same goes for flights. Flights can be cheaper in May when you are flying into Cancun (the closest airport to Tulum). Combined with the smaller crowds compared to the peak season, visitors can have a more stress-free time planning their trip.
This isn’t the lowest season in Tulum, so you’ll certainly still see a substantial amount of tourists. But every little bit helps when you are visiting one of the most popular destinations in the world.
There Are Some Festivals Near Tulum
One of the pros of visiting Tulum in May (or Mexico in general) is enjoying its May festivals.
During this month, there are two festivals that visitors can get to enjoy:
- Cinco de Mayo
- Sacred Mayan Journey (Travesia Sagrada Maya)
Cinco de Mayo needs no explanation, especially if you are an American. It is a huge holiday in America where Americans celebrate Mexican culture, but in Mexico, it is actually not as big a celebration. Yes, it is still a holiday but the event is mainly celebrated in the state of Puebla. Nonetheless, as a touristic town, you’ll find some festivities in Tulum.
Sacred Mayan Journey (Travesia Sagrada Maya) is an annual festival where “Messengers of the Moon” recreates the pilgrimage of the ancient Maya to worship the Goddess lxChel. This journey starts in Xcaret Park and ends in Cozumel, a total of 17 miles of paddling. This is a cool festival because you can see the traditional costumes with music and everything!
Cons of Visiting Tulum in May
Visiting Tulum in May has a lot of disadvantages as well, make sure you know them before you plan your itinerary.
You May Not See Whale Sharks or Turtle Nesting
One of the biggest attractions in Tulum is the chance to see two endangered species – whale sharks and sea turtles. Between the months of June and August, you are nearly guaranteed to see them in the sea. But in May, those two species of animals are just starting to make their way to Tulum.
If you are visiting in early May, chances are, you won’t be able to see any whale sharks or sea turtles nesting. But if you are visiting near the end of May, your chances definitely increase. Still, there is no guarantee that you’ll see any of them during the month of May.
Not only that, you won’t be able to see turtle hatchlings run into the sea. That occurs between the month of July to December.
However, you can still snorkel with the turtles in Akumal because that they are usually there all year round.
The Weather Can Be Too Hot
May is one of the hottest months of the year. With little rain to cool this time of the year, the temperature can be as high as the temperature in the middle of summer.
Mixed in with relatively high humidity (especially in the latter half of the month), going sightseeing in Tulum can be quite uncomfortable. Always carry a lot of water with you when exploring the outdoors and make sure you hydrate yourself. If you are not used to this weather (*cough* Europeans *cough*), then be extra cautious.
Many of the outdoor attractions in Riviera Maya have no shade, so heat-related illnesses can occur. Though you are less to get heat stroke in Tulum compared to the summer months, it can still happen.
Tulum in May FAQs
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Explore Tulum By Month
Final Verdict
May is one of the best times to visit Tulum. Not only will you find a smaller crowd and great prices for hotels, but you will also (usually) find sunny weather with clear skies. It is one of the hottest months in Tulum, so extra precautions should be taken to make sure you don’t get a heat stroke or any other heat-related illness!
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