Playa del Carmen weather in March

In March, Playa del Carmen sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 27 mm of rain across 5.8 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 60% of the time in March, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 36 min at the start of March to 12 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Playa del Carmen's 2nd-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Playa del Carmen's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
9th warmest
Overnight low
23°
4th coldest
Rainfall
27 mm
5.8 wet days
Daylight
11 h 54 min
6:02 AM – 5:54 PM
Cloud cover
39%
2nd clearest
Wind
19 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
5.45 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.5
out of 10

Playa del Carmen is municipal seat of Playa del Carmen, State of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Founded
1937

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in March

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month.

A typical March day in Playa del Carmen reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs on par with February and about 1°C cooler than April.

15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12723
22723
32723
42723
52723
62723
72723
82723
92723
102723
112723
122723
132723
142723
152723
162723
172723
182723
192723
202723
212723
222723
232723
242723
252723
262724
272724
282724
292724
302724
312824

How March really feels in Playa del Carmen

Once humidity and wind are folded in, March averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

March sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Playa del Carmen weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 9th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 22°5510.510.96.9
Feb26° / 23°276.511.37.4
Mar27° / 23°275.811.97.5
Apr28° / 24°325.912.57.0
May29° / 25°8311.7135.6
Jun29° / 26°15417.313.24.5
Jul30° / 26°8014.113.14.8
Aug30° / 26°10016.812.74.4
Sep29° / 26°1662212.13.8
Oct28° / 25°18819.511.54.6
Nov27° / 24°8411.9116.3
Dec26° / 23°5410.710.86.7

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 60% of the time in March.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 21% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 19%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18119
28119
38020
48020
57822
67822
77822
87822
97822
107822
117822
127921
137921
148020
158119
168119
178218
188317
198317
208317
218317
228317
238317
248317
258317
268317
278317
288317
298218
308218
318119

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitation

Playa del Carmen gets around 27 mm of rain over 5.8 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 19% and peaks near 23% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
122
222
323
423
523
623
723
822
922
1022
1121
1221
1320
1419
1519
1618
1718
1817
1917
2017
2116
2216
2316
2415
2515
2615
2715
2815
2915
3015
3115

Humidity in March

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of March feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, March lands in the oppressive band about 46% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 78% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1281530451
2281530441
3291531431
4291532420
5291533410
6291534400
7291535390
8291535390
9181635390
10181635391
11181635401
12181634401
13181634411
14171633411
15171633421
16171633421
17161633431
18261532431
19261532442
20251531452
21251431462
22151431472
23151430492
24141330502
25141229522
26141229522
27141128542
28131028562
2913927582
3013927582
3113826602

Wind in March

Winds average 19 km/h in March, the windiest month of the year.

Across March, daily wind ranges from about 18 km/h on the calmest days to 19 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
118light breeze
219light breeze
319light breeze
419light breeze
519light breeze
619light breeze
719light breeze
819light breeze
919light breeze
1019light breeze
1119light breeze
1219light breeze
1319light breeze
1418light breeze
1518light breeze
1618light breeze
1718light breeze
1818light breeze
1918light breeze
2018light breeze
2118light breeze
2218light breeze
2318light breeze
2418light breeze
2518light breeze
2618light breeze
2718light breeze
2818light breeze
2918light breeze
3018light breeze
3118light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in March

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 36 min at the start of March to 12 h 12 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 36 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 6:15 AM to 5:49 AM, and sunset from 5:48 PM to 5:58 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.66:155:48
211.66:145:49
311.66:135:49
411.66:135:49
511.66:125:50
611.76:115:50
711.76:105:51
811.76:095:51
911.76:085:51
1011.76:085:52
1111.86:075:52
1211.86:065:52
1311.86:055:53
1411.86:045:53
1511.86:035:53
1611.96:025:54
1711.96:015:54
1811.96:015:54
1911.96:005:55
2011.95:595:55
2112.05:585:55
2212.05:575:55
2312.05:565:56
2412.05:555:56
2512.05:545:56
2612.15:535:57
2712.15:525:57
2812.15:515:57
2912.15:505:57
3012.15:505:58
3112.25:495:58

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 5.45 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.71 kWh/m² to a high of 6.41 kWh/m² in July across the year — March's 5.45 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.0Bright
25.1Bright
35.1Bright
45.1Bright
55.1Bright
65.2Bright
75.2Bright
85.2Bright
95.2Bright
105.3Bright
115.3Bright
125.3Bright
135.3Bright
145.4Bright
155.4Bright
165.5Bright
175.5Bright
185.5Bright
195.6Bright
205.6Bright
215.6Bright
225.7Bright
235.7Bright
245.7Bright
255.7Bright
265.8Bright
275.8Bright
285.8Bright
295.8Bright
305.8Bright
315.9Bright
Planning a trip in March

Hazard calendar for Playa del Carmen

In seasonPeak

None of Playa del Carmen's seasonal hazards are active in March. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Playa del Carmen sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Playa del Carmen's rainy season runs August–October, when most of the year's rain falls.

Atlantic hurricane
Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is March a good time to visit Playa del Carmen?

Our two travel scores rate March for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

7.5
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
7.6
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

March is one of the better times to visit Playa del Carmen for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Playa del Carmen in March

From March's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In March, Playa del Carmen sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 23°C. Worth packing: light clothes and sun protection. About 6 days see rain.

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Playa del Carmen in March

The nearest coast averages about 27°C in March — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in September at about 29°C and coldest in February near 27°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr27Warm
May28Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec27Warm

UV index in Playa del Carmen in March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Playa del Carmen peaks around April 18 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 6 (high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highHighApr 18UV 12Dec 15UV 6
UV index (midday)Level
Jan7Very high
Feb10Very high
Mar11Extreme
Apr12Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep11Extreme
Oct10Very high
Nov7High
Dec6High

Air quality in Playa del Carmen in March

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where March falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Playa del Carmen is worst in June — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.1× the cleanest month (November, 6 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 2024 µg/m³Nov 226 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb7Good
Mar8Good
Apr12Good
May15Moderate
Jun25Moderate
Jul22Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep12Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Playa del Carmen?

Playa del Carmen sits at 20.6°N, 87.1°W, 9 m above sea level, in Mexico. The nearest listed city is Cozumel, 20 km away.

Topography around Playa del Carmen

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Playa del Carmen.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Playa del Carmen has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 16 m around an average of 6 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 26 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 36 m.

The land around Playa del Carmen is covered by artificial surfaces (43%) and water (32%) within 3 km, water (49%) and trees (42%) within 16 km, and trees (51%) and water (45%) within 80 km.

3 km
16 m
16 km
26 m
80 km
36 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
March weather nearby: Cozumel 20 km · Tulum 61 km · Cancun 65 km · Isla Mujeres 76 km · Valladolid 117 km · Tizimín 125 km · Felipe Carrillo Puerto 154 km · Chichen Itza 155 km

Mexico travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B
120 / 127 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 54% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$13,889
2025
Happiness
7.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
43%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
24.9
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.8
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Very low
EF EPI 440
Religion
Catholic 78%no religion 11%other Evangelical Churches 8%Jehovah Witness 1%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Playa del Carmen (20.6274°, -87.0799°, elevation 9 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).