Tulum weather in December

In December, Tulum sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 49 mm of rain across 10.8 wet days and about 10.8 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 8th-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 49% of the time in December, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 54 min at the start of December to 10 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Tulum's 4th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Tulum's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
10th warmest
Overnight low
22°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
49 mm
10.8 wet days
Daylight
10 h 48 min
6:23 AM – 5:09 PM
Cloud cover
46%
4th clearest
Wind
14 km/h
7th windiest
Solar energy
3.8 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.7
out of 10

Tulum is municipal seat of Tulum, State of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Founded
1900

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

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

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

A typical December day in Tulum reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 22°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, December runs about 1°C cooler than November and on par with January.

15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12723
22723
32723
42723
52722
62722
72722
82722
92722
102722
112722
122722
132722
142722
152722
162722
172722
182722
192722
202622
212622
222622
232622
242622
252622
262622
272622
282622
292622
302622
312622

How December really feels in Tulum

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December 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

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

Tulum weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 22°4610.810.96.8
Feb27° / 22°246.811.37.3
Mar27° / 23°296.411.97.4
Apr28° / 24°306.812.46.6
May29° / 25°8813.212.95.2
Jun29° / 26°18219.313.24.2
Jul30° / 26°9316.413.14.4
Aug30° / 26°12018.812.74.1
Sep30° / 26°18223.412.13.5
Oct29° / 25°18619.711.54.4
Nov28° / 23°7511.6116.2
Dec27° / 22°4910.810.86.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 23% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 28%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17327
27426
37426
47426
57525
67525
77525
87525
97525
107525
117426
127426
137327
147327
157327
167129
177129
187030
197030
206931
216931
226931
236931
247030
257030
267030
277030
287030
297030
307030
317129

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Tulum gets around 49 mm of rain over 10.8 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 35% and peaks near 37% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
133
233
333
434
534
634
734
834
934
1034
1134
1234
1334
1435
1535
1635
1735
1835
1936
2036
2136
2236
2336
2436
2537
2637
2737
2836
2936
3036
3136

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the oppressive band about 47% 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 (%)
1031330513
2031330513
3031330513
4031229533
5031229533
6041228533
7041328523
8051327532
9151327522
10151426522
11161426512
12161526502
13161625502
14171625501
15171725491
16171725481
17171726471
18181826461
19181827452
20181728442
21181729432
22181730432
23181730422
24191631422
25191631422
26191532422
27191532422
28191531422
29191531422
301101531422
311101531422

Wind in December

Winds average 14 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 14 km/h on the calmest days to 15 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
114light breeze
214light breeze
314light breeze
414light breeze
514light breeze
614light breeze
714light breeze
814light breeze
914light breeze
1014light breeze
1114light breeze
1214light breeze
1314light breeze
1414light breeze
1514light breeze
1615light breeze
1715light breeze
1815light breeze
1915light breeze
2015light breeze
2115light breeze
2215light breeze
2315light breeze
2415light breeze
2515light breeze
2615light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3015light breeze
3115light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 54 min at the start of December to 10 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:14 AM to 6:29 AM, and sunset from 5:06 PM to 5:17 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.96:145:06
210.96:145:06
310.86:155:06
410.86:165:06
510.86:165:06
610.86:175:06
710.86:175:07
810.86:185:07
910.86:195:07
1010.86:195:07
1110.86:205:08
1210.86:205:08
1310.86:215:08
1410.86:215:09
1510.86:225:09
1610.86:235:09
1710.86:235:10
1810.86:245:10
1910.86:245:11
2010.86:255:11
2110.86:255:12
2210.86:265:12
2310.86:265:13
2410.86:265:13
2510.86:275:14
2610.86:275:14
2710.86:285:15
2810.86:285:15
2910.86:295:16
3010.86:295:16
3110.86:295:17

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.8 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.8 kWh/m² to a high of 6.35 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 3.8 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.9Moderate
23.9Moderate
33.9Moderate
43.9Moderate
53.9Moderate
63.9Moderate
73.8Moderate
83.8Moderate
93.8Moderate
103.8Moderate
113.8Moderate
123.8Moderate
133.8Moderate
143.8Moderate
153.8Moderate
163.8Moderate
173.7Moderate
183.7Moderate
193.7Moderate
203.7Moderate
213.7Moderate
223.8Moderate
233.8Moderate
243.8Moderate
253.8Moderate
263.8Moderate
273.8Moderate
283.8Moderate
293.8Moderate
303.8Moderate
313.8Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Tulum

In seasonPeak

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

Tulum sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Tulum's rainy season runs May–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 December a good time to visit Tulum?

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

6.7
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
6.6
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Tulum for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Tulum in December

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

In December, Tulum sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 22°C. Worth packing: light clothes and rain gear. About 11 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Tulum in December

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

The sea at the nearest coast (about 13 km away) 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 Tulum in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Tulum peaks around June 17 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 highHighJun 17UV 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 Tulum in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in Tulum is worst in June — around 26 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.9× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 2326 µg/m³Dec 177 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb7Good
Mar9Good
Apr13Moderate
May17Moderate
Jun26Moderate
Jul26Moderate
Aug20Moderate
Sep14Moderate
Oct10Good
Nov7Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Tulum?

Tulum sits at 20.2°N, 87.5°W, 5 m above sea level, in Mexico. The nearest listed city is Playa del Carmen, 61 km away.

Topography around Tulum

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Tulum has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 19 m around an average of 10 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 31 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 43 m.

The land around Tulum is covered by trees (74%) within 3 km, trees (56%) and water (37%) within 16 km, and trees (60%) and water (36%) within 80 km.

3 km
19 m
16 km
31 m
80 km
43 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
December weather nearby: Playa del Carmen 61 km · Cozumel 63 km · Felipe Carrillo Puerto 93 km · Valladolid 93 km · Cancun 125 km · Chichen Itza 126 km · Tizimín 126 km · Isla Mujeres 137 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 Tulum (20.2117°, -87.4633°, elevation 5 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).