Tulum weather in January

In January, Tulum sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 46 mm of rain across 10.8 wet days and about 10.9 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in January, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 48 min at the start of January to 11 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Tulum's 5th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Tulum's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
12th warmest
Overnight low
22°
1st coldest
Rainfall
46 mm
10.8 wet days
Daylight
10 h 54 min
6:32 AM – 5:26 PM
Cloud cover
47%
5th clearest
Wind
15 km/h
5th windiest
Solar energy
3.94 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.8
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 January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month.

A typical January day in Tulum reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 22°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 24°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs on par with December and on par with February.

15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12622
22622
32622
42622
52622
62622
72622
82622
92622
102622
112622
122622
132622
142622
152622
162621
172621
182621
192621
202621
212622
222622
232622
242622
252622
262622
272622
282622
292622
302622
312622

How January really feels in Tulum

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January 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

January 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 January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 9th-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 January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

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

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 23% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 29%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17129
27129
37228
47228
57228
67129
77129
87129
97129
107129
117129
127030
137030
147030
156931
166931
177030
186931
196931
206931
216931
226931
236931
247129
257129
267129
277228
287327
297426
307426
317624

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Tulum gets around 46 mm of rain over 10.8 wet days in January. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 34% and peaks near 36% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
136
236
336
436
536
636
736
836
935
1035
1135
1235
1335
1435
1535
1635
1735
1834
1934
2034
2134
2234
2333
2433
2533
2633
2733
2833
2932
3031
3131

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, January lands in the oppressive band about 38% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 69% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
11101530422
21101530422
32101530421
42101629421
52101629421
62101729421
72101728421
82101828411
92101928401
102111928400
112112028390
122112028380
132112129380
142112129370
152112129370
161112129370
171122130360
181122130360
191122130360
201122131350
210122131350
220122132350
230122032350
240112032360
250112033360
260111933370
270101933380
281101833380
291101833390
30191833390
31191832390

Wind in January

Winds average 15 km/h in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 15 km/h on the calmest days to 16 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
115light breeze
215light breeze
315light breeze
415light breeze
515light breeze
615light breeze
715light breeze
815light breeze
915light breeze
1015light breeze
1115light breeze
1215light breeze
1315light breeze
1415light breeze
1515light breeze
1615light breeze
1715light breeze
1815light breeze
1916light 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 January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 48 min at the start of January to 11 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 18 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 6:29 AM to 6:31 AM, and sunset from 5:17 PM to 5:36 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.86:295:17
210.86:295:17
310.86:305:18
410.86:305:19
510.86:305:19
610.86:315:20
710.86:315:20
810.86:315:21
910.86:315:22
1010.86:315:22
1110.96:325:23
1210.96:325:24
1310.96:325:24
1410.96:325:25
1510.96:325:25
1610.96:325:26
1710.96:325:27
1810.96:325:27
1910.96:325:28
2010.96:325:29
2111.06:325:29
2211.06:325:30
2311.06:325:31
2411.06:325:31
2511.06:325:32
2611.06:325:32
2711.06:325:33
2811.06:315:34
2911.16:315:34
3011.16:315:35
3111.16:315:36

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 3.94 kWh/m².

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 — January's 3.94 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.8Moderate
23.8Moderate
33.8Moderate
43.8Moderate
53.8Moderate
63.8Moderate
73.8Moderate
83.8Moderate
93.8Moderate
103.9Moderate
113.9Moderate
123.9Moderate
133.9Moderate
143.9Moderate
153.9Moderate
163.9Moderate
173.9Moderate
184.0Moderate
194.0Moderate
204.0Bright
214.0Bright
224.0Bright
234.1Bright
244.1Bright
254.1Bright
264.2Bright
274.2Bright
284.2Bright
294.3Bright
304.3Bright
314.3Bright
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Tulum

In seasonPeak

None of Tulum's seasonal hazards are active in January. 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 January a good time to visit Tulum?

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

6.8
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
6.6
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

January 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 January

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

In January, Tulum sees daytime highs around 26°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 January

The nearest coast averages about 27°C in January — 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 January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 7 — 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 January

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where January 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
January 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).