December in Playa del Carmen is what tropical vacations are supposed to be. Clear turquoise water. 28°C days with zero humidity. No sargassum seaweed. Perfect cenote conditions. And the entire operating at peak form.
It's also the most expensive time to visit — hotels double, restaurants fill, and Quinta Avenida gets crowded with snowbirds escaping northern winters. But the premium is justified. Here's why.
| December | August (Summer) | April (Spring) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | 28°C (82°F) | 33°C (91°F) | 31°C (88°F) |
| Low | 21°C (70°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 23°C (73°F) |
| Rain days | 3-4 | 10-12 | 3-4 |
| Humidity | Low | High | Moderate |
| Sargassum | None | Heavy | Light |
December hits the sweet spot: warm enough for the beach and cenotes, cool enough for comfortable exploration, and dry enough that rain rarely disrupts plans. The humidity drops significantly from the summer months, making outdoor activities pleasant rather than endurance tests.
December is when Playa del Carmen's beaches are at their best. The sargassum seaweed that plagues the coast from May-August is gone. The water is clear turquoise. The sand is clean. Beach clubs like Mamita's (minimum spend $500 MXN) and Kool Beach Club are running full service.
The less-crowded stretches between Calle 28 and Calle 38 are my pick — fewer vendors, cleaner sand, same water.
Cenote water is clearest from November through March, when rainfall has stopped adding runoff. The underground rivers are at their most transparent. Visibility in Gran Cenote and Cenote Azul is extraordinary — you can see 30+ meters into the cave systems.
December cenote temperatures remain a constant 22-24°C year-round (the underground water doesn't change with seasons), which feels refreshing after a warm morning.
December cenote strategy: Visit on weekdays, arrive at 8AM opening. Even in peak season, early morning cenotes are relatively uncrowded.
December-March is prime diving season on the Mesoamerican Reef. Visibility: 30-40 meters. Water temperature: 26°C. The ferry to Cozumel (from Cancun it's also easy to reach) ($250-350 MXN round trip) is a flat 45-minute ride in December's calm seas.
El Cielo ("The Sky") sandbar — shallow turquoise water with starfish on the bottom — is at its most photogenic in December light.
The clifftop ruins ($95 MXN) are less crowded in December than in July-August peak. The morning light (arrive at 8AM) illuminates the Temple of the Descending God beautifully. December's dry air means clear sky photos without the summer haze.
Green sea turtles are present year-round, but December is particularly good — the turtles are feeding actively in the sea grass beds and visibility is excellent.
Playa del Carmen celebrates both with gusto. Christmas decorations line Quinta Avenida from late November. New Year's Eve brings fireworks on the beach and parties at the beach clubs and restaurants.
Book restaurants well ahead for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve — popular spots fill completely.
December is peak season. Prices reflect it.
| Category | December | June (Off-Peak) |
|---|---|---|
| Beach hotel/night | $3,000-6,000 MXN | $1,500-3,000 MXN |
| All-inclusive/night | $5,000-12,000 MXN | $2,500-6,000 MXN |
| Restaurant dinner | $250-500 MXN | $150-350 MXN |
| Cenote entry | Same | Same |
| Cozumel ferry | Same | Same |
Hotels near the beach double in price. Book at least 2-3 months ahead for December. Christmas week and New Year's week command the highest premiums — some properties require minimum stays.
Budget hack: Stay 2-3 blocks west of Quinta Avenida. Hotels are 30-40% cheaper and you're still a 5-minute walk from the beach.
Day 1: Arrive, settle in, Quinta Avenida evening walk, beachfront dinner Day 2: Beach morning, cenote afternoon (Cenote Azul + Jardin del Eden) Day 3: Cozumel day trip (ferry + scooter + snorkeling) Day 4: Tulum ruins at 8AM, Akumal sea turtles afternoon Day 5: Gran Cenote morning, Xcaret evening show Day 6: Beach club day, Quinta Avenida shopping, goodbye dinner
Everyone says November is the "smart" choice — similar weather, lower prices, fewer crowds. And they're right. November IS cheaper and less crowded.
But December has something November doesn't: energy. The town is fully alive. Every restaurant is open. Every beach club is staffed. The Christmas decorations on Quinta Avenida create a festive atmosphere that combines perfectly with the turquoise water and warm evenings.
If you can afford December, go in December. The premium buys the complete experience.
