Dry season on both coasts: calm seas, clear skies, and peak prices.Dry season on both coasts.Where to go
Sargassum often builds on the Caribbean side from spring into late summer.Sargassum season on the Caribbean.Today's reading
Hurricane season runs to 30 November. Quieter beaches, lower prices; watch the forecast.Hurricane season, to 30 November.When to go
Maya heritage, cenotes and a low-key Gulf shore of fishing ports and flamingo lagoons north of Mérida.
Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia · CC BY-SA 4.0What to know
Yucatán's coast faces the Gulf of Mexico, not the Caribbean: a low, quiet shore of fishing ports like Progreso, Sisal and El Cuyo, with flamingos in the lagoons at Celestún and Río Lagartos. The water is shallow and usually calm. Most people base themselves in Mérida, about 35 km inland from Progreso, and add cenotes and Maya sites such as Uxmal and Chichén Itzá.
In pictures
Photo: Katja Schulz · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Pavel Kirillov · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Before you go
The best time to visit Yucatán is generally November to March (cooler, less humid). This aligns with the dry season and comfortable temperatures for beach and outdoor activities.
Fly into Mérida International Airport (MID) or drive from Cancún. Coastal towns accessible via Highway 261.
Yucatán has 60 beaches along its coast. Top destinations include Mérida, Progreso, Valladolid.
Popular cities in Yucatán include Mérida, Progreso, Valladolid, Tizimín. Each offers distinct beaches, culture, and activities.
Yucatán has a Tropical Dry climate. Rainy season typically runs May to October; dry season November to April.
Yucatán, Mexico
Fly into Mérida International Airport (MID) or drive from Cancún. Coastal towns accessible via Highway 261.
Most reviewed
Towns and areas
Zone
The full list
45 listed, by town, most-reviewed first.
Hotel occupancy · Mérida
DataTur hotel occupancy for Mérida (Yucatán). DataTur reports by tourism destination, not by state: these are the figures for Mérida.
Occupancy averages about 66% in November. Book ahead.
Occupancy averages about 49% in September, so rooms are easier to find.
In 2024: busiest March (66.4%) · quietest September (48.8%)
January 2024 to December 2024, 0–100% occupancy scale.
Source: Official hotel occupancy statistics from DataTur (SECTUR Mexico). Aggregated across registered lodging categories.
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