The climate in a nutshell
Mérida's city government classifies the climate as warm subhumid (Aw0), with an annual average of 26.61 °C. Its Municipal Climate Action Program gives annual averages of 24–28 °C and 500–1,000 mm (about 20–40 inches) of rain a year.
The hottest months
The warmest period runs roughly from April to August, and highs can reach 40 °C, according to the city's fact sheet. The climate plan names May as the month with the highest average temperature.
Rainy season
City sources describe the rainy season a little differently: the fact sheet places it between May and January, while the climate plan names September as the wettest month. In practice, the second half of the year is the wettest; downpours tend to be heavy and short.
A rough calendar
The table on this page sums up the general pattern by season. The sources consulted don't include a complete official table of monthly averages, so for specific dates check the forecast from Mexico's National Weather Service (SMN).
How to prepare
- Light, breathable clothing, a hat and sunglasses.
- Drink water constantly, especially April to August.
- Plan walks for early morning or sunset.
- A light rain jacket in the rainy season.
- Cenotes are the best escape from the heat.
A day trip for every season
To get out of the city, Mary Tours has its office right in the historic center (Calle 61 #518-B, between 62 and 64). In the hottest months, cenote trips are the most welcome; in winter, Celestún usually has more flamingos. Check the booking section for available trips with current times and prices.
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| December–February | The coolest time of year, with warm days |
| March–April | Heat builds |
| May | Highest average temperature |
| June–August | Intense heat and rain |
| September | Wettest month |
| October–November | Rain tapers off |
Fun facts
- Mérida's annual average temperature is 26.61 °C.
- May is, on average, the hottest month.
- Mérida gets 500 to 1,000 mm of rain a year.
Related tours
Archaeology · 11 h
Chichén Itzá, Izamal and Valladolid
Four stops in one day, and none of them rushed
from $1,200 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Izamal. The guide uses the drive to set up what comes next.
- 9:00 AM San Antonio de Padua Convent — The story of the 16th-century Franciscan convent told in its atrium, then free time to walk the yellow town.
- 11:15 AM Chichén Itzá — Guided walk through the Temple of Kukulkán, the Sacred Cenote, the Ball Court, the Tzompantli and the Jaguars and Eagles platform.
- 1:45 PM Regional lunch in Kaua — Buffet of Yucatecan dishes: cochinita, relleno negro, lime soup and meat-free options.
- 3:00 PM Selva Maya cenote — The swim lands exactly when the sun is at its worst. Changing rooms and showers on site.
- 4:20 PM Valladolid — Francisco Cantón Rosado park with its original railings, the church of San Servacio and the murals in the town hall.
- 8:00 PM Back in Mérida — We drop you off where the day started.
Included: Air-conditioned transport, General culture guide, Regional buffet lunch
Not included: Chichén Itzá entrance, Cenote entrance, Drinks
Cenotes · 7 h
The four cenotes of Santa Bárbara
Four different cenotes and a lunch made by hand
from $1,450 MXN per person
See itinerary
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · daily
- 10:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Homún, through the ring of cenotes.
- 11:00 AM Cascabel cenote — Closed, cave type. You descend inside and the water sits in half-light: the most striking of the four.
- 11:30 AM Chaksikín cenote — Semi-open. You go down between limestone walls painted with Maya-themed murals.
- 12:00 PM Xooch cenote — Semi-open, with a shaft of light that falls straight onto the water mid-morning.
- 12:30 PM Pool Cocom cenote — Open and surrounded by vegetation. You swim along a channel out to the wide part.
- 1:30 PM Regional lunch — Home cooking with hand-made tortillas. Plenty of time to eat without rushing.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — An hour back, arriving around five.
Included: Transport, Certified guide, Entry to all four cenotes, Regional lunch
Not included: Drinks with lunch
Beach · 8 h
North Coast and Isla Columpios
Wooden swings driven straight into the sea
from $1,250 MXN per person
See itinerary
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM · daily
- 10:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour and a quarter to the Chuburná harbour, where the boat leaves from.
- 11:30 AM Isla Columpios — Turquoise water barely past your knees, swings and hammocks over the sea, and mangrove all around full of birds.
- 1:00 PM Chuburná dunes — White sand mounds shaped by the wind, with nobody around. Good for walking and for photos.
- 2:30 PM Puerto Progreso — Free afternoon: eat on the seafront, walk the pier or stay on the beach.
- 5:30 PM Back to Mérida — Half an hour back, arriving around six.
Included: Transport, Certified guide, Boat and Isla Columpios entry
Not included: Food, Drinks
Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 14 h
Tulum and the Casa Tortuga cenotes
The only Maya city built facing the Caribbean
from $2,500 MXN per person
See itinerary
6:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 6:00 AM Boarding — We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
- 6:30 AM Motorway to the rest stop — An hour and three quarters, with fifteen minutes for toilets and something light.
- 8:30 AM On to Tulum — An hour and a half more to the Quintana Roo coast.
- 10:00 AM Tulum archaeological site — Guided visit to the walled city: El Castillo, the Temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God, with the sea behind.
- 12:15 PM Casa Tortuga cenotes and lunch — Four cenotes of different kinds, with a guided route, trails and changing rooms. Lunch is on site.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — Four hours back, with a stop halfway.
Included: Guide accredited by the Ministry of Tourism, Round-trip transport, Lunch, Cenote entry
Not included: Tulum archaeological site entrance, Drinks
Frequently asked questions
What is the hottest month in Mérida?
May, according to the city's Climate Action Program.
When does it rain in Mérida?
Mostly in the second half of the year; September is the wettest month.
How hot does Mérida get?
The annual average is 26.6 °C; highs can reach 40 °C in the hot season.
When is the best time to visit Mérida?
The cooler months, December to February, are the most comfortable for walking.
