December to April is the dry season and peak tourist period — clear skies, low humidity, and sea temperatures around 26°C. Christmas and Easter are extremely busy and prices rise sharply. May and November are shoulder season: fewer crowds, lower prices, and still good weather. June to October is hurricane season; the risk is real and weather can be unstable, but this is also when prices are lowest and the town is relatively uncrowded.
The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival in November is one of the best reasons to visit in the shoulder season — free outdoor concerts on the beach over several evenings, drawing international jazz musicians. Día de los Muertos (1–2 November) is celebrated with altars, processions, and sugar skull imagery throughout the town. Carnival in February or March brings street parties before Lent.