Cancun in January
When to go
January sits inside the dry season that the Caribe Mexicano tourism site lists as the best time to visit Cancún, and it is outside the Atlantic hurricane season. New Year's Day is a mandatory rest day under Mexican labor law, so check opening hours, tours and transport schedules if your dates include it.
Trip facts
- The National Hurricane Center says the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. (www.nhc.noaa.gov, checked )
- The Caribe Mexicano tourism site lists the dry season, from December to April, as the best time to visit Cancún. (caribemexicano.travel, checked )
- The Mexican government's PROFEDET page lists January 1 among the mandatory rest days in Article 74 of the Federal Labor Law. (www.gob.mx, checked )
- The official Visitax site says the tax is mandatory and must be paid by all foreign tourists. (www.visitax.gob.mx, checked )
- Article 3 of Mexico's Ley de los Husos Horarios defines the Southeast Zone as referred to the meridian 75 degrees west of Greenwich, comprising the territory of the state of Quintana Roo. (sidof.segob.gob.mx, checked )
- The Caribe Mexicano tourism site says the airport is south of the city, about 20 minutes from the Hotel Zone and 25 from downtown. (caribemexicano.travel, checked )
- The Caribe Mexicano tourism site says the Cancún bus terminal is in the city center, not in the Hotel Zone, with direct runs from the airport to it. (caribemexicano.travel, checked )
- The Caribe Mexicano tourism site says buses to Playa del Carmen, Tulum and the south of the state leave from the Cancún bus terminal. (caribemexicano.travel, checked )
- The Caribe Mexicano tourism site says four terminals connect Cancún with Isla Mujeres: Playa Caracol, Playa Tortuga and El Embarcadero in the Hotel Zone, and Puerto Juárez north of the city. (caribemexicano.travel, checked )
Flights
The Caribe Mexicano tourism site lists Cancún International Airport as the way in by air, south of the city. When you compare flights, check arrival times against your transfer plans, especially if you travel around New Year's Day, and remember that Quintana Roo sits in its own Southeast time zone under Mexican law. Before you go, check the State Department's page for Mexico and the official Visitax site for the tax that applies to foreign tourists.
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Where to stay
Start with where you want to spend your days, then compare properties in the Hotel Zone, downtown Cancún and farther down the coast toward Playa del Carmen. Ferry terminals for Isla Mujeres are in the Hotel Zone and at Puerto Juárez, north of the city, while the bus terminal is downtown. Match each property's location to how you plan to get around, and read the booking terms carefully before you commit.
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Getting around
From the airport there are direct bus runs to the downtown bus terminal, and from that terminal buses leave for Playa del Carmen, Tulum and the south of the state. Ferries to Isla Mujeres leave from terminals in the Hotel Zone and from Puerto Juárez. Check current timetables with each operator, especially around New Year's Day.
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Things to do
Decide what is worth building a day around, then check availability for your travel dates. Compare what a tour or ticket includes, the meeting point and the cancellation terms before you choose.
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Stay connected
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