Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo is a Mexican state on the Caribbean coast, where beaches, cenotes and Maya ruins sit within a few hours of each other.
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Quintana Roo is a Mexican state on the eastern edge of the Yucatán Peninsula, facing the Caribbean. Its beaches run from Cancún south through the Riviera Maya to Tulum, where Maya ruins sit on cliffs above the water. Cozumel is known for its coral reefs and diving. Isla Mujeres and Holbox are smaller islands with fewer large hotels. Inland, cenotes are freshwater sinkholes you can swim in, and the forest ruins of Cobá lie a drive from the coast.
The state suits a beach base with day trips to ruins, cenotes and snorkeling. Cancún has the most flights and hotels. The south coast and the Bacalar lagoon, farther south, are calmer. December to April is the drier season and the usual choice, while June to November falls in hurricane season. Plan at least a week if you want more than one area, because the drive between Cancún and Tulum or Bacalar takes hours.
Quintana Roo in five
- Choose a coast: north, middle or southCancún and Isla Mujeres sit north, the Riviera Maya in the middle, and Mahahual, Bacalar and Chetumal south. The north is busiest and the south is quietest.
- Add an island day or a nightCozumel has reef diving, Isla Mujeres is easy from Cancún and Holbox is a car-free sandbar island with a long ferry hop. Check ferry timetables and weather first.Isla Holbox
- Budget for the state visitor taxQuintana Roo asks foreign visitors for a small state tourism fee called Visitax, paid online. Use the official channel and keep the QR proof, since look-alike payment sites exist.
- Take ADO coaches between townsFrequent coaches link Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar and Chetumal. Book ahead for peak weeks, and read the departure point on your ticket.Getting around Mexico
- Add the Gulf coast across the lineMérida and the Gulf coast sit a few hours west in Yucatán state. Progreso's shore pairs well with a Mérida stay if you want a different sea.Progreso
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Quintana Roo, the full guide
Cancún
- Price band: $$$
Playa del Carmen
- Price band: $$
Tulum
- Price band: $$$
Cozumel
Go to Cozumel for snorkeling and diving over Caribbean coral reefs, reached by ferry from the Yucatan mainland.
Things to do in Quintana Roo
See all attractions in Quintana Roo
Need to know
- Airport
- Cancún (CUN); smaller Cozumel (CZM), Tulum (TQO) and Chetumal (CTM)
- Getting there
- Direct flights to Cancún, then ADO coach, shuttle or rental car
- Getting around
- Coaches, ferries, colectivo vans and rental cars
- Best base
- Playa del Carmen or Tulum for a first trip
- Time needed
- 7 to 10 days for several coasts
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Dry, popularJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, popular
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh29°Low20°Dry, clearFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- MarchPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh31°Low21°Dry, warmMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 26 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh33°Low22°Dry, hotAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh33°Low24°Hot, seaweed riskMayPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, seaweed risk
- JuneRain18 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°Rainy, humidJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 278 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, humid
- JulyRain15 rainy daysHigh33°Low24°Hot, stormsJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, storms
- AugustRain20 rainy daysHigh33°Low24°Hot, stormsAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 148 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, storms
- SeptemberRain23 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low24°Hurricane peakSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 197 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hurricane peak
- OctoberRain20 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low23°Storm riskOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 189 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Storm risk
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Drier, calmerNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier, calmer
- DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Dry, holidaysDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, holidays
Average daily high and low in Quintana Roo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Quintana Roo
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
31
- Feels like
- 34°
- Humidity
- 54%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 76%
Quintana Roo
03:38 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today32°22°76%Monday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Tue32°22°57%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 57%.
- Wed32°22°52%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 52%.
- Thu32°21°43%Thursday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 43%.
- Fri32°22°45%Friday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Sat31°22°45%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 45%.
Updated 11:56 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18.81 MXN
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Isla Holboxabout 2 to 3 hours by road and ferry from CancúnA car-free island of sandbars and seafood.Read the guide
- Laguna Bacalarabout 4 to 5 hours by road from CancúnA freshwater lagoon in shades of blue, best as an overnight.Read the guide
- Isla Cozumelabout 30 to 45 min by ferry from Playa del CarmenMexico's reef-diving island, with a quiet main town.Read the guide
Before you go to Quintana Roo
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Quintana Roo, checked
- Many nationalities need no visa for Mexico. Check whether you need a tourist permit (FMM) for your passport at gob.mx/sre before you book.Source
- Declare cash above the legal limit on the customs form. Check the current amount with the SAT customs authority before you travel.
- Call 911 for police, fire or an ambulance across Quintana Roo.
- Some cenotes and reef sites restrict sunscreen and require a rinse before entry. Check each site's rules before you go.
- Mayan ruins fall under INAH rules. Stay off the structures and keep to marked paths, as posted at each site entrance.
All Quintana Roo guides
How toCancún airport to Playa del Carmen: bus, shuttle, taxi or rental carHead to headPlaya del Carmen, Tulum or Cancún: which Riviera Maya base to choose
How toPlaya del Carmen to Cozumel ferry: how it works and what to bookHead to headCozumel or Isla Mujeres? Which Caribbean island to pickWhere to stayWhere to stay in Playa del Carmen: four bases, from the strip to PlayacarThings to doThings to do in Cozumel: reefs, the east coast and San MiguelPlan around Quintana Roo
Beaches, colonial cities, ruins and highlands
Read the guideCancúnBig resorts and the main airport
Read the guidePlaya del CarmenA central base with ferries to Cozumel
Read the guideLaguna BacalarA calm lagoon in the south
Read the guideIsla HolboxA car-free island and whale shark season
Read the guideRiviera MayaBeaches, cenotes and ruins along the highway
Read the guideQuintana Roo FAQ
What is Quintana Roo known for?
Caribbean beaches, cenotes, Maya ruins and reef diving, with Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Cozumel as the best-known stops. It is the state most visitors mean when they say they are going to the Riviera Maya.
How many days do you need in Quintana Roo?
Five to seven days covers one coast and a couple of day trips. Ten days lets you add Holbox or Bacalar without rushing between airport, bus and ferry.
Is Quintana Roo safe for tourists?
The tourist zones are busy and used to visitors, though petty theft and taxi overcharging occur. Check your government's current advice for Quintana Roo and use official taxis or app rides after dark.
Do you need to pay a tax to visit Quintana Roo?
Foreign visitors are asked to pay a state visitor tax called Visitax, collected online. Check the official portal before you travel and keep the QR code or receipt for checks.
What is the best month to visit Quintana Roo?
February to April for dry, clear days and calm seas. December and January are lovely but busiest, while June to October brings storms, seaweed and lower prices, with hurricane risk peaking in autumn.