The Riviera Maya has only been hit by 2 hurricanes (category 5) in its lifetime. The first was in Sept 1988 (hurricane Gilbert), and the second was in Oct 2005 (Wilma). The tropical storm season is technically from June to November.
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The Riviera Maya hurricane season begins in late May and lasts until early November, with the peak in September and October. The odds of a hurricane hitting Riviera Maya are low (five hurricanes have hit the Yucatan in the past 40 years), but hurricanes traveling near Riviera Maya can still cause severe weather.
Cancun's rainy season starts in June and can run through to November, with the wettest months being September and October. While hurricanes are possible over this time period, the risk is extremely low in Cancun, where only two hurricanes have made landfall in the last 35 years.
Where to go in Mexico during hurricane season? If you are planning on traveling to Mexico during the summer, consider a visit to Puerto Vallarta. Situated on the Pacific coast in Banderas Bay, it is sheltered by both the shape of the bay and the Sierra Madre mountains.
Avoid visiting during Christmas, New Year's, and especially Spring Break as these are the most hectic travel periods for Cancun. If possible, avoid Mexico's hurricane season, which stretches from late-July to late-October.
TRAVEL ADVICE: IS CANCUN SAFE? If you're thinking about a vacation and wondering, “Is Cancun Safe?” … the short answer is: the Yucatán Peninsula, including Cancun, Tulum, and the Riviera, is the safest area of Mexico in 2023, according to the US State Department.
Given the fact that tropical storms like hurricanes have the potential to create major damage when they are forceful, they should always be taken seriously. Hurricane season, however, should not get in the way of a much-needed vacation in Mexico, particularly if you are considering a visit to Cancun.
June 2023 Update: Of course it's quite a diverse region, so the safety situation can vary in different areas. However in general the Riviera Maya remains one of the safest areas you can visit in Mexico.
Riviera Maya is a more relaxed and laid-back destination than Cancún, with fewer crowds and more nature. It is known for its gorgeous beaches, coral reefs, cenotes (natural swimming holes), and archaeological sites, such as the Mayan ruins of Tulum and Coba.
Another reason the best beaches in the Riviera Maya are so popular is the ocean temperature. The water temperature on this, the Caribbean side, is often 10F warmer than the Pacific side. Hence, swimming, snorkeling, diving, and water sports are fabulous all-year-round.
Hurricane Gilbert was the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin until it was surpassed by Hurricane Wilma in 2005, the other major hurricane to directly impact Cancun.
NOAA's update to the 2023 outlook — which covers the entire six-month hurricane season that ends on Nov. 30 — calls for 14-21 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater), of which 6-11 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater).Of those, 2-5 could become major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or greater).
In a dire scenario, a cruise ship could sink in a hurricane. But before you cancel all your future cruise plans, know this: it's highly unlikely. Cruise ships are built like fortresses. They boast stability, seaworthiness, and a bucket-load of safety features to help them ride out even the angriest storms.
26 hours before landfall: First signs of a hurricane appear including falling pressure, light breezes, ocean surface swells of 10-15 feet, and white cirrus clouds on the horizon. 24 hours before landfall: Overcast skies, high winds, sea foam on the ocean's surface.
Its pristine, white beaches, beautiful cenotes, archaeological sites, divers cuisine, restaurants, hotels, condos and resorts. Here are 10 reasons to visit the Riviera Maya, in the south of Cancun, from Puerto Morelos to Punta Allen, Sian Ka'an in the south of Tulum.