You can cruise to the Mexican Riviera year-round, but some would argue that the best time to cruise Mexico is during its dry season, November through May. However, it's a popular destination even during the more rainy summer months while kids are on school break, and the summer travel season is in full swing.

The ideal time to cruise the Mexican Riviera—which includes popular ports like Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlán—is generally between October and April. During these months, the region moves out of its humid, rainy summer season and into a period of dry, sunny days with comfortable temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to low 80s Fahrenheit. November and December are particularly favored because the ocean remains warm enough for swimming and snorkeling, but the air is crisp and clear. If you are interested in wildlife, January through March is the peak season for whale watching, as humpback and gray whales migrate to the warm lagoons of Baja California to calve. While cruises are often cheaper during the late summer (August and September), this is also the height of the Pacific hurricane season and can be uncomfortably hot and muggy. For the best balance of calm seas, pleasant weather, and active marine life, a spring cruise in March or April offers the most reliable conditions before the intense tropical heat of the summer returns to the Mexican coast.