Cancun attracts most of its visitors during the high season, from mid-December to the end of April, when temperatures are comfortable and humidity is low. During the winter holiday season of December and January, the hotels are packed with families and couples. March heralds a different crowd, and with it, a different vibe. High school and college spring breakers take over the island, kicking off a two-month frenzy that transforms this 16-mile strip of land into a non-stop party. Bars burst with 18-21 year olds sporting neon allyou- can-drink wristbands and dozens of multi-level clubs pump techno, pop, and hip hop music (and sometimes foam), onto the dance floors. If you are looking for a romantic vacation or a quiet getaway, avoid traveling to Cancun during the college coup, or plan to stay in a hotel geared to families and couples.

The low season runs from May to mid-December. Summer months are hot and humid, with temperatures averaging in the high 80s on the coast and high 90s inland. Mexicans take advantage of the dearth of U.S. tourists, and again, the atmosphere changes. Beaches, hotels, and restaurants are still quite crowded, and bars continue to fill up with graduating high school and college kids, but most of the visitors come from other areas of Mexico. August to October is hurricane season, with September historically carrying the highest probability of a storm. While unfavorable conditions are most likely during these months, Cancun can go several years without being directly hit by a hurricane. And, though weather is unpredictable, the payoff is that prices are lower and restaurants and hotels are comparatively vacant. In these months, it is decidedly easier to find a deserted strip of sand, or sip a cuba libre (rum and coke) in peace. Affordable deals and low occupancy also make this an opportune time to plan a last-minute vacation.