by Annie Eitman

Created on: July 17, 2008   Last Updated: July 21, 2008

The best part about Cancun is that any time of year is a breeze. If you're thinking of going offseason to Cancun, the weather can be a smidge daunting but not excessively so. Perched at the tip of the Yucatan peninsula, its weather is moderated by the warm winds and water of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

Rain and wind can dampen the fall, and even once in a while a hurricane can hit. Most tourist guides won't advertise this issue, choosing instead to focus on the sunny side. However, when you consider the odds, knowledge in this case is quite comforting. In 2005, Cancun was hit by Hurricane Wilma, with 130 mph gusts and 36 hours of heavy rain. Prior to Wilma, the last big hurricane to hit Cancun was Roxanne in 1995, then Gilbert in 1988. In other words, just under every ten years, a big storm comes through. For a resort destination, that's incredibly low. Historically speaking, you can expect at least six more years of sunshine before another big gust blows through. That indicates there's a pretty good probability your vacation will be worry-free.

Cancun boasts on average more sunny days per year (240) than any other Caribbean resort. So if you like to play the odds, this is your place in the sun.

The biggest thing in your suitcase, besides your souvenirs of course, will be a light jacket for the evenings, when the air might chill down into the upper 50's. Temperatures in Cancun average around 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25.5 degrees Celsius), warming as you leave the coast.

If you want to explore inland, I would not suggest visiting in the spring, since temperatures away from the coast can easily reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the humidity of a tropical rainforest and you will be sticky! That's easily remedied by heading back to any of the marvelous beaches in the area to cool off.

Most people visit during the winter, when the weather back home is frozen over, and midsummer, when the weather back home has defrosted and is now roasting. Hotels can also be busy during March, when Spring Break releases swarms of college students upon the hotspots of the world. That said, when you visit depends more upon how you prefer your vacations - bustling or relaxed. The weather's just along for the ride.

As travel destinations go, Cancun is one of the most temperate choices you can make. You are very nearly guaranteed sunny skies and silky beaches any time of year. Oblivious to a calendar, sand and sun await you. What are you waiting for? Leave your raincloud at home and come visit!

Learn more about this author, Annie Eitman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.