How hot is Cancun in September?

Cancun averages 32C daytime highs in September with a sea temperature around 29C.

Head-to-head on a budget

Cancun or Puerto Vallarta in September on a budget?

Budget travellers score Cancun 8.8 out of 10 in September against 7.3 for Puerto Vallarta, mainly on beaches and families.

The number that matters is the all-in cost: flights, room, food, drinks and the two or three things you actually want to do.

Quick verdict

Cancun for beaches, families, things to do. Puerto Vallarta for charming old town.

Cancun, Mexico

8.8/10

32C days, 29C sea, 210mm rain

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

7.3/10

32C days, 340mm rain

Rated on a budget

Out of five on each criterion. Highlighted rows are the ones that matter most to you.

Cancun and Puerto Vallarta rated out of five on each criterion
What matters	Cancun	Puerto Vallarta
NightlifeBars, clubs and late-night energy
BeachesSand quality, water clarity and swimming
Food sceneRange, quality and local character
FamiliesKid-friendly resorts, pools and day trips
RomanceCouples, honeymoons and adults-only stays
Things to doExcursions, culture and day trips
All-inclusiveChoice and value of all-inclusive resorts
Value for moneyWhat a typical day actually costs
Easy and safeComfort for first-time visitors
Exploring soloHow easy it is to get out on your own
Flight accessDirect routes and flight time from North America

Side by side in September

Cancun compared with Puerto Vallarta
Factor	Cancun	Puerto Vallarta
Daytime high	32C	32C
Rainfall	210mm	340mm
Sea temperature	29C, swimmable	Varies by season
Beach quality	Wide white sand, calm Caribbean	3 out of 5
Getting there	under 5 hours from most of North America	3h 30m from Los Angeles
Typical cost	Cheapest window of the year. The same resort can cost half its January rate.	Mid range
Between beach days	Chichen Itza, Tulum, cenotes, Isla Mujeres, reef snorkelling	Charming old town, Great for West Coast flyers

What is on in Cancun in September

Mexican Independence Day on 15 and 16 September, the biggest party of the year
Cheapest month in Cancun by a wide margin
Hurricane season peak, so buy flexible rates

Crowds. One of the quietest months. Ruins, cenotes and beach clubs feel almost private.

Prices. Cheapest window of the year. The same resort can cost half its January rate.

Seaweed. Sargassum can appear on some east-facing beaches. Isla Mujeres north beach and the cenotes are the reliable backup.

Storms. This is the statistical peak of hurricane season. Book refundable rates and travel cover, then enjoy the lowest prices of the year.

Dated plans and community meetups are listed on the Cancun events calendar.

Book Cancun for September

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Where Puerto Vallarta genuinely wins

Charming old town
Great for West Coast flyers
Excellent food

Pick Puerto Vallarta if charming old town is the single thing you care most about on this trip.

What catches people out

Pacific water is darker and cooler
Heavy summer rain
Fewer archaeological sites

The Cancun edge

Cancun has warmer, clearer Caribbean water year round plus Chichen Itza, Tulum and the cenote network.

Cancun is the rare beach destination that also works as a base. The airport is one of the busiest in Latin America, the transfer to your hotel takes twenty minutes, and within two hours you can be swimming in a cenote, climbing a Mayan pyramid, snorkelling the second largest reef on the planet, or eating cochinita pibil in a downtown market for the price of a coffee elsewhere. That combination is why we keep building these comparisons and keep reaching the same conclusion.

Cancun wins for you? Start here.

Compare hotelsAll-inclusive, adults-only and boutique Explore activitiesRuins, cenotes, reef and boat days Find your areaHotel Zone, downtown or Isla Mujeres Build your tripFree day-by-day planner

Cancun or Puerto Vallarta for your kind of trip

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