The Mexico Guides

Mexico in March: Spring Break, Whale Sharks, and the End of Dry Season

· 2 min read Practical
Tulum beach in March

Contents

  1. Spring break crowds
  2. Weather
  3. Air quality in Mexico City
  4. Wildlife
  5. Semana Santa (dates vary: late March–April)
  6. What to do in March

March marks the end of Mexico’s peak dry season. The weather is at its best across the Caribbean, but spring break brings significant crowds and price spikes to the main resort areas.

Spring break crowds

Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum receive very large spring break groups from US colleges throughout March. The Hotel Zone in Cancún can be boisterous during this period. If you’re not looking for this atmosphere, March requires choosing your base carefully — or avoiding the main Riviera Maya resorts entirely.

Alternatives for March: Oaxaca, Mexico City, Mérida, and the Pacific coast (Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos) see far less spring break impact. Bacalar and Holbox are also good alternatives.

Weather

Dry season continues: the Riviera Maya is warm (28–31°C), sunny, and very low rainfall. The Pacific coast is similar. Mexico City and the central highlands are dry and warm (22–26°C). Humidity starts building in some coastal areas toward the end of the month.

Air quality in Mexico City

March–April can see the worst air quality in Mexico City — temperature inversions trap pollution over the valley. The IMECA index (check online) monitors levels; visibility from viewpoints can be poor on bad days. Outdoor exercise is sometimes inadvisable.

Wildlife

Whale sharks begin arriving off Holbox and the northern tip of the Yucatán in small numbers from late March. The full aggregation peaks July–August, but early arrivals make tours possible by the end of the month.

Grey whales are still present in Baja California lagoons (Scammon’s, San Ignacio) through early March. The season typically ends by mid-March.

Semana Santa (dates vary: late March–April)

If Easter falls early, Semana Santa processions and events begin in March. The week before Easter Sunday is one of the most significant periods in the Mexican calendar — beaches are busy, flights are expensive, and colonial cities fill with elaborate religious processions. Book accommodation very early if travelling during Semana Santa.

What to do in March

Best for dry season Caribbean: go before the spring break peak (first two weeks of March) or accept the crowds in exchange for reliably excellent weather.

Best alternative: Oaxaca in March is excellent — craft villages accessible, Hierve el Agua manageable before the heat, and the city at its most comfortable.