Holiday Magic Meets the Sea in Riviera Maya
Thinking about spending December by the Caribbean. Warm days, cool nights, and a calendar that fills from the first weekend to the last toast at midnight. The coast from Cancun to Tulum turns into a month‑long mix of festivals, rooftop dinners, cenote ceremonies, and beach parties.
Plan with the whole month in mind. Early December brings destination music weekends. Mid‑month blends concerts with seasonal traditions. The final week builds toward New Year’s Eve with special menus and late‑night events across Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, and Tulum.
December at a Glance
Expect daytime highs near 82–84°F (28–29°C) and evenings around 69°F (20–21°C). It’s the start of the dry season in Cancun, so showers are usually brief. The sea stays warm at roughly 78–81°F (26–27°C), which makes snorkeling and boat days easy to plan.
Hurricane season ends in November, so December travel typically benefits from calmer conditions. Always check local forecasts, but the odds favor clear skies and smooth water.
Booking is competitive. Reserve tickets and private transportation the same week you confirm your room, especially for festival weekends and December 31.
Early December: Big Weekend on the Beach
Ember Shores
Dec 5–7, 2025 | Barceló Riviera Maya
ILLENIUM’s destination festival returns with pool stages and a three‑day beachfront production at Barceló. If you’re staying elsewhere before or after, line up transfers for each leg.
Mid‑December: Bluegrass by the Sea and an All‑Inclusive Rave
Strings & Sol
Dec 11–15, 2025 | Dreams Sapphire Resort, Puerto Morelos
A four‑night acoustic and bluegrass vacation on the sand. The 2025 run is set for mid‑December with shows at the resort and beach‑day gatherings.
Holy Ship! Wrecked
Dec 13–17, 2025 | Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
Four days of international DJs and themed parties at Hard Rock Riviera Maya. Dates for 2025 are set mid‑December.
Winter Solstice Weekend: Ceremonies and Sound
Awakin Fest
Dec 19–21, 2025 | Zenote Tulum & Bacalar
A solstice‑weekend gathering with live music, ceremonies, workshops, and an eco‑market at Zenote in Tulum, extending to Bacalar. It’s goal is to build a collective awareness, a bridge between cultures, generations, visions, and unifying the global community.
Christmas Eve on the Rooftops
Christmas Rooftop Celebration
Dec 24, 2025 | Thompson Playa del Carmen
A Christmas Eve dinner with live music and views from the Thompson rooftop in the center of town.
Fives Rooftop Christmas Dinner
Dec 24, 2025 | Playa del Carmen
A holiday menu with live music and open bar on a rooftop near the beach.
Traditions to Catch Between Events
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Dec 12
Across Mexico, December 12 honors Our Lady of Guadalupe with masses, music, and gatherings. It’s a meaningful day to visit downtown squares or churches.
Las Posadas
Dec 16–24
Evening processions re‑create Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging. You may see candlelit walks, music, and neighborhood celebrations throughout the week before Christmas.
New Year’s Eve on the Coast
Vesica Tulum: The Ritual of New Beginnings
Dec 31, 2025 | Vesica Cenote Club, Tulum
A cenote‑side night with a curated dinner, ritual elements, and a late‑night party in the jungle designed to honor endings and welcome new cycles in connection with the elements: fire, earth, water, and air.
Papaya Playa Project NYE
Dec 31, 2025 | Tulum
Ring in 2026 at Papaya Playa Project, where every detail is crafted to create an unforgettable night filled with music, culinary artistry, and meaningful connections. Live performances, multi-course dinner, crafted cocktails, and a countdown to end 2025 and welcome the new year.
New Year’s Eve Dinner at Taboo Cancun
Dec 31, 2025 | Hotel Zone, Cancun
A lagoon-front celebration featuring a four-course Mediterranean dinner, live performances, fireworks, and a midnight toast with Moët & Chandon. The event runs from 8:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m., offering one of the most elegant waterfront settings in Cancun for New Year’s Eve.
Getting Between Airports, Resorts, and Venues
December nights run late. Entrances in the Hotel Zone, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum can back up after shows and countdowns. Taxis grow scarce when venues empty at the same time. A reserved chauffeur keeps timing predictable, manages resort access, and handles late‑night pickups when demand peaks.
Black Luxury Service offers luxury sedans, limousines, SUVs, vans, and minibuses for airport arrivals, evening transfers, and hourly charters throughout December and New Year’s Eve. This works well if you are pairing Ember Shores with a second hotel stay, moving among mid‑month festivals, or splitting New Year’s between dinner and a beach party.
Pro Tip
If your December 31 plan includes both a dinner and a party, reserve hourly service. It prevents the post‑midnight scramble looking for transportation back to your resort or hotel.
December fills quickly across Cancun and the Riviera Maya. Book your airport pickup, holiday charter, or NYE transportation today at https://blackluxuryservice.com.mx.
