Explore Cancun, Mexico

Cheapest Time to Fly to Cancun (and the Most Expensive)

The cheapest time to fly to Cancun is usually late spring and early fall—while winter holiday weeks and spring break are the priciest.

Flights to Cancun can swing a lot through the year—mostly because it’s a classic “quick getaway” destination. When school is out, winter hits, or spring break rolls around, airfare jumps fast.

If you can travel during the calmer stretches—especially late spring and early fall—you’ll usually have much better odds of catching a cheaper flight.

Quick Take

Cheapest time to fly to Cancun: late April–May, September, early October, and early December
Most expensive time to fly to Cancun: late December–early January, February–March (winter peak), spring break weeks (March), and Thanksgiving week

Cheapest Time to Fly to Cancun

The cheapest flights to Cancun usually show up when fewer people are booking beach trips, airlines have more seats to fill, and you’re outside the big school-break travel windows.

Late April to May (Post–Spring Break Drop)

Once spring break demand fades, airfare often cools off. This can be one of the best windows for cheaper flights—especially if you’re not locked into weekend travel.

Money-saving tip: Try Tuesday–Thursday departures if you can.
Exception: Late May can rise if it overlaps Memorial Day weekend.

September (Off-Peak Value)

September is often one of the most deal-friendly months for Cancun flights. Demand is usually lower after summer travel ends, so airlines discount more often.

Money-saving tip: Compare flight times—early morning departures and late returns sometimes price lower.
Exception: Weather-related disruptions can happen in this season, so avoid super-tight layovers if your schedule is tight.

Early October (Shoulder Season Sweet Spot)

Early October can keep the deal momentum going—often with better pricing odds than November and December.

Money-saving tip: If you can fly midweek and avoid weekend-heavy dates, you’ll usually see better fare options.
Exception: Prices can climb around Columbus Day weekend.

Early December (Pre-Holiday Lull)

Early December is a great “calm before the storm” window. You can often find noticeably better fares than later in the month when holiday travel kicks in.

Money-saving tip: Lock in your return early—late-December returns are where pricing tends to bite.
Exception: Once school breaks begin, fares can jump fast.

Most Expensive Time to Fly to Cancun

High Cancun fares usually come from one simple pattern—people traveling at the same time for the same reason: winter sun and school breaks.

Late December to Early January (Holiday Rush)

Christmas and New Year are usually the biggest price spikes. Flights fill quickly, and even “bad” itineraries can stay expensive.

Peak within peak: Late-December departures and early-January returns.

February to March (Winter Peak)

This is peak “escape the cold” season. Demand stays high, and fares don’t have to drop much to sell.

Peak within peak: Long weekends and Friday-to-Sunday trips.

March (Spring Break Weeks)

Spring break weeks can spike prices hard—especially if you’re flying out on a Friday and coming back on a Sunday.

Peak within peak: The busiest spring break weeks vary by year, but mid-March is often rough.

Thanksgiving Week

Thanksgiving week often prices high because travelers are locked into specific days and shorter trips.

Peak within peak: Departures the weekend before Thanksgiving and returns the Sunday after.

On a Budget But Want Good Weather in Cancun?

If you want comfortable beach weather without peak-season airfare, these windows are usually your best bet:

Late April to May: Warm water and sunny days, with better deal odds than winter peak
Early November: Good weather and often calmer pricing than late December
Early December: Great timing before holiday travel pushes fares up

Best Booking Window for Cheap Flights to Cancun

Cancun deals pop up often, but the best prices can disappear quickly—especially for nonstop flights.

Low/shoulder seasons: start tracking 1–3 months ahead
Popular seasons: start tracking 2–5+ months ahead

Extra tip: If you live within driving distance of more than one airport, price-check them all. Cancun is one of those routes where a nearby departure airport can save you a lot.

Seasonal Flight Demand Chart for Cancun

Use this chart as a quick guide to the cheapest vs. priciest months to fly.

Month	Demand Level	Price Level	Notes
Jan	High	High	Winter peak continues after New Year
Feb	High	High	Peak “escape the cold” season
Mar	High	High	Spring break weeks can spike hard
Apr	Medium	Medium	Early month can stay high, then prices drop
May	Medium → Low	Medium → Low	Often one of the better value windows
Jun	Medium	Medium	Summer travel starts building
Jul	Medium → High	Medium → High	Summer demand increases
Aug	Medium	Medium	Steadier pricing than winter peak
Sep	Low	Low	Often the best deal month
Oct	Low → Medium	Low → Medium	Early month deal-friendly, holiday weekends can rise
Nov	Medium	Medium	Thanksgiving week spikes
Dec	Medium → Very High	Medium → Very High	Early deals, then holiday surge later in the month