Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean have hit new records for arrivals in the month of September, as travel to Mexico shows no signs of slowing down towards the end of the year. The region, with its miles of pristine coastline, authentic local culture, and thriving nightlife and leisure options, has long since been a firm favorite for travelers from not only the United States and Canada, but around the world too – and the most recent arrivals figures now suggest that it is more popular than ever before.
With winter also expected to bring large crowds flocking to the Mexican Caribbean, the country remains the perfect blueprint of how to bounce back from the pandemic for other countries around the world to follow. Here’s a look at how the Mexican Caribbean set these new records, why the next few months are a great time to visit the region, and why so many travelers keep heading to this little slice of heaven in Mexico.
Record Mexican Caribbean Arrivals – Information For Travelers
For many years now, the Mexican Caribbean has become notorious for its sunny weather, with gorgeous beaches and a perfect, swimmable ocean. From the lively streets of Cancun to sleepier seaside towns such as Tulum – not to mention the much-vaunted delights of places like Playa Del Carmen and the stunning island Isla Mujeres – this gorgeous stretch of coastline offers something for every traveler, regardless of their plans, their preferences, and their budgets.
Whatever it is that’s drawing travelers to the region, it’s clear that they simply can’t get enough of it. Last month marked the first time that the Mexican Caribbean welcomed more than 1 million travelers in September – including from before the pandemic. Not only is this a great achievement in itself, but even more so considering September is traditionally seen as the peak month of the region’s low season, with this year’s September figures some 350,000 more than was seen before the pandemic in 2019.
Of course, American travelers will make up the bulk of the arrivals to the Mexican Caribbean, given the close proximity between the two places, the historical preferences of American travelers, and a wide range of cheap, non-stop, short flights to the region. Airlines and airports all over the United States fly to Cancun, with dozens of direct flights available and several flights per day available from the likes of Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, and New York JFK airport.
However, it also seems that globally, the cat is out of the bag. September’s 1.2 million arrivals came on 7,100 flights to Cancun, Cozumel, and Chetumal airports in the region, originating from 101 cities in 25 countries around the world – making the Mexican Caribbean truly a leading international destination for travelers. A growing number of European cities now offer direct flights to Cancun – including London, Paris, Rome, Lisbon, and Frankfurt – making visiting the restriction-free city more appealing and easier than many others.
Whilst Cancun is the busiest hub in the region, Cozumel is another area that’s seen impressive growth recently. Last month, the island – which is located to the south of Cancun and east of Playa Del Carmen – saw an 85% growth in the number of arrivals compared to September 2019. Traditionally popular with divers and cruise tours, Cozumel has quietly emerged as a leading destination in Mexico in its own right and has been rewarded with more direct flights from U.S. and Canadian airlines as a result.
As the cold weather is starting to set in across North America, now is the perfect time to book flights to the Mexican Caribbean. With temperatures typically in their high 70s/early 80s in November, it’s the perfect winter warmer destination – made all the sweeter now that the sargassum season is coming to an end, meaning travelers won’t have to worry about the stinky seaweed ruining their time on the beach.
