Playa Las Tortugas Weather
Sunny days in store for Playa Las Tortugas.
The winter weather pattern is solidly in place in Playa Las Tortugas. We have not received any rain at all for several months now as February marks the mid-point of the dry season. That means we’re seeing a lot of sun, low humidity, and high temps in the mid-80s, and nighttime lows are dipping into the 60s. Perfection!
This pattern will hold with a gradual warming trend through May. Most days will be sunny with just a few giving us high clouds.
Hawaii weather vs. Playa Las Tortugas
Just for fun, let’s compare the weather forecast for Playa Las Tortugas vs. Hawaii.
You can see the weather is very similar except for the wind. Playa Las Tortugas is at the same latitude as Hawaii but is not affected by the trade winds. It’s very pleasant!
Water temps are running at about 76° degrees, which is as cold as the water will get. From the Playa Las Tortugas surf forecast, we’re seeing a 2-3 ft south swell that should be fun in the mornings before the wind gets on it.
Live weather from our Playa Las Tortugas weather station:
Overview of Playa Las Tortugas weather.
Playa Las Tortugas is blessed with wonderful weather, thanks to its location at the same latitude as Hawaii. Playa Las Tortugas has two predictable seasons:
November thru May
Sunny Days
No Rain
Low Humidity
Warm Temperatures
Oh look, it’s 80 degrees and sunny again!
Winter and spring in Playa Las Tortugas are warm and sunny with virtually no rain and low humidity. This is perhaps some of the best weather in the world. In fact, 95% of the days during this time of year are completely sunny.
June thru October
Typically sunny days
Thunderstorms some evenings
High Humidity
Hot Temperatures
Welcome to the tropics!
Playa Las Tortugas is sunny, hot, and humid from June through October. Temperatures can reach into the 90s during the day and generally stay in the 70s at night. In the evening thunderstorms occur every few days or so.
The weather in Playa Las Tortugas is defined by the seasonal location of a dominant high pressure. It’s situated in the center of Mexico during the winter, which essentially blocks the weather and humid air from coming across the Sierra Madre from the Gulf of Mexico. Related to this high pressure is the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The ITCZ is essentially a belt of tropical storms. When it’s situated over Playa Las Tortugas in the summer it brings the chance for thunderstorms. When the ITCZ shifts to the south in the winter the precipitation ends as the high pressure moves back in.
Starting in June, the high pressure moves north towards the southwest United States. The ITCZ returns, and the door for the warm, humid Gulf air passing over the mountains and down to the Pacific side opens. So, while there are no “storm fronts” that hit Playa Las Tortugas in the summer, there is a chance for thunderstorms each evening. You can see the storm clouds gather each day to the east over the mountains. Sometimes they travel all the way to Playa Las Tortugas and sometimes they don’t.
We get the most visitors to Playa Las Tortugas from the December holidays through to Spring Break. The weather is delightful and predictable and overlaps with school vacation. La Villa Reyes books up quickly and prices are a bit higher, both for villas and flights. Even though this is the “high season” for resorts in other places it’s still exceptionally uncrowded and peaceful here.
Because the rains end in early Oct the forests you’ll drive through on the way in Playa Las Tortugas get progressively drier through May. At Playa Las Tortugas itself you’ll notice the gardens and palms remain lush, but in order to conserve water we all allow much of the grass to go dormant, so it turns brown. Not a big deal, but you should be aware. The upside is the dry weather scares away the mosquitos. There are no-see-ums (biting midges) here - in the morning and evening wear repellent or long pants.
The summers here are hot, but also a special time. It’s frequently 90 and very humid and sunny in the day. Late in the day and at night rainstorms come through and often put on a show out over the ocean. Everything turns a lush green and begins blooming. Yes, mosquitos do come out with the rains. Yes, the power and WiFi will occasionally go out. Yes, the road into Playa Las Tortugas can get flooded. But prices also drop during this time. It’s even more peaceful here, if you can believe it. For folks who relish tropical heat, this is a special time.
October and November are the secret shoulder season. Everything is still green and blooming, but the rains have passed. Few people visit during this time because it just doesn’t line up well with school vacations. Prices for villas and flights are down a bit and availability is easier. If you can make it work, make it happen!