Long weekends in Tulum: which US holidays work and how to plan 3-4 nights

The short answer: between October 2026 and December 2027 the US federal calendar gives you eleven three-day weekends, plus Thanksgiving and Veterans Day 2027 that stretch to four days if you get the Friday off, and the best ones for Tulum's weather and sea are Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 16-18, 2027) and Presidents' Day (February 13-15, 2027), right in the dry season and the lowest-sargassum window. Thanksgiving (November 26-29, 2026) is a solid four-day option. We write this from downtown Tulum, where we rent the Hacienda Tuk apartment, using the official federal holiday dates and the weather data from our month-by-month guides.

US federal holidays 2026-2027 and the long weekends they create

Source: US Office of Personnel Management, Federal Holidays 2026 and 2027 (opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays/), checked October 8, 2026. Federal holidays apply to federal employees; private employers set their own days off. The long-weekend ranges are our own calendar math.

What a long weekend costs at the apartment

Hacienda Tuk's reference rate is 88 USD per night, the rate published on its Vrbo listing and checked on September 27, 2026. At that rate the lodging math looks like this (a simple multiplication, not a market average):

• 3-night long weekend: 3 × 88 = 264 USD.
• 4-night Thanksgiving weekend: 4 × 88 = 352 USD.
• Split between 6 guests, 4 nights come to under 59 USD per person.

It's a 2-bedroom apartment for up to 6 guests plus 1 baby, with a shared pool and rooftop, in downtown Tulum. Christmas, New Year's and Easter rates can differ: the calendar shows the estimate for your dates and the host confirms the exact rate. All the details, photos and reviews are on the downtown Tulum apartment page.

Check dates on the calendar

Which long weekends work best for Tulum

Thanksgiving: November 26-29, 2026

November starts with the tail of the rainy season and ends dry: the chance of a rainy day drops from about 37% on the 1st to about 22% on the 30th, with 29 °C highs and the sea at 28 °C. It gets dark early, around 6:15 p.m., and the first nortes can churn up the sea for a day or two. 2026 was a record sargassum year, so check recent beach reports before picking a beach. More in Tulum in November. Check Thanksgiving dates

Christmas and New Year's: December 25-27, 2026 and January 1-3, 2027

The best weather of the year: 28 °C highs, 23 °C lows, little rain and the sea at 27-28 °C. It's also peak season: from December 18 on, many places require minimum stays and full prepayment, tours and cenotes fill up from December 26 to January 2, and several restaurants in town close on the 24th and 25th. If you're only starting to look in October, check dates soon. Everything in Tulum in December and Tulum in January. Check Christmas and New Year's dates

MLK Day and Presidents' Day: January 16-18 and February 13-15, 2027

Our top picks. January and February bring 28-30 °C highs, cool early mornings, about one day in five with some rain, and the sea at 27 °C. November through March is the lowest-sargassum window, though nortes can still blow through until February. Mexico's own long weekends fall on January 30 to February 1 and March 13-15, 2027, when Mexican families travel too. More in Tulum in January and Tulum in February. Check January and February dates

Memorial Day, Juneteenth and July 4th: May 29 to July 5, 2027

Honest version: this is hot, humid and less predictable. Highs reach 32-33 °C, it rains on four or more days in ten by June and July, sargassum is usually worst from April or May through August, and hurricane season starts June 1. Cenotes stay at 24-26 °C all year and make the best plan B. Details in Tulum in May, June and July. Check summer dates

Labor Day and Columbus Day: September 4-6 and October 9-11, 2027

Low season, easy availability, and the trade-off is weather: the hurricane season peaks around September 10, September has rain on more than half its days, and October is statistically the wettest month, though it comes as afternoon downpours with about 8 hours of sun a day. Read Tulum in September and Tulum in October before booking, and choose flexible cancellation.

How to plan 3-4 nights

Downtown Tulum is about 30 minutes from Tulum airport (TQO) and about 1 hour 45 minutes from Cancún, so on a short trip the Tulum airport saves you most of an afternoon. From the apartment you walk to Avenida Tulum, the ruins are about 10 minutes by bike and the beach about 10 minutes by taxi. For a day-by-day plan, use our 3, 5 and 7-day Tulum itinerary, which also has a 2-night weekend version.

Check dates for your long weekend

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the US federal holidays in 2027?

According to opm.gov: New Year's Day (Fri Jan 1), MLK Day (Mon Jan 18), Washington's Birthday (Mon Feb 15), Memorial Day (Mon May 31), Juneteenth (Fri Jun 18), Independence Day (Mon Jul 5, observed), Labor Day (Mon Sep 6), Columbus Day (Mon Oct 11), Veterans Day (Thu Nov 11), Thanksgiving (Thu Nov 25) and Christmas Day (Fri Dec 24, observed).

Is Thanksgiving a good time to visit Tulum?

Yes, with caveats. By late November the rains are fading (about a 22% chance of a rainy day at month's end), highs are around 29 °C and the sea is 28 °C, but it gets dark around 6:15 p.m. and the first nortes can make the sea rough for a day or two.

How much does a long weekend at Hacienda Tuk cost?

At the 88 USD per night reference rate (Vrbo listing, checked September 27, 2026), 3 nights come to 264 USD and 4 nights to 352 USD for the whole 2-bedroom apartment, sleeping up to 6 guests plus 1 baby. Holiday rates can differ and the host confirms the exact rate for your dates.

Is the July 4th weekend a good time for Tulum?

It's workable but not ideal: early July means highs around 32 °C, rain on roughly four days in ten, and the heart of the sargassum season. Plan cenotes for swimming and keep the beach flexible.