Ohhh October. The start of my favorite season in Rocky Point.
The weather in Puerto Peñasco fluctuates from about 40 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the season. My favorite months are October to June. I especially like November to February, when it gets downright chilly at night, but warm enough for the beach in the day. In those months you also have a great chance of seeing dolphins or whales from the beach when they swim up the Sea of Cortez for warmer waters.
Here is the breakdown of the RP weather seasons:
Summer (Late June, July, August, September) is HOT; think 80 to 100 degrees with what feels like100% humidity. However, it is about 10 to 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix (if you live in Phoenix you’ll get that it can make a big difference). The plus side is you don’t need to pack much clothing, just a few swimsuits, shorts, tank tops, and flip flops. Seriously, it is HOT all the time. You will sweat the minute you walk out of your air-conditioned condo. We spend a lot of time in the pool, and many of the resorts have swim up pool bars. Restaurants at the resorts have air conditioning, as do many of the restaurants in town, but most of the open-air bars in the fish market do not. This does not deter the summer tourists and this is probably overall the busiest time of the year.
Spring (March, April, May, Early June) and Fall (October, November) can have temperature fluctuations from 40 at night to 80 in the day, so kind of like you’re in the Midwest. You may need jackets and pants at night and summer clothes in the day, and definitely pack your swimsuit. Spring features Spring Break, of course, and Semana Santo (Easter Week). Fall features Bike Week and usually a Roger Cline& the Peacemakers concert weekend in October. The pools might not be heated, but this is prime beach weather!
Winter (December, January, February) can be pretty chilly (ok chilly is relative, I’m from Arizona). Pack layers, long pants, long sleeves, and a light coat for early morning and nighttime; and for daytime, shorts or pants, tank top or short sleeves, with long sleeves layer over that, and maybe a sweatshirt in case you are starting early or ending late. Most of the resorts have at least one heated pool for the cooler months.
Beach Tips: If you are vacationing in the hotter months and on busier weekends you may want to invest in some beach umbrellas for shade. Palapas at the resorts are free, but they go fast. You can set up your own shade area with a canopy or umbrella anywhere you can find. This is especially good when the sand gets really hot, so you have a cool area for the kids or dogs, or you just don’t want those cervezas getting too warm! We also like to bring our own folding chairs to use at the beach and of course a cooler or two for cold beverages and snacks.
Last, but probably the most important weather tip: no matter what season, bring your sunscreen! It is sunny approximately 350 days per year and it very rarely rains.