Cancún vs Punta Cana: which is sunnier?
🇲🇽 Mexico vs 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic · 1,955 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Cancún and Punta Cana are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,850 vs 2,882 hours a year. Punta Cana has the higher Sunshine Score in 10 of 12 months; the other 2 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
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At a glance
| Cancún | Punta Cana | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,850 | 2,882 |
| Sunniest month | March (89/100) | February (91/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 74/100 | 86/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,251 mm | 650 mm |
| Warmest sea | 30°C / 86°F | 30°C / 86°F |
| Peak midday UV | 11 (extreme) | 11 (extreme) |
Cancún vs Punta Cana month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancún | Punta Cana | Cancún | Punta Cana | Cancún | Punta Cana | Cancún | Punta Cana | |
| January | 84 | 89 | 26° | 26° | 63 | 38 | 27° | 28° |
| February | 86 | 91 | 27° | 26° | 51 | 26 | 27° | 27° |
| March | 89 | 91 | 28° | 26° | 38 | 26 | 28° | 27° |
| April | 88 | 88 | 29° | 27° | 41 | 46 | 28° | 28° |
| May | 79 | 82 | 30° | 27° | 92 | 75 | 29° | 29° |
| June | 68 | 87 | 29° | 28° | 181 | 50 | 30° | 29° |
| July | 80 | 86 | 30° | 29° | 89 | 55 | 30° | 30° |
| August | 75 | 84 | 30° | 29° | 114 | 67 | 30° | 30° |
| September | 68 | 82 | 30° | 29° | 166 | 74 | 30° | 30° |
| October | 68 | 84 | 29° | 29° | 224 | 68 | 29° | 30° |
| November | 73 | 82 | 27° | 28° | 124 | 79 | 29° | 29° |
| December | 83 | 88 | 27° | 27° | 68 | 46 | 27° | 28° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Punta Cana · Feb Punta Cana · Mar even · Apr even · May Punta Cana · Jun Punta Cana · Jul Punta Cana · Aug Punta Cana · Sep Punta Cana · Oct Punta Cana · Nov Punta Cana · Dec Punta Cana.
When to pick which
- November–February: Punta Cana (average score 88/100 vs 82). Daytime highs are similar (27°C vs 27°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Cancún averages 85/100, Punta Cana 87/100. Cancún is the warmer, around 29°C daytime highs vs 27°C.
- June–August: Punta Cana (average score 86/100 vs 74). Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 29°C).
- September–October: Punta Cana (average score 83/100 vs 68). Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 29°C).
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 30°C / 86°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Cancún all year, Punta Cana all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Cancún weather by month · Punta Cana weather by month · Best time to visit Mexico · Best time to visit Dominican Republic.
More comparisons: Cancún vs Mérida · Cancún vs Cozumel · Cancún vs Tulum · Punta Cana vs San Juan · Punta Cana vs Santo Domingo · Punta Cana vs Puerto Plata · all head-to-heads