Americans have spoken: this winter, they’re flocking to the Caribbean, according to the latest TripAdvisor travel report.
The travel platform’s Winter Travel Index 2024-2025 revealed that four of the top five destinations U.S. travelers are choosing for winter season are located in this region.
In great news for Mexican hoteliers and others involved in the tourism industry, Cancun claimed the first spot, followed by Punta Cana, Cabo San Lucas and Playa del Carmen. Paris was the only non-Caribbean destination to make the top five.
Other popular winter getaways featured in this list include London, Puerto Vallarta, Aruba, San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Bavaro, (Dominican Republic).
Americans opting to stay domestic this winter will gravitate toward iconic destinations like New York, Las Vegas, Orlando, Honolulu, Key West (Florida), New Orleans, Anaheim, Chicago, Miami Beach and Sedona (Arizona).
The report draws its insights from a survey of 4,850 customers conducted early in the fall, combined with TripAdvisor’s platform traffic data.
Notably, 53 percent of respondents plan to spend more on travel this year, especially on “travel experiences.” Another striking finding is that many view travel as a “non-negotiable” expense, prioritizing it even amid other financial considerations.
All of this comes as welcome news for Cancun’s tourism industry, which has faced challenges from natural phenomena like the massive arrivals of sargassum. Additionally, the opening of Tulum’s international airport, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, has been diverting traffic from Cancun throughout 2024.
Back in September, we reported on the notorious decline in international arrivals at Cancun International Airport (CUN).
From January to August, this transportation hub welcomed an impressive 22.4 million passengers—numbers unmatched by any other country in Latin America. However, this still marked a concerning 5.5 percent drop in visitors compared to the same period last year.
This trend was largely driven by an important decline in American passengers, many of whom opted to fly to Tulum directly.
Back then, tourism industry experts attributed the drop in arrivals to several factors, including “accumulated fatigue among Americans who have visited Cancun for several years in a row.”
In addition, the rise of emerging destinations across the Caribbean and Europe has attracted travelers seeking new green lands.
It didn’t help either that a 12-year-old boy was murdered in Cancun, a tragic incident that received extensive media coverage in the United States and deterred a number of potential tourists.
To address this and other security concerns, the local government in October deployed 600 marines from SEMA to enhance tourist safety through land and sea patrols.
With their support, Governor Mara Lezama aims to tackle the “root causes of crime, consolidating the National Guard, strengthening intelligence and investigative capabilities, and enhancing coordination within the security cabinet alongside federal entities,” to guarantee the safety of both tourists and locals, stated Lezama.
Why You Should Visiting Cancun This Winter
Influenced by the stunning Caribbean Sea, Cancun offers some of its best weather during the winter months. Temperatures hover between 75°F and 85°F (24°C to 29°C) with low humidity, making it perfect to tan at the beach or engage in outdoor adventures.
Another perk is the minimal rainfall compared to summer, complemented by refreshing breeze from the sea that keeps the weather pleasantly comfortable.
With so many Americans flocking to Cancun this season, be sure to secure your flights and preferred accommodations as soon as possible, as the best hotels fill up fast.