A New Time Zone for Yucatán?

The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) has thrown its support behind a proposal to pair Quintana Roo’s time zone with Yucatán’s. The initiative, currently under review by the State Congress after submission to the Energy Ministry, would move the clock forward one hour to Eastern Standard Time.

It would also bring Cancún International Airport into a common time zone with the state of Yucatán. Fewer missed flights would certainly follow. But Yucatán would be out of sync with other destinations in Mexico, like Mexico City and Monterrey.

The rationale is compelling: Longer afternoons would maximize solar panel production and reduce energy consumption. For a region where the sun sets around 6 p.m. during winter months, an extra hour of daylight could mean significant savings on electricity bills and a boost to renewable energy generation across the Peninsula.

Mexico’s Complex Time Zone History

To understand why this proposal matters, you need to appreciate Mexico’s intricate relationship with time. When President Álvaro Obregón first standardized time in 1922, he established just two zones: most of the country followed 105°W (7 hours behind GMT), while the southeastern states — including Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and what would become Quintana Roo — operated on 90°W (6 hours behind GMT).

Since then, Mexico’s time zones have shifted like tectonic plates. In December 1981, for commercial and tourism reasons, the states of Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo were changed to time zone 75°W (UTC−05:00). Campeche and Yucatán returned to 90°W (UTC−06:00) in November 1982, and Quintana Roo did so in January 1983.

But Quintana Roo wasn’t finished with its temporal experiments. On Feb. 1, 2015, Quintana Roo officially adopted a new time zone, Southeastern, which is five hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC−05:00). The move was driven by tourism economics: Allowing tourists in areas such as Cancún, Cozumel, and Playa del Carmen to spend more time (and money) at beaches, restaurants, historic sites, and other venues. Reducing electricity usage by hotels, restaurants, and other facilities.

The change worked. Quintana Roo’s Southeast Time Zone put Cancún in sync with the U.S. East Coast during winter months and with central Mexico during summer, creating a natural bridge for international tourism while reducing energy costs.

The Practical Implications

The time zone shift would create both opportunities and adjustments. Currently, when planning a day trip from Mérida to Chichen Itza and then to Cancún, travelers must navigate the one-hour difference between Yucatán (Central Time) and Quintana Roo (Eastern Time). Cancun, located in the state of Quintana Roo, operates on Eastern Standard Time (EST), while Chichen Itza, situated in the Yucatan state, follows Central Standard Time (CST). This one-hour time difference can be used to your advantage when scheduling your visit.

If Yucatán adopts the proposed change, tour operators wouldn’t need to account for the time difference, and business coordination across the Peninsula would become seamless.

Looking Forward

The proposal reflects a broader trend in Mexico toward practical time zone management. As a result of the October 2022 order from the Mexican government, Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the United Mexican States will not be observed in 2023 calendar year. Most of Mexico abandoned the biannual clock changes, prioritizing consistency over the marginal benefits of seasonal time shifts.

For Yucatecos, the question isn’t just about synchronizing with Quintana Roo — it’s about embracing a more efficient relationship with daylight. Longer afternoons could mean extended business hours for solar-powered establishments, reduced electricity costs for residents, and a tourism industry better aligned with visitor expectations.

The State Congress now holds the decision in its hands. If approved, Yucatán would join its peninsular neighbor in the Southeast Time Zone, creating a unified temporal landscape from Mérida to Tulum. For a region that has always marched to its own rhythm, this might be the perfect time to change the beat.

What’s your take on the proposal? Would you welcome longer afternoons in exchange for darker mornings? Share your thoughts as Yucatán considers this significant shift in how the state experiences time.