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Best time to visit Oaxaca
Month-by-month weather, crowds, prices, and festival calendar — so you know exactly when to book.
Photo by ryan doyle on Unsplash
Best time to visit Oaxaca, Mexico
Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and seasonal highlights.
| Month | Score | Weather | Crowds | Prices | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18-28°C, dry and sunny with cool evenings. | moderate | moderate |
| |
| February | 19-29°C, consistently sunny and dry. | moderate | moderate |
| |
| March | 20-30°C, warm and sunny, increasing dryness. | moderate | moderate |
| |
| April | 22-31°C, warm and increasingly humid. | high | high |
⚠ Semana Santa crowds and prices can be very high. | |
| May | 23-32°C, hot and humid with increasing rain chances. | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Can be quite hot and humid before the rainy season fully sets in. | |
| June | 22-30°C, humid with frequent, heavy afternoon rains. | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Start of the rainy season; expect daily downpours that can disrupt plans. | |
| July | 21-29°C, humid with persistent afternoon thunderstorms. | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Heavy rains are common, particularly in the afternoons. | |
| August | 20-29°C, humid with significant rainfall. | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Peak of the rainy season; roads can be affected by landslides. | |
| September | 19-28°C, warm and humid with heavy rain. | low | low |
⚠ Oaxaca is in a hurricane-prone region; September is historically active. Heavy rains continue. | |
| October | 18-28°C, pleasant and increasingly dry. | moderate | moderate |
| |
| November | 18-28°C, dry, sunny, and mild. | high | high |
⚠ Día de Muertos is a major cultural event; book accommodations and flights well in advance. | |
| December | 17-27°C, dry and sunny with cool nights. | high | high |
⚠ Christmas season can bring high prices and crowds, especially closer to New Year's. |
Annual events worth timing your trip around
July
Guelaguetza
A vibrant celebration of Oaxacan culture with traditional music, dance, and performances from across the state.
April
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Solemn religious processions and cultural events leading up to Easter.
November
Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead)
A profound and colorful celebration honoring deceased loved ones with altars, marigolds, and cemetery visits.
July
Festival de la Guelaguetza
The main Guelaguetza event featuring performances by cultural groups from Oaxaca's eight regions.
December
Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes)
A unique Oaxacan tradition where artisans carve intricate scenes from oversized radishes.
Insider timing tips
- •The rainy season (June-September) brings lush landscapes but also significant daily downpours that can impact outdoor activities and road travel.
- •September is the riskiest month for hurricanes in Oaxaca, coinciding with heavy rainfall and potentially leading to travel disruptions.
- •While May and June can be hot and humid, they offer a shoulder season before the heaviest rains, with fewer crowds than peak periods.
- •The period immediately following major festivals like Día de Muertos (mid-November) and Christmas/New Year's (early January) offers a brief window of lower prices and crowds before the next surge.
- •Oaxaca's altitude means evenings can be cool even during the dry season; pack layers.
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