Planning a trip to Oaxaca and wondering when is the best time to visit Oaxaca City? Here’s our insider tip including what to know during hurricane season in the area.
We travel to Oaxaca every day of the dead (October) and we’ve made some mistakes in the past about timing our travels there. Surely, Oaxaca is a destination you can travel all year round but please note that this city also experiences hurricane season.
Here is our take on the best time to visit Oaxaca including the best months, weather per month (high and low), and an intro to the seasons of Oaxaca.
Best time to visit Oaxaca: Helpful links
- One of the best local tours in Oaxaca, Mexico is to dive into their cuisine.
- Read this complete travel guide that contains all the possible ways to get to Oaxaca.
- If you are wondering what’s better between, then you can check this Oaxaca vs Mexico City: which one is better? article and find out what is more suited for the kind of traveler that you are.
- You can go on a road trip to Oaxaca! Read this 10 days Oaxaca road trip route to get some ideas about it.
- This is your chance to visit Hierve El Agua Oaxaca which reopened again after closing for 2.5 years
- If you are looking for a place to stay, we have this 10 Oaxaca City hostels that we love for you to check-in.
- Be adventurous and spend a day with a local family-owned mezcal distillery in Oaxaca.
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Everything you need to know about Oaxaca’s weather
Oaxaca in January is much cooler than the previous months. The rainy season just ended, and you will notice that the temperature is cooler than in the previous months.
Nighttime in Oaxaca around January is chilling, so you might want to wear another layer of clothing to stay warm during your night plans. But the temperature will not be as cold as snow winter weather, so light clothing is enough, you just need another layer or so.
Oaxaca’s daily average temperature ranges from 8 to 22 degrees Celsius with no rain shower forecast.
When is the best time to visit Oaxaca?
The best time to visit Oaxaca is from the end of October to late April. The last week of October is when the famous day of the dead (dia de los muertos) takes place and this is also the opening of the new season in Mexico.
From October 25th, you will still feel a little bit of summer heat but after a few days, it will get really cold. We usually joke about this day (around the 30th of October) as the day that the dead has arrived because the weather erratically changes.
Local Tip: Oaxaca refers to the state and the capital city, Oaxaca City. When researching for the best time to go to Oaxaca, make sure to use Oaxaca de Juarez or Oaxaca City to get accurate results.
Oaxaca weather forecast (month-by-month)
A quick overview of Oaxaca weather forecast by month. ⬇️ is the coldest/lowest temperature while ⬆️ is the hottest.
- January: ⬆️ 32°C (°F) | ⬇️ 18°C (64°F)
- February: ⬆️ 30°C (86°F) | ⬇️ 15°C (59°F)
- March: ⬆️ 30°C (86°F) | ⬇️ 21°C (70°F)
- April: ⬆️ 31°C (86°F) | ⬇️ 23°C (70°F)
- May: ⬆️ 30°C (86°F) | ⬇️ 23°C (70°F)
- June: ⬆️ 36°C (99°F) | ⬇️ 29°C (84°F)
- July: ⬆️ 39°C (102°F) | ⬇️ 25°C (77°F)
- August: ⬆️ 38°C (100°F) | ⬇️ 23°C (70°F)
- ☔ September: ⬆️ 33°C (91°F) | ⬇️ 29°C (84°F)
- ☔ October: ⬆️ 29°C (83°F) | ⬇️ 21°C (76°F)
- November: ⬆️ 29°C (84°F) | ⬇️ 20°C (68°F)
- December: ⬆️ 28°C (82°F) | ⬇️ 20°C (68°F)
Data by Accuweather Oaxaca City. Download this app as this will give you the most accurate Oaxaca weather forecast!
Best time to go to Oaxaca by season
High season: October 25 til mid-April
The high season in Oaxaca starts on October 25th towards the celebration of day of the dead. This is the opening of the high season all over Mexico when most holidays happen (i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day, and Spring Break).
Some still consider April, May, and July as high seasons but prices are relatively different when there aren’t major events in Oaxaca. This high season is also what we call the winter months in Oaxaca but it’s not the same type of winter that you are used to back home.
It will still be hot during the day so you can stick to your normal summer outfits. However, the evenings in Oaxaca from November to February can get really chilly so make sure to pack some sweaters! During the high season in Oaxaca, hotel and activity prices will double from the low season. Despite this, Oaxaca City is still one of the cheapest cities to travel to in Mexico.
When you are 100% sure to visit Oaxaca during the high season, make sure to book your accommodations 6 months in advance to get the best deals.
Low season
The low season in Oaxaca is from July to October when it is hot and humid. At this time of the year, many expats who are living in Mexico go back to their home countries (USA, Canada, and Europe) to enjoy the inviting summers in their countries.
The low season is also summer in Mexico and summer here means rain. The strongest hurricanes in Oaxaca are in the months of September and October, with scattered rain showers in August.
Summer prices are cheaper with an increase in July as this is the official month when all Mexicans travel around the country. This is the summer vacation for kids in Mexico so even though we locals avoid these crowds many families won’t!
Summers in Oaxaca are a combination of hot, humid, sticky, and sweaty but it is the best time to visit Oaxaca for cheaper costs.
Shoulder season
Shoulder seasons in Oaxaca fall in the months of April & May, mid-October, and the first week of December. Although it is not as empty as in the low season, it isn’t too crowded as well. During this time of the year, expect for hotel and tours prices to have discounted rates (up to 50% off).
Hurricane season in Oaxaca
Hurricane season in Oaxaca falls in September and October. Although it won’t be raining every day, there are a few days (to a week) when Oaxaca gets hit by major hurricanes. Our first trip to Oaxaca was actually in the months of August and September and we ended up staying in all week because we did not research the best time to visit Oaxaca beforehand.
If you don’t want to experience the same, make sure to time your visit to Oaxaca from October 25th to May 31st. This way, you can guarantee that you will get to experience the best Oaxaca weather.
Best time to visit Oaxaca FAQ
What is the rainy season in Oaxaca?
The rainy season in Oaxaca starts in August to October. This does not mean that it’s going to rain every day for the entire three months but expect heavy rains for 4 days in August. September and October are hurricane seasons in Oaxaca.
How many days do you need for Oaxaca?
The recommended minimum number of days to get to know Oaxaca City well is 5 days. We have a Oaxaca itinerary in this blog where you can customize 3, 5, 7, and up to 10 days of travel in Oaxaca. We can also customize an itinerary for you with our local tour guides on the ground – just get in touch!
What is the hottest month in Oaxaca?
The heat in Oaxaca starts to be visible by the end of May. June and July are the hottest months in Oaxaca with temperatures up to 36°C (99°F) and 29°C (84°F).
Helpful Oaxaca Travel Resources
