Best time to visit Mexico
You can travel well in Mexico all year round. However, the best travel time for Mexico depends on which place you want to visit and what you would like to see.
In brief:
- Dry season: from November through April
- Rainy season: from May to October
However, the rainy season does not mean that you cannot travel to Mexico during this time. In fact, the showers only last a short time.
All the information you need about the best time to visit Mexico at a glance
- You can visit Mexico all year round;
- Dry season: from November to April inclusive;
- Rainy season: from May to October, when it is humid and warm;
- Mexico has two climate zones, ranging from a temperate climate to arid deserts and dense jungle, with everything in between.
- The coastal regions and areas up to 750 metres have a warm climate;
- The higher-altitude areas have a temperate climate.
Mexico City
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. temperature ˚C | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 23 | 22 |
| Max. temperature ˚C | 22 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
Mexico City is situated on the Mexican Plateau in the centre of Mexico at an altitude of 2,240 metres above sea level. The city’s high altitude influences its climate.
Mexico City and the surrounding area enjoy a temperate climate with mild temperatures throughout the year. The rainy season in Mexico City runs from May to October: heavy downpours can occur, particularly in the afternoon and evening. During the dry season (November to April), rain showers are rare.
Yucatan and Quintana Roo
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. temperature ˚C | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 19 |
| Max. temperature ˚C | 28 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 29 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Yucatan and Quintana Roo are situated on the Yucatan Peninsula in south-eastern Mexico and have a tropical climate with two seasons: the dry season from November to May and the rainy season from June to October. During the rainy season, heavy but relatively short showers can occur in the afternoon and evening. The weather in Yucatán can be affected by tropical storms and hurricanes during the hurricane season (June to November).
Oaxaca
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. temperature ˚C | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Max. temperature ˚C | 26 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
Oaxaca is situated in the south of Mexico and generally has a temperate climate. Temperatures vary depending on the altitude of specific areas. Oaxaca has two seasons: the dry season from November to May and the rainy season from June to October. Most rainfall occurs during the summer months.
Chiapas – Palenque
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. temperature ˚C | 19 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 20 |
| Max. temperature ˚C | 27 | 30 | 32 | 35 | 36 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 29 | 29 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
Chiapas is situated in the southern part of Mexico and has a predominantly tropical climate that is usually warm and humid. During the dry season, from November to April, there is less rainfall and temperatures are slightly cooler. The rainy season runs from May to October and is characterised by frequent showers in the afternoons and evenings.
Baja California
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. temperature (˚C) | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 12 |
| Max. temperature (˚C) | 25 | 26 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 27 |
| Number of hours of sunshine (per day) | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Baja California is situated in the north-western part of Mexico and has a dry, desert-like climate with hot summers and mild winters. There is hardly any rainfall, but when it does fall, it is often during the winter months.
Best time to visit Mexico for wildlife spotting
The best time for wildlife spotting in Mexico is between November and March. The migration of the monarch butterfly to Mexico takes place every year during these months and makes for a spectacular sight. During the same period, you can spot the impressive grey whales in the waters of Magdalena Bay on the eastern coast of Baja California, where they gather at this time of year. You can also see giant tortoises and schools of dolphins near the nearby island of Espíritu Santo.
The best time to visit Mexico when travelling with children
Mexico is a wonderful country to explore with children. And because the climate is pleasant all year round, a trip with children is possible during any school holidays. Why not visit the Chiapas region, for example, and learn about the many customs dating back to the time of the Maya? The Dicke family have already been there. Curious to find out what they thought of travelling in Mexico with their children? Read about it here.
Time difference between Mexico and the Netherlands/Belgium
Mexico has four time zones:
- Central Time is used in most of Mexico. The time difference with the Netherlands/Belgium is 7 hours (8 hours during our summer time). This includes Mexico City, amongst other places.
- In the north-western states of Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit and the southern part of Baja California, there is a time difference of 8 hours (9 hours during our summer time). This is known as Hora Montaña.
- The north of Baja California uses Hora del Pacífico. It is always 9 hours earlier here than in the Netherlands/Belgium. This is because this area also observes summer time.
- The final time zone is Eastern Time in Quintana Roo. Here, it is 6 hours earlier than Dutch/Belgian winter time (7 hours earlier during summer time).
For the current time, visit: www.timeanddate.com/worldclock. Bear in mind the possibility of jet lag when flying back to the Netherlands.
How long is the flight to Mexico?
The flight time from Amsterdam to Mexico City is 11 hours and 50 minutes on a direct flight.
Flights to Cancún involve a connection and/or stopover and take an average of 13 hours and 50 minutes; depending on the connection time or stopover duration, this time may be shorter or longer.
Fancy a trip of Mexico?
Would you like to organise your own trip of Mexico and are you curious about the options? Then do take a look at the tours we’ve put together for inspiration. You can book these tours directly, but we’d also be happy to put together a personalised itinerary based on your wishes and ideas.
Do you have a question? Please feel free to contact us. Call us on +31 73 610 62 04 or send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We’ll be happy to help.