Oaxaca is one of Mexico's most culturally rich states, home to 16 recognized indigenous groups, the archaeological capitals of Monte Albán and Mitla, and a coastline stretching from the surf town of Puerto Escondido to the calm resort bays of Huatulco. Oaxaca de Juárez, the colonial capital, is celebrated for mole, mezcal, and some of the finest regional cooking in the country.
Oaxaca state spans two very different climate zones. Oaxaca city sits in a highland valley at roughly 1,555m elevation with a mild, temperate climate — warm sunny days, cool nights year-round, and a defined rainy season from May/June through October. The Pacific coast around Puerto Escondido, Zipolite, Mazunte, and Huatulco has a tropical wet-dry climate with year-round heat and humidity, hot rainy summers, and a drier, still-warm winter. The Sierra Sur mountains separating the two regions can add several degrees of temperature drop and increased cloud cover along the highway route.
Best time to visit
Best: October to April
Best Reason: Dry season brings clear skies and comfortable temperatures to both Oaxaca city's temperate highlands and the tropical coast around Puerto Escondido and Huatulco. Late October through early November also coincides with Día de los Muertos, one of the most culturally rich times to visit the region.
Peak Season: Late July through early August (Guelaguetza festival) and late October through early November (Día de los Muertos), plus December-January winter holidays
Avoid: June to September
Avoid Reason: Rainy season brings frequent afternoon and evening thunderstorms, high humidity on the coast, and occasional landslide-related road closures on the mountain highways connecting Oaxaca city to Puerto Escondido and Huatulco. September carries elevated tropical storm risk on the Pacific coast.
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
January
Oaxaca city 25°C/77°F (high), 8°C/46°F (low); Puerto Escondido 30°C/86°F (high), 21°C/70°F (low)
Dry, sunny, and comfortable throughout the state. Cool nights in Oaxaca city can surprise visitors. Coastal towns are lively with a mix of domestic and international winter visitors.
February
Oaxaca city 26°C/79°F (high), 9°C/48°F (low); Puerto Escondido 30°C/86°F (high), 21°C/70°F (low)
Continued dry season with clear skies statewide. Comfortable, low-humidity conditions on the coast make this a favorite month for surfers and beachgoers alike.
March
Oaxaca city 28°C/82°F (high), 11°C/52°F (low); Puerto Escondido 31°C/88°F (high), 22°C/72°F (low)
Warm and dry across the state. Semana Santa (Holy Week) toward late March or April brings large numbers of domestic travelers to both the valley and the coast.
April
Oaxaca city 30°C/86°F (high), 13°C/55°F (low); Puerto Escondido 32°C/90°F (high), 24°C/75°F (low)
The hottest month before the rains in Oaxaca city, with dusty, dry conditions. The coast heats up noticeably with rising humidity. Semana Santa crowds if it falls in April.
May
Oaxaca city 30°C/86°F (high), 14°C/57°F (low); Puerto Escondido 33°C/91°F (high), 25°C/77°F (low)
Transitional month with the first storms typically arriving late in May. Very hot and increasingly humid on the coast. Lower prices and fewer crowds statewide.
June
Oaxaca city 27°C/81°F (high), 14°C/57°F (low); Puerto Escondido 32°C/90°F (high), 25°C/77°F (low)
Rainy season begins in earnest. Oaxaca city sees regular afternoon storms with clear mornings. The coast becomes hot, humid, and prone to longer rain events.
July
Oaxaca city 26°C/79°F (high), 13°C/55°F (low); Puerto Escondido 32°C/90°F (high), 25°C/77°F (low)
Late July brings the Guelaguetza festival to Oaxaca city, drawing major crowds despite the daily rain. Afternoons are wet but mornings are usually clear for sightseeing.
August
Oaxaca city 26°C/79°F (high), 13°C/55°F (low); Puerto Escondido 32°C/90°F (high), 25°C/77°F (low)
Continued rainy season with heavy afternoon downpours. Green, lush landscapes in the valley. Hot and humid on the coast with frequent storms.
September
Oaxaca city 25°C/77°F (high), 13°C/55°F (low); Puerto Escondido 31°C/88°F (high), 24°C/75°F (low)
One of the wettest months and the peak of Pacific tropical storm risk for the coast. Road closures on the mountain highway between Oaxaca city and Puerto Escondido are more likely after heavy rain. Independence Day celebrations September 15-16.
October
Oaxaca city 25°C/77°F (high), 12°C/54°F (low); Puerto Escondido 31°C/88°F (high), 24°C/75°F (low)
Rains ease through the month, especially after mid-October. Good value with fewer tourists. Preparations for Día de los Muertos begin building toward the end of the month.
November
Oaxaca city 24°C/75°F (high), 10°C/50°F (low); Puerto Escondido 30°C/86°F (high), 23°C/73°F (low)
Dry season firmly returns. Día de los Muertos (Oct 31-Nov 2) is one of the busiest and most memorable times to visit, especially around Xoxocotlán and Oaxaca city's cemeteries and markets.
December
Oaxaca city 24°C/75°F (high), 8°C/46°F (low); Puerto Escondido 30°C/86°F (high), 22°C/72°F (low)
Excellent dry, sunny weather throughout the state. Christmas and New Year celebrations, plus the Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes) on December 23 in Oaxaca city, draw large crowds.
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Spring
Months: Mar-May
The dry season winds down in Oaxaca city with warm, dusty days and clear skies. The coast is hot, dry, and increasingly humid by May as the rains approach. Semana Santa (Holy Week) in March/April brings domestic tourists to both the valley and the coast.
Summer
Months: Jun-Aug
Rainy season arrives with afternoon and evening thunderstorms across the state. Oaxaca city stays green and lush with mostly clear mornings. The coast becomes hot and humid with heavier, longer rain events. The Guelaguetza festival in late July draws large domestic and international crowds to Oaxaca city.
Fall
Months: Sep-Nov
September and early October remain wet, with the highest tropical storm risk of the year for the Oaxaca coast. Rains taper off through October, and by early November the dry season has firmly returned. Día de los Muertos (Oct 31-Nov 2) draws major crowds, especially to Xoxocotlán near Oaxaca city.
Winter
Months: Dec-Feb
Oaxaca's dry season peak brings warm sunny days (24-27°C) and cool nights (8-12°C) to Oaxaca city, and consistently warm, dry, breezy days (28-32°C) to Puerto Escondido and Huatulco. Zero significant rainfall and comfortable humidity make this the most reliable weather window of the year.
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- High Season
- Late July-early August (Guelaguetza), late October-early November (Día de los Muertos), and December-early January (holidays)
- Shoulder Season
- February-April and mid-November (reliable dry weather without the biggest festival crowds)
- Low Season
- June-September (rainy season; noticeably quieter on the coast and in Oaxaca city)
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Guelaguetza
Oaxaca state's signature indigenous cultural festival featuring traditional dance, music, and dress from the state's eight regions, held over two Mondays in Oaxaca city's Cerro del Fortín amphitheater
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Processions and religious observances in Oaxaca city and coastal towns, alongside a major domestic travel surge to the beaches
Mexican Independence Day
Celebrations centered on Oaxaca city's Zócalo with fireworks, music, and the Grito de Independencia reenactment
Día de los Muertos
Elaborate ofrendas, marigold-covered altars, comparsa parades, and all-night cemetery vigils, most famously in Xoxocotlán and San Agustín Etla near Oaxaca city
Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes)
A uniquely Oaxacan tradition where artisans carve elaborate scenes from giant radishes, displayed in Oaxaca city's Zócalo
Christmas Posadas and Calenda
Nightly processions and street parties throughout Oaxaca city leading up to Christmas