When is the best time to visit Mexico?

09.10.2023 - 13:35 / lonelyplanet.com

As diverse as it is enchanting, Mexico is a year-round destination. This 32-state nation boasts glistening coastlines, numerous microclimates and an astonishingly varied terrain.

For 365 days a year, the sun reigns supreme on the pristine beaches of Cancún and Playa del Carmen on the Yucatán Peninsula, while inland city gems like Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende, located in the temperate highlands, provide respite from scorching summers.

Over in the state of Chihuahua, adventurers relish the grandiose and gobsmacking Copper Canyon in spring and fall, and the country’s cultural heartland, Mexico City, is perennially bustling with life.

Whether you're a beach lover, culture maven, history buff or foodie, Mexico has a perfect time for you to experience its countless treasures. In this guide, we'll dissect the seasons, local festivals and regional nuances to help you pinpoint the best time to go to Mexico, ensuring your trip is as unforgettable as the country itself.

High season in Mexico coincides with the dry season from November to March (the rainy season is from June to October). These pleasantly dry months bring numerous winter escapees from colder countries, and it is the best time to travel to Mexico if you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors and in nature.

On the Baja Peninsula, flowers bloom, things get green, big waves delight surfers, and swimming with whale sharks is possible (from October through April). In the Northern Central Highlands, it's a fantastic time for excursions to waterfalls and rivers, while in Oaxaca, these are the best months for hiking.

Bring a sweater for high-altitude destinations like San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas, which can be chilly at night and in the morning. In the Western Central Highlands, the forests of the Reserva de la Biosfera Santuario Mariposa Monarca (Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve) turn orange as millions of large monarch butterflies winter there from late October to mid-March.

November, December and January are the most expensive months to fly to Mexico. Expect crowded attractions and population swells in destinations like Tulum, which is particularly busy before New Year’s Eve and on the first week of the year when massive electronic music festivals fill the calendar.

February is the best month for whale watching around the Baja Peninsula, and March is the Vernal Equinox when visitors mob Chichén Itzá (it happens in autumn as well) to see shadows that resemble a serpent ascend or descend the El Castillo pyramid. Archaeological sites like Teotihuacán north of Mexico City and Guachimontones west of Guadalajara are also popular spring equinox pilgrimages.

In March and April, many US students spend their spring break in coastal hotspots, including