Season guide · Oaxaca · Mexico
Oaxaca in the dry season
November–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones from México D. F., México, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
Clear skies, warm afternoons around 27 °C and cold nights near 10 °C, with Día de Muertos and the December festivals. Expect highs up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 5 rainy days across November–February. November–February are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- November–February
- Temperatures
- 9°C (48°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 5
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in the dry season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°C (81°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 1 | 11.2 h | 3/5 |
| February | 29°C (84°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 1 | 11.6 h | 2/5 |
| November | 27°C (81°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 2 | 11.3 h | 5/5 |
| December | 27°C (81°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 1 | 11.1 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 28°C (82°F) against a yearly 29°C (84°F), and 5 of the year's roughly 85 rainy days fall in these 4 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in the dry season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Día de Reyes — rosca de reyes bread shared on 6 January
- November: Día de Muertos — cemetery vigils and parades (31 October–2 November)
- December: Fiesta de la Virgen de la Soledad (around 18 December)
- December: Noche de Rábanos — carved radish displays on the Zócalo (23 December)
Make the most of the weather
Garden · Santo Domingo and the Andador
Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca
Laid out in the former convent orchards behind Santo Domingo, this garden displays plants native to Oaxaca, one of Mexico's most biodiverse states: columnar cacti, agaves used for mezcal, cochineal-hosting nopal and dye plants.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Monte Albán
Monte Albán
Go early, when it is cooler and the light is soft; there is little shade, so bring a hat and water.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Barrio de la Soledad
Cerro del Fortín
The hill on the northwest edge of the centre holds the open-air auditorium where the Guelaguetza is staged and a long stairway that climbs past viewpoints over the city's domes towards the mountains.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Active
Nature · Santa María del Tule
Árbol del Tule
Stop on the way to Teotitlán or Mitla; the village market next to the churchyard is good for a tejate or a snack.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Photo spot
Day trips in the dry season
- Mitla (About 1 hour by road) — The Zapotec and Mixtec religious centre of Mitla is famous for its walls of stone fretwork mosaics, made of thousands of cut stones fitted without mortar in geometric patterns.
- Hierve el Agua (About 1.5–2 hours by road) — Mineral springs flowing over a cliff edge have left white calcified formations that look like frozen waterfalls.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the dry season a good time to visit Oaxaca?
Yes: November–February are among the best months. Clear skies, warm afternoons around 27 °C and cold nights near 10 °C, with Día de Muertos and the December festivals.
+What is the weather like in Oaxaca in the dry season?
Highs of up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 5 rainy days over the season.