Season guide · Oaxaca · Mexico
Oaxaca in the late season
October: 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
Rains taper off, marigolds bloom and altars appear as the city builds towards Día de Muertos at the end of the month. Expect highs up to 27°C (81°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 6 rainy days across October. October is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- October
- Temperatures
- 14°C (57°F) to 27°C (81°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 6
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in the late season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 27°C (81°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 6 | 11.7 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 27°C (81°F) against a yearly 29°C (84°F), and 6 of the year's roughly 85 rainy days fall in these 1 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in the late season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- October: Día de Muertos altars, comparsas and markets (from late October)
Make the most of the weather
Viewpoint · Barrio de la Soledad
Cerro del Fortín
Climb in the late afternoon for sunset views, and come down before dark; take a taxi up if you want to save your legs.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Active
Nature · Santa María del Tule
Árbol del Tule
In the churchyard of Santa María del Tule, about 10 km east of the city, stands a Montezuma cypress with one of the stoutest trunks of any tree in the world, around 14 metres across.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Photo spot
Garden · Santo Domingo and the Andador
Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca
Book the English-language tour if you need it; Spanish tours run more often, and the content is excellent either way.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Monte Albán
Monte Albán
The Zapotec capital was built on a levelled mountaintop about 400 metres above the valley, around 9 km west of the city, from roughly 500 BC.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Day trips in the late season
- Tlacolula Sunday market (About 45 minutes by road) — One of the valley's largest and longest-running weekly markets fills the streets of Tlacolula de Matamoros every Sunday, with villagers buying and selling produce, livestock, baskets, mezcal and barbacoa.
- San Bartolo Coyotepec (About 25 minutes by road) — The village of barro negro, the polished black pottery made by burnishing clay before firing.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the late season a good time to visit Oaxaca?
Yes: October is among the best months. Rains taper off, marigolds bloom and altars appear as the city builds towards Día de Muertos at the end of the month.
+What is the weather like in Oaxaca in the late season?
Highs of up to 27°C (81°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 6 rainy days over the season.