Month guide · Oaxaca · Mexico
Oaxaca in May
What May is really like in Oaxaca: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nsaum75, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
May is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 32°C (90°F), lows of 15°C (59°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 12.9 hours of daylight. Hot, with the first storms arriving later in the month and the valley starting to green.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 32°C (90°F) / 15°C (59°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 12.9 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in May
May is the 2nd-warmest month in Oaxaca: days average 32°C (90°F) against a yearly average high of 29°C (84°F), and nights fall to about 15°C (59°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with April (32°C (90°F)), May is about as warm; by June highs drop to around 29°C (84°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:55
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 18:51
- Daylight
- About 12.9 hours
Dry season (November–February). Clear skies, warm afternoons around 27 °C and cold nights near 10 °C, with Día de Muertos and the December festivals.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes May one of the better-value months to book.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Oaxaca, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Religious site · Santo Domingo and the Andador
Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Visit in the late afternoon, when the sun lights the façade, and step inside quietly if a service or wedding is under way.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- Photo spot
Museum · Santo Domingo and the Andador
Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca
The former Dominican convent beside Santo Domingo now houses the state's main history museum, spread over cloisters and vaulted halls.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
- Architecture
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Landmark · Centro Histórico
Zócalo and Cathedral
Take a coffee under the arcades in the early evening, when the square is at its liveliest and the marimba players set up.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- After dark
Market · Centro Histórico
Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Two blocks south of the Zócalo, this food market is known for its Pasillo de Humo, a smoky corridor where you choose tasajo, cecina and chorizo from butchers, have it grilled over charcoal, then buy tortillas, grilled onions and salsas from the women walking the aisles.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Iconic
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 32°C, lows near 15°C and 8 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Oaxaca?
A good-value shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, October–March are better overall. Compare every month.
Oaxaca in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Oaxaca?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Hot, with the first storms arriving later in the month and the valley starting to green.
+How warm is Oaxaca in May?
Average highs are around 32°C (90°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Oaxaca in May?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.