The Best time to visit Mexico
The land of tacos, tortillas and tequila is definitely one of the top destinations in the North Western Hemisphere if not the whole world. Mexico boats of a wide diversity of spectacular natural sights, powdery white sand beaches and Mariachi bands.
The country is usually associated with bright sunny weather all year long which might not be the case and it is important to be mindful of the best time to visit Mexico. Accordingly, the high and low season is determined and hence when planning a trip you should know whether it is low or high season to suit your pocket. Most importantly you would want to know what to expect in terms of weather and any festivals taking place during your visit. Before we get down to the best time to go to Mexico let us first briefly scan through the top destinations which are frequented by tourists in this beautiful country.
Mexico City
Mexico’s capital city and the gateway to this country is a place everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. The low season is good for the budget travelers, which usually runs from around April to December. From the US, the ticket prices are usually uniform across the year and finding a cheap plane ticket may not be too difficult. Even though the low season stretches over 9 long months, be advised that the hotel prices are significantly higher during Easter and Christmas. From May to October is the rainy season in Mexico City, so it could be avoided if you don’t like the wet weather. Keeping all these factors in mind November would make the best month visit. If you plan to go early in the month then you can also witness the the Day of the Dead celebrations that is held in the beginning of November.
Cancun
The place is synonymous to spring break when throngs of students descend upon this place for its notorious party culture. A firm favorite of the visitors from the United States, this Caribbean coastal town offers hot and humid weather through the year. Cancun follows the same high and low seasons like Mexico City. However, unlike the capital city, the rates go up during the summer months of July and August. If the high prices are not a deterrent then the influx of people could be a reason to avoid this beach destination. As mentioned earlier, the months of March and April can also be avoided if you are not a student and want to avoid the spring break shenanigans of the youth. But, perhaps if that is what you are looking for then just go ahead and plan your trip then.
What was once a sleepy seaside town of Puerto Vallarta now attracts tourists from within Mexico and abroad. There is a steady flow of tourists from March to November, which is considered the high season for Cancun. Taking all the factors in to account like the weather, low prices, crowds etc it would be recommended that the best time to visit Cancun would be October. It is ideal as you can avoid the crowds, rains and the high prices.
Cabo
It is situated at the southernmost tip of the Baja California Peninsula and is rated as one of the most favorite tourist destinations in Mexico. The high season for the resort city runs from around December until the end of April. The Los Cabos Corridor is one of the most popular vacation destination for tourists, with numerous resorts and timeshares along the coast between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. The waters around Cabo are home to marine wildlife including rays, sharks, mahi-mahi (dorado) and striped marlin. You can hunt for bargain hotel deals and offers between May and September. It is best to avoid the hurricane season which is from August to September. One of the many popular and must do activity in Cabo is to catch a glimpse of the Pacific Gray Whale who migrate to the region from the Arctic.
San Cristóbal de las Casas
This colonial town, is part of the Pueblos Mágicos or the Magical Towns of Mexico. It is an known for its incredibly conserved architectural beauty. Tourists interested in architecture and history flock to the place to view the Historical Center and its houses with wide patios and flowery balconies. The mysterious city of San Cristóbal de las Casas is perched high in the mountains in the southern state of Chiapas. The high elevation is important to take into account. The evenings are chilly and the region becomes quite cold during the winter months from November through January. Even though the hotels in southern Mexico are much cheaper, but the prices shoot up during the Festival of San Cristóbal which runs from July 17 to 25.
To know when to travel to Mexico, the first thing you need to bear in mind is that the country only has two main seasons. Due to its geographical situation, Mexico has a dry season and a wet season, although the rains are concentrated mostly in summer.
Best time to travel to Mexico
The best time to visit Mexico is from November to April, which is when it is the dry season. During the rainy season, between June and October, the rains are heavy and could be bothersome and not ideal to enjoy the beaches and the outdoors of this beautiful country. Even though May is mentioned in the best time to visit Mexico, but it should be highlighted that it is really hot and dry during that month and hence best avoided.
But not all places have the same climate and the weather depends on the altitude of the place. In the mountain regions it can be quite cold wherein the south of the country is warm throughout the year. It may be a good idea to select the dry months to travel, which are from November to April.
Now that we have a window to travel to the country, let us look at the various regions and ascertain the best time to travel to these specific places.
When to travel to the north of Mexico
The weather in the north of Mexico is stable and better than any other region. The region experiences rains between July and September and hence these three months can be avoided. The months of February and March, can get really cold with temperatures falling below 32 degrees F. Therefore the north of Mexico is best visited between the dry season from April to June, avoiding the cold weather in the beginning of the year and the rains that follow later.
When to travel to the centre of Mexico
The central region of Mexico or Mesa Central del Sur, the high plateau region comprises the southern section of the Mexican Plateau extending south from the Zacatecas Mountains to the Bajío. Mesa Central has its best weather in March and April which coincides with the dry season. The end of the year from October to November are also great for discovering the wonders of this renowned region. Here again if you plan to visit during these months then you can avoid the extreme heat of the dry season and the torrential rains.
When to travel to Baja California
Baja California is a Mexican state on the Baja California Peninsula and as the name suggests, bordering the U.S. state of California. The landscape spans majestic mountains and glorious beaches on the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California. Tijuana, which is famous for its nightlife and shopping, is a popular destination. Rosarito is also one f the top destinations for its wide and sandy Pacific beaches. Avoid the summer months if you are planning to visit Tijuana and the small villages of the surrounding mountain. The temperatures can reach a staggering 122 degrees F between during the dry summer months and it is highly recommended to avoid planning a trip between June and August.The best time to visit this area would be between November and April.
When to travel to Bajío
The Bajío is another region of Central Mexico and has repeatedly been recognized as the region with the best quality of life and the safest region in Mexico. The Bajío plateau, with its mountains and deserts, is an ideal region to visit during the dry season. Within this season, May is the most suitable month to visit the colonial cities and all of the beauty of Guanajuato. Like many destinations in Mexico, avoid the rainy season if you wish to travel to the Bajio region, which is between June and October.
When to travel to the Pacific Coast of Mexico
The Pacific Coast is the southwestern rim of Mexico. It has the country’s largest concentration of beach resorts and is popularly promoted as the Mexican Riviera. Not surprisingly, the area gets millions of visitors a year. So if are dreaming of sun-kissed beaches and incredible sunsets of the Pacific coast then this is the best place to be in Mexico. The area is great to watch whales and is perfect all year round. The weather is fine and nice in the winter months from November to February. The summers like other areas in Mexico are a bit more hot but then the sea and the sand should take the mind away from such downers.
When to travel to Yucatán
The Mexican state of Yucatán is known for its Gulf of Mexico beaches and Mayan ruins. The famed ChichénItzá includes a massive pyramid, ball court and stone temples. Yucatán’s capital and largest city is Mérida. It has a Spanish colonial history reflected in buildings such as 16th-century Mérida Cathedral. The best travel months would be between December and February. The climate during these months is much more pleasant than in summerand you will also avoid the rains.
However, be mindful that Yucatan is located inside the hurricane area and should be best avoided between May and December.
As you will have seen, the dry season is the best time to travel to Mexico and, if you want to visit a specific area of the country, you just need to check the weather conditions and avoid the summer months. Mexico will always be a perfect destination for an unforgettable holiday if you know how to choose the dates well.
FAQs
The best time of the year to go to Mexico is in September, as temperatures are low and the rains are subsiding. You will find lush greenery everywhere and the month also has fewer crowds.
There is really no bad time to visit Mexico. However, certain times of the year may appeal to different people more than others. There would also be some destinations and activities may be better at certain times of the year.
It is a no brainer that budget travelers should aim to visit during the low season that runs from after Easter to around mid-December.
The north of Mexico is unbearably hot in summer, so it’s probably best to avoid travel there at that time. Mexico City is temperate through the year. The Mexican beaches also reach uncomfortably hot temperatures during the summer.
The high season starts from mid-December and finishes in April, right after Easter.
