The ideal seasons to visit Mexico for pleasant weather, wildlife sightings, big events, and more are listed below.

Mexico has established itself as one of the most popular travel destinations worldwide. Determining when is the ideal time to travel completely relies on your destination and activities. This enormous country has a startling variety of geography and microclimates: There are golden beaches, rocky valleys, humid cities, and historic towns at high elevations. You may spend the day relaxing on a beach backed by a jungle and the evening cuddling by a fireplace in the mountains.

These are the ideal dates to travel to Mexico for any type of vacation, whether you're looking for warm beaches, affordable flights, and lodging, breathtaking wildlife, or vibrant fiestas.

Mexico's Seasons in a Nutshell
 

• peak season (December through April, when most of the country experiences its driest weather)
  alternating seasons (July and August)
   
• low period (May, June, and September through early November)
  The Cheapest Times to Travel to Mexico
   
• The peak and low seasons often correspond to airfare and lodging costs. When Americans travel abroad to escape the bitter winter cold and take advantage of the holiday break, travel costs, such as flights, hotels, and other accommodations, can increase starting in mid-December. Booking during the off-peak, when demand is lower, is a surefire way to reduce your travel expenses.

The rainy season, which lasts from June through October, rules the low season. The most rain falls in Central Mexico, yet it might not be as awful as you think: Beach regions are less busy than they are during the winter season, and rain typically falls as brief afternoon storms before the sun returns. These brief periods may simply provide some much-needed relief from the heat and humidity and provide a pleasant opportunity for a snooze. The most expensive months for travel are August, September, and October since they are the wettest (September is the hurricane season's eye, with torrential rains on both coastlines).

When to Travel to Mexico for the Best Weather and Cheapest Prices
 

The finest, warmest weather is forecast for the dry-season months of November to March, but these months also have higher travel and hotel costs and denser crowds. November may be the most suitable month to travel because it offers a sweet spot between the start of the high season and the big fall rains. It is dry and mild. (Additional benefits of November include the possibility of witnessing the amazing monarch butterfly migration or the Da de Los Muertos celebrations, depending on your schedule and location.)

As there are frequently amazing prices to be obtained after the New Year's holiday and before the winter and spring break frenzy, which starts in February, January is another excellent time to travel.

The best times of year to travel to Mexico to see whales

Whales during their annual migration spend time in the warm waters along both Mexican coasts at various times of the year. Travelers visiting Baja or elsewhere in the Pacific may see humpback, grey, or perhaps mysterious blue whales on their long ocean voyages from December to March. The greatest months to watch humpback whales are January and February. They enjoy the protected Bahia de Banderas off Puerto Vallarta. You may go whale shark snorkeling off Espiritu Santo between November and April or go scuba diving in the protected seas of Cabo Pulmo (the only coral reef on the west coast of North America).

The whale-shark season runs from mid-May until mid-September on the opposite coast. Travelers can go on boat cruises from Cancun to the islands of Isla Holbox and Isla Contoy, where they can go swimming with whale sharks and other marine life like manta rays, turtles, and dolphins. For this, the optimal months are June and July.

The best time of year to surf in Mexico
 

The Pacific coast of Mexico experiences spectacular swells all year long thanks to the Southern Ocean. The biggest, most reliable waves are found from May to October (peak surf season, which also happens to coincide with hurricane season), notably in June and August, for more experienced surfers.

The windswept Baja Peninsula is home to some of Mexico's greatest waves, although the waters can get very chilly in the winter. Further south, Nayarit, Barra de Nexpa, Troncones, and Puerto Escondido (the location of the famed Mexican Pipeline) enjoy the tremendous, barreling surf of the Pacific, yet their waters are always warm.

The best times to go birding in Mexico
 

The ideal time to watch migrating birds wintering in the Pacific Coast's mountains, marshes, mangroves, lagoons, and jungles is in January. In January and into early February, San Blas celebrates the International Migratory Bird Festival.

The best times to view the butterfly migration in Mexico
 

Every autumn, countless monarch butterflies travel to Michoacán, central Mexico, where they winter in fir and pine trees. A journey should be planned around seeing the brilliant golden-orange butterflies that cover the mountain woodland and flutter against the brilliant blue winter sky.

Visit one of the numerous refuges within the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve between November (preferably mid-November, once more butterflies have settled in) and March to see the yearly spectacle. You may cycle, ride a horse, or go on a hike to see the butterflies at almost all of the sanctuaries. You can even use some to get back down the mountain. The best time of day to visit the sanctuaries is in the late afternoon when the weather is warmer and the butterflies are fluttering among the trees.

Ideal Seasons to Visit Mexico's Canyonland
 

One of the deepest valleys in the world and larger than the Grand Canyon, the Copper Canyon in northwest Mexico is one of the country's most breathtaking views, but the weather may be harsh. The greatest times to travel are in March and fall (October and November after the wet season) when the rivers and waterfalls are flowing and the temperatures are warm throughout the canyons. Reserve tickets for the Chihuahua al Pacifico in advance.

When to Visit Mexico for Festivals at Its Best

Numerous festivals and events can be planned around Mexico. Here are a few examples:

• San Juan de Los Lagos and Tlacotalpan, a colonial town on the Gulf, celebrate Candelaria (Candlemas) on February 2.
   
• The biggest celebrations are held in Mazatlán on the Pacific Coast, Veracruz, Mérida, Cozumel, and Campeche on the Caribbean and Gulf coasts, and Carnaval is the main event that takes place in Mexico in February (or early March).
   
• Semana Santa (Holy Week), Mexico's most significant holiday, takes place in March or April; anticipate crowded hotels, transportation, and processions.
   
• The Festival del Mole Poblano in Puebla in June is a culinary delight.
  The Guelaguetza festival, a vibrant celebration of indigenous dance and music, takes place in Oaxaca City and nearby villages in late July.
   
• September brings Mexico's Independence Day, which is celebrated with dance, parades, and fireworks.
  Numerous significant annual events take place in October, including the Cervantino arts festival in vivacious Guanajuato, the Morelia International Film Festival in Michoacán's capital city, and the month-long extravaganza known as Fiestas de Octubre in Guadalajara, the second-largest city in Mexico.
   
• The Day of the Dead (Nov. 1-2) is the highlight of the Mexican calendar for many tourists. Celebrations memorialize the dead with picnics, graveyard vigils, paper-mâché skeletons, and elaborate dress and makeup across the central and southern regions (but notably in Pátzcuaro).
   
• Ideal Seasons to Visit Mexico City
   
• Plan your trip to Mexico City during March, April, or May, which are midway between the frigid winter and the wet summer. On average, temperatures stay in the 70s, with colder nighttime lows only reaching the mid-50s. Even though there will be many tourists in the city at this time of year, hotel rates are still reasonable.

Best Seasons to Visit Oaxaca

 

The finest seasons to visit the charming southern city of Oaxaca are spring and October. With ideal weather (average temperatures in the low 70s and high 60s into September) and fewer visitors than other periods of the year, April to May and September to October are lucky. The main travel seasons for travelers are from June through August and the Christmas/New Year holiday season. The Guelaguetza festival honors folk music and dancing in late July. Christmastime in Oaxaca City will coincide with the annual radish-cutting contest, Noche de Los Rabanos (Night of the Radishes).