Best time to visit Oaxaca
When is the best time to visit Oaxaca?
Located in southern Mexico, Oaxaca has quickly grown to become one of the most popular regions to visit in the country. Here we’ll find beautiful colonial towns, great beaches and tasty foods in abundance.
In this guide we’ll explore the best time to visit Oaxaca, which includes whether this region is worth visiting as well as how long we recommend spending here.
As well as looking at 5 of the very best things you can do in Oaxaca, we’ll also answer your most burning questions in our FAQ section.
Best time to visit Oaxaca
The shoulder months are by far the best times to visit Oaxaca. Either side of the wet summer season, they offer great weather as well as cheaper prices than those in the busier winter season.
In particular, we recommend heading to Oaxaca either in March or November.
Is Oaxaca worth visiting?
The quick answer: Yes!
The (slightly) longer answer: Oaxaca is an incredibly diverse region. Starting from Oaxaca City we can explore the contrasting clash of Spanish architecture, as well as ancient ruins which were created by civilisations such as the Zapotec.
The food is also (really) good here. If you’ve ever read any other articles before then you’ll know how Oaxacan Food is hyped above others, and we can only nod in agreement.
Dishes like Tlayudas and Memelas are local favourites, and you can head to markets such as Mercado 20 de Noviembre to try out the very best street foods.
Finally, a trip to Oaxaca will also give you a chance to enjoy various different landscapes. Along the coast we can find some scenic beach spots like Puerto Escondido and Huatulco, which are perfect for surfing and snorkeling. Then there’s also some incredible mountain formations too, such as the petrified waterfall of Hierve el Agua.
See our guide that looks a more reasons to visit Oaxaca if you are still not convinced.
What is the best month to visit Oaxaca?
The very best months to visit Oaxaca are March and November. They are both within the dry season, so you’ll have little rain affecting your daily plans (0.3-0.6 inches throughout each of these months).
Temperatures are warm but not overbearing, which is great for those who like to wear less (also means that the nights in Oaxaca City – which can drop in temperatures – don’t get so cold).
Lastly, these months are also off-peak too. This means there will be less crowds to jostle with when heading to the ruins and other sites, and also less busy beaches. It also means that flight and accommodation prices will be cheaper too!
How long should I Spend in Oaxaca?
From our experience, we recommend travelers to spend around 2 weeks in the Oaxaca region. With this amount of time you can get to know Oaxaca City, relax in Puerto Escondido as well as perhaps visit a third area too (such as Mazunte or Huatulco).
It will be enough to fully enjoy each place, and to also not feel like you’re rushing these places too quickly (although beware that when in Puerto Escondido, there’s a good 70-80% chance you’ll overstay here!).
You can check out our backpacking Oaxaca Itinerary for a full breakdown on what to do, as well as how to best spend your time in this fantastic Mexican region.
Top Things to do in Oaxaca
Let’s now explore 5 of the very best things you can see and do when in Oaxaca.
Hit the Pacific Beaches
Whilst the Mexican Caribbean is most raved about, there’s definitely a recent surge in travelers heading west in Mexico – and for good reason too.
The Oaxacan Coast is a good example (there’s also other good spots too such as Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlán), where there’s plenty of beautiful beaches and activities to do.
Puerto Escondido is the best for good vibes, and on La Punta you can drink beers and tequila whilst enjoying the fresh atmosphere. It’s also a good place to go surfing too, and those starting out can book a surfing lesson here.
Nearby Playa Carrizalillo is the most beautiful by far, with its secluded cove and swimmable waters making it a must visit when in town.
The town of Huatulco further along the coast is another great spot to visit, where you’ll find the water conditions perfect for snorkeling and diving. We recommend heading on this organised tour where you’ll visit the stunning 7 bays of Huatulco, which are more beautiful (and less touristy) than those in Puerto Escondido.
Try Oaxacan Food
Some of the best food in Mexico (and a decent contender for all of Latin America), the food scene here is pretty hot, to say the least.
Given Oaxaca is relatively centrally-located, it means you’ll find all the classic dishes here from all over Mexico, such as Tacos, Quesadillas and Molé.
However those who want to dig a bit deeper can try some of the local Oaxacan staples too, and who knows, you may just find yourself a new food love in the process. Tlayudas and Memelas are some of the most popular, which are often found in local street restaurants as well as in markets.
We recommend heading to the infamous Mercado 20 de Noviembre, which is arguably the best food market in the state. Here you’ll find plenty of food stands selling these regional dishes, and even walking around alone will provide quite the assault on the senses.
Visit the Ancient Ruins of Monte Albán
Much is known about the Aztec and Mayan cultures, who were responsible for building some pretty impressive sites such as Teotihuacán and Tulum Ruins. However there were also other important civilisations that flourished in Mexico too, such as the Zapotec.
During the 6th Century they built the imposing fortress of Monte Albán, which is a giant site which is located on top of a hill within the Oaxacan wilderness.
As well as getting some awesome panoramic views from the top, you can also see many unique architectural features here such as the Danzantes, as well as learning the importance of this site for trade with other strong sites of the Mesoamerican era.
The ruins of Monte Albán are located around 20 minutes outside of Oaxaca City, and we highly recommend joining this day tour which includes all transport as well as a knowledgeable guide on hand to teach you many interesting facts about this important site.
Explore Oaxaca City’s Architectural Secrets
To be honest these aren’t exactly secrets, however we consider some of these buildings to be must-visits when arriving in the Oaxaca state given how memorable they were.
You’ll first want to head to the Historic Centre which is the beating heart of the city, and also where all of the best gems can be found. You’ll want to start at the Zócalo first (the main square), which usually has a bustling atmosphere with local events on, along with many buildings with curved arches and other Spanish colonial features.
This is also where the Metropolitan Cathedral of Oaxaca is located, which is another highlight worth getting inside. Nearby we can also find the Templo de Santo Domingo, with the former monastery -now- cultural centre a great visit with its gold-laden walls and beautiful murals.
Other buildings worth exploring in Oaxaca City include the Casa de Benito Juárez and the Museo de Paz Culturas de Oaxaca.
Participate in a Turtle Release
We’ll admit this is one we can’t stop raving about, and George even went back to Puerto Escondido to do this multiple times!
Given Oaxaca has a huge stretch of Pacific Coast, it means that it’s an optimum nesting ground for turtles. Whilst certain species such as the Hawksbill and Leatherback Turtles are seasonal, here in Oaxaca we’ll also find the Olive Ridley species which lays eggs all throughout the year.
This means you can participate in a turtle release pretty much anytime you want, given the babies are looked after by conservation groups where you can then release them into the Pacific Ocean.
One of the very best places to do this is on Playa Bacocho, where the releases begin from around 5pm onwards. You’ll have one each in a little bowl, and can then watch them all as a group make their dart towards the ocean. We recommend this turtle release tour for those who like having everything organised in advance for them.
Got travel insurance for Puerto Escondido?
Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
Oaxaca FAQ’s
Best time to visit Oaxaca
That’s all for this guide on the best time to visit Oaxaca.
Full of scenic sites and cultural highlights, Oaxaca should be on any trip through Mexico.
Whilst definitely more popular than others in Central Mexico, it’s still a great place to get to know the real Mexico whilst also enjoying yourself at the same time (beaches and tequila in abundance here).
In this guide we’ve covered the best time to visit Oaxaca, as well as our own personal recommendations for you to get the most out of a trip here. At the end we’ve also answered your most burning questions in our FAQ section.
See our backpacking Mexico guide for more ideas on the best places to visit.
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
“Dear traveler! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, book a hostel or sign up for a tour, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support means a lot and helps us to carry on traveling and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”
