Best Times of the Year to Visit Mexico

Depending on the time of year and destination that you are visiting, any time of the year can be a great time to travel to Mexico, but it is important to know the best times to visit the different areas. The weather in Mexico can vary a good deal. From the central high desert featuring Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, and Mexico City, to the resorts and jungles of the Yucatan, to the Pacific Coast, Mexico is full of terrific destinations to visit during the right time of the year.

Central Highlands/High Desert: The central part of Mexico is home to much of the country's intellectual and historical past. The towns of San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato are where the Mexican Revolution took place, and today are home to art galleries and schools, traditional restaurants, and a relaxing, small-town atmosphere.

Any time of the year is a good time to travel to Mexico's high desert, although fall and winter are particularly nice. During these months, the weather is warm during the day, and cool to cold at night, making for a lovely time. While summers are nice in the desert, the heat can be stifling, and summer is also the rainy season throughout the country. Mid-September in San Miguel sees the Pamplonada, the running of the bulls through the city, and celebration of the birth of Mexico's independence, which began in nearby Dolores Hidalgo.

Yucatan Peninsula: To truly enjoy the beaches, resorts, and ruins of Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Tulum, and others, plan a trip during the fall, winter, or spring. Be careful during December, though. Christmas season (and all major holidays) bring high prices and lots of crowds to Mexico's most popular beaches. Although there really isn't an off-season for places like Cancun, the summer and early fall is generally considered so due to the rain, heat. . .and hurricanes. Don't worry, though. Mexico has good warning equipment and the authorities are very good about caring for tourists and moving them to safe places inland.

Pacific Coast: Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Puerto Escondido and other popular beaches on Mexico's west coast follow much the same schedule as in the Yucatan. December is usually the high season, with the holiday weeks being extremely popular. The weather on Mexico's west coast is perfect during the winter, with highs in the 70s and lows around 50. Summers are sweltering and are considered the off-season, but tourism is lower, and prices are as well.

When thinking of vacationing in Mexico, it is important to remember that the rainy season occurs throughout the country during summer and fall. Having lived in various places in Mexico, I can say from first-hand knowledge that the thunderstorms are no laughing matter. Flash flooding can occur in an instant, and many older towns simply aren't equipped with sewers to clear the water. The storms generally move through in an hour or two, leaving the rest of the day clean and fresh.