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Chichen Itza pyramid under starry night sky

Mexico travel guide

From colonial highlands to Caribbean coast, Mexico suits almost any traveller

Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec

Photo: Walkerssk / Pixabay

Capital
Mexico City
Language
Spanish
Currency
Mexican peso (MXN)
Time zone
UTC-08:00, UTC-07:00 +1
Plugs
Type A, B · 127 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
911

Why visit Mexico

Mexico covers 1,964,375 square kilometres, from Mexico City in the highlands to coastal towns like Cancun, La Paz and Puerto Vallarta. It works for city breaks, beach time, and colonial towns such as Guanajuato and Mérida. The best months to go are December, January, February and March, when conditions are more settled across much of the country. Outside those months, weather patterns shift and some regions see more rain, so plan around your specific route rather than the country as a whole.

  • A capital of huge scale

    Mexico City is the country's capital and largest city, with a population of 9,209,944. It anchors a nation of 131,231,919 people spread across 1,964,375 square kilometers, giving visitors an enormous range of landscapes and city life to explore.

  • Dry season from December to March

    The best months to visit are December, January, February and March. This stretch avoids the heaviest rains, making it a reliable window for travel across most of the country.

  • Colonial towns inland

    Guadalajara, with 1,385,621 people, Mérida, with 892,363, and Guanajuato, with 194,500, sit away from the coast. Each offers a different scale of city life, from a major metropolitan hub to a smaller historic town.

  • Two coasts to choose from

    Cancun on the Caribbean side has 888,797 residents, while Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast has 224,166. La Paz, on the Baja California peninsula, adds a third coastal option with 250,141 people, so travellers can pick between very different seas and coastlines.

  • One language, three time zones

    Spanish is the main language across the country. Mexico spans three time zones, UTC-08:00, UTC-07:00 and UTC-06:00, reflecting the distance between its northern deserts and southern regions.

Is Mexico right for you?

Great for

  • Dry-season visitors who pick December to March, when rain days drop to 1.8-2.5 per month
  • Travellers who want sun, with 9.5-11.3 sun hours a day from December to March
  • City and culture trips combining Mexico City, Guadalajara, Mérida and Guanajuato, all inland
  • Coastal trips to Cancun, La Paz or Puerto Vallarta for beach time alongside the dry-season cities
  • Spanish speakers or those keen to practise, as Spanish is the sole national language

Less ideal for

  • Travellers wanting to skip rain, since September sees 10.9 rain days and 87mm, the wettest month
  • Those sensitive to humidity-driven downpours from June to September, when rain tops 54-87mm monthly
  • Visitors wanting one single time zone, as the country spans three, from UTC-08:00 to UTC-06:00

Mexico right now: October

8.9/10
Avg high
24°C
Avg low
12°C
Rain days
5

Averages for Mexico.

Weather by month

In the 2015–2024 climate data for Mexico, December to March score best, with highs of 21–26°C, about 2 rain days a month and only 8–13 mm of rain. May and June score lowest at 7.4, when highs reach 29°C and the rain starts to build, and September is the wettest month, with 87 mm over 11 days.

Average highs and lows in Mexico by month January: high 21°C, low 6°C , 3 rain days . February: high 23°C, low 8°C , 2 rain days . March: high 26°C, low 10°C , 2 rain days . April: high 28°C, low 12°C , 2 rain days . May: high 29°C, low 14°C , 4 rain days . June: high 28°C, low 15°C , 9 rain days . July: high 26°C, low 14°C , 10 rain days . August: high 27°C, low 15°C , 8 rain days . September: high 25°C, low 14°C , 11 rain days . October: high 24°C, low 12°C , 5 rain days . November: high 23°C, low 9°C , 3 rain days . December: high 21°C, low 7°C , 2 rain days . 21°C 6°C JAN 3d 23°C 8°C FEB 2d 26°C 10°C MAR 2d 28°C 12°C APR 2d 29°C 14°C MAY 4d 28°C 15°C JUN 9d 26°C 14°C JUL 10d 27°C 15°C AUG 8d 25°C 14°C SEP 11d 24°C 12°C OCT 5d 23°C 9°C NOV 3d 21°C 7°C DEC 2d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Mexico (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Mexico: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Capital, Colonial Towns and Pacific Coast

  1. Day 1–3

    Mexico City

    Explore Mexico's capital, home to museums, historic plazas and a wide food scene. Use these days to see the main sights at a relaxed pace.

  2. Day 4–5

    Guanajuato

    Walk through the narrow streets and colorful buildings of this inland colonial town, known for its hilly layout and underground roads.

  3. Day 6–7

    Puerto Vallarta

    Finish the trip on Mexico's Pacific coast. Spend your last two days on the beach or exploring the old town by the water.

10 days

Mexico City to the Yucatán Coast

  1. Day 1–3

    Mexico City

    Start in the capital, the country's largest city. Spend the first days visiting museums, markets and historic districts.

  2. Day 4–5

    Guadalajara

    Head to this inland city, Mexico's second largest, known for its historic center and strong cultural traditions.

  3. Day 6–7

    Mérida

    Continue to this city on the Yucatán Peninsula, a good base for exploring colonial architecture and nearby archaeological sites.

  4. Day 8–10

    Cancun

    End the trip on the Caribbean coast. Use these final days for beaches, warm water and coastal relaxation.

Food to try in Mexico

Tacos al pastor

Thin slices of marinated pork cut from a vertical spit, served on small corn tortillas with pineapple, onion and coriander. They are a classic evening street food, especially in Mexico City.

Mole poblano

A dark, rich sauce made with dried chiles, spices and a little chocolate, usually served over chicken. It is linked to Puebla and often appears at weddings, festivals and family celebrations.

Tamales

Corn dough filled with meat, cheese or chile, then wrapped in a corn husk or banana leaf and steamed. People across the country eat them for breakfast, often from street carts.

Cochinita pibil

Pork marinated in achiote and bitter orange, then slow-cooked in banana leaves until soft. It comes from the Yucatán Peninsula, where it is often eaten in tacos or tortas in the morning.

Pozole

A hearty soup of large hominy corn kernels with pork or chicken, topped with lettuce or cabbage, radish, lime and chile. Families often make big pots of it for holidays and parties.

Mezcal

A spirit distilled from agave, often with a smoky taste from roasting the plant in earth pits. Oaxaca is the best-known region for it, and it is usually sipped slowly, not drunk as a shot.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Mexico uses plug types A and B, with flat pins, and the supply is 127 V. Check that your chargers accept this voltage. Devices built only for higher-voltage grids need a converter, not just an adapter.
  • Driving side: Traffic in Mexico drives on the right side of the road. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and roundabouts during your first days.
  • Emergency number: Dial 911 for police, ambulance or fire services anywhere in Mexico. Save it in your phone before you arrive. The country calling code is +52 if someone abroad needs to call you.
  • Currency: The currency is the Mexican peso (MXN). Carry some cash in pesos for small shops, markets and local transport, and check prices in pesos rather than other currencies.
  • Language: Spanish is the main language. Outside the larger tourist areas, English may be limited. Learning a few basic Spanish phrases, or carrying a translation app, makes daily life much easier.
  • Time zones: Mexico spans several time zones: UTC-08:00, UTC-07:00 and UTC-06:00. Check the local time when you book flights, buses or tours between regions, so you do not miss a connection.
  • Tap water: Tap water is generally not considered safe to drink in Mexico. Most travellers and many locals use bottled or filtered water, including for brushing teeth. Be careful with ice in small places.

Mexico: frequently asked questions

Is Mexico good to visit in August?

Yes, August scores 8 out of 10 and counts as a best month. Expect highs around 26.8°C and lows near 14.6°C. It's a rainy month though, with 8 rain days and 54 mm of rain, plus 11.6 hours of sun a day, so pack for short showers between sunny spells.

What's the best time to visit Mexico?

December, January, February and March score highest, all above 9.5 out of 10. These months are drier, with rain days between 1.8 and 2.5 and rainfall of just 8 to 13 mm. Temperatures stay comfortable too, with highs from 20.6°C in January to 25.8°C in March.

How hot does it get in Mexico in May?

May is warm, with an average high of 29.4°C and a low of 14.4°C, the hottest high of any month in the data. Rain starts picking up, with 4.4 rain days and 21 mm of rainfall, and sunshine runs about 12.3 hours a day.

Does it rain a lot in Mexico in September?

Yes, September is the wettest month on record, with 87 mm of rain over 10.9 rain days. Highs still reach 24.5°C and lows sit at 13.9°C, with 10.7 hours of sun a day, so it's warm rain rather than cold.

What voltage and plug type does Mexico use?

Mexico runs on 127 V with plug types A and B, the same two-pin and three-pin styles used in the United States and Canada. Driving is on the right, and the emergency number nationwide is 911.

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