Mexico, North America

Oaxaca in August

Green, calm, and cheap after the Guelaguetza crowds leave. Plan outdoor sights for the morning.

GoodMild, highs near 80F (27C), afternoon storms

The ruins of Monte Alban above Oaxaca — OaxacaPhoto: DavidConFran, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

August is a good month to visit Oaxaca. Green, calm, and cheap after the Guelaguetza crowds leave. Plan outdoor sights for the morning.

Weather: Mild, highs near 80F (27C), afternoon storms
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What August is like in Oaxaca

August is mild and green, with highs near 80F (27C) and storms in the afternoon or evening. The Guelaguetza crowds leave, so hotels are cheap and restaurants easy to book.

It is a good month for budget travelers, families on summer break, and food lovers happy to plan outdoor sights for the morning. Mountain roads can be slow after heavy rain. If you need dry weather for hiking or long drives, wait until November or come in January.

Make the most of August

What is especially good about Oaxaca this month.

Calm after the festival

The city exhales after the Guelaguetza, and you get the same markets and restaurants at much lower prices.

Family craft day

Kids love watching alebrijes being carved and painted in San Martin Tilcajete, a calm morning trip.

Museo de las Culturas

A perfect rainy-afternoon stop, with the treasures of Tomb 7 from Monte Alban.

What to pack for August

A packable rain jacket
Quick-dry clothes
Water-resistant walking shoes
Bug spray for evenings

Our timing tip

Book a driver for village trips in the morning, and aim to be back in town by 2pm.

Book Oaxaca for August.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Oaxaca
Opens a hotel search for Oaxaca in August, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for August
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Vacation rentals in Oaxaca
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Oaxaca
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Oaxaca for August. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

Things to do in Oaxaca

Full guide

Monte Alban

The Zapotec capital on a leveled mountaintop above the city. Go when it opens to beat the heat and the tour buses; bring a hat, there is little shade.

Tickets and tours →

Templo de Santo Domingo and the Museo de las Culturas

The gilded church interior is one of Mexico's baroque masterpieces; the former convent next door holds the treasures of Tomb 7 from Monte Alban.

Tickets and tours →

Mercado 20 de Noviembre and Benito Juarez market

The smoke-filled grill aisle for tasajo and chorizo, then chocolate, mole pastes, and chapulines next door. Go at lunch.

Tickets and tours →

Museo Textil de Oaxaca

A small, excellent museum of regional and international textiles in the Centro. Free and often overlooked.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Hierve el Agua

Mineral springs and petrified waterfalls about 90 minutes away. Access has occasionally been closed by local disputes, so confirm before you go.

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Mitla and the Tule tree

Combine the stone fretwork of Mitla with the massive ahuehuete tree in Santa Maria del Tule, one of the widest trees in the world.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

For Dia de Muertos, book hotels four to six months ahead, and consider arriving a week early to see altar building and markets before the peak crowds arrive.
January and February are the empty, sunny months. You get the same food and markets at half the Dia de Muertos price.
Go to Monte Alban at opening time and save the markets for the afternoon, when the ruins are hot and busy.
For the Guelaguetza, free community versions and parades happen around the city even if the main auditorium tickets are gone.

Know before you go

Many museums close on Mondays, which catches visitors out. Check hours for any museum you plan around.
Christmas through January 6 and Semana Santa are Mexican holiday periods: sights are open but crowded, and some small businesses shut for a few days.
Access to Hierve el Agua and some villages is occasionally closed by local community disputes or blockades. Ask your hotel before heading out.
Teacher and labor protests sometimes block streets in the Centro or roads to the airport, especially in late spring. Leave extra time and follow local news.