Mexico, North America

Oaxaca in December

The Virgen de la Soledad feast on December 18, the Noche de Rabanos on December 23, and posadas all month. Christmas week is busy with Mexican travelers.

GoodDry, highs near 77F (25C), cold nights near 45F (7C)

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

The straight answer

December is a good month to visit Oaxaca. The Virgen de la Soledad feast on December 18, the Noche de Rabanos on December 23, and posadas all month. Christmas week is busy with Mexican travelers.

Weather: Dry, highs near 77F (25C), cold nights near 45F (7C)
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What December is like in Oaxaca

December is dry and sunny, with highs near 77F (25C) and cold nights near 45F (7C). The city is lit up for posadas, the Virgen de la Soledad feast around December 18, and the Noche de Rabanos on December 23. Christmas week is busy with Mexican travelers.

It suits families and festive travelers who like a lively city. Book early for Christmas week. If you want quiet and lower prices with the same dry weather, come in early December or wait for mid January.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Oaxaca this month.

Noche de Rabanos

On December 23, giant radishes are carved into elaborate scenes and displayed in the Zocalo. Arrive early, the lines are long.

Virgen de la Soledad feast

Around December 18, fireworks and processions honor Oaxaca's patron saint at her basilica.

Posadas

Candlelit processions and neighborhood celebrations fill the evenings through the month.

What to pack for December

A warm jacket for cold nights
Layers for cool mornings and warm afternoons
Sunscreen and a hat
Comfortable shoes for crowded plazas

Our timing tip

Get to the Zocalo in the afternoon of December 23 to see the radish carvings before the evening lines build.

Book Oaxaca for December.

Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.

Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Oaxaca
Opens a hotel search for Oaxaca in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
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 December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in December

Noche de Rabanos

December 23 every year

The Night of the Radishes: giant radishes carved into elaborate scenes and displayed in the Zocalo. Arrive early, the lines are long.

Fiesta de la Virgen de la Soledad

Around December 18

The feast of Oaxaca's patron saint, with fireworks, processions, and a crowded basilica.

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.

Tickets and tours →

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.

Oaxaca in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit Oaxaca?

December is a good month to visit Oaxaca. The Virgen de la Soledad feast on December 18, the Noche de Rabanos on December 23, and posadas all month. Christmas week is busy with Mexican travelers.

What is the weather like in Oaxaca in December?

Dry, highs near 77F (25C), cold nights near 45F (7C).

Is Oaxaca crowded in December?

Crowds in Oaxaca are moderate in December; timed bookings still help at the biggest sights.

What is happening in Oaxaca in December?

Noche de Rabanos (december 23 every year); Fiesta de la Virgen de la Soledad (around december 18).