Mexico, North America

Oaxaca in June

Rains cool things down and green the valleys. Mornings are reliably clear for Monte Alban.

GoodWarm, highs near 83F (28C), afternoon storms

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

The straight answer

June is a good month to visit Oaxaca. Rains cool things down and green the valleys. Mornings are reliably clear for Monte Alban.

Weather: Warm, highs near 83F (28C), afternoon storms
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What June is like in Oaxaca

June brings the rains, and they cool things down to highs near 83F (28C). Mornings are usually clear, and storms roll in during the afternoon or evening. The valleys turn green, crowds are small, and prices stay low.

This is a good month for travelers who like green landscapes and fair prices and can plan outdoor sights for the morning. It suits photographers and repeat visitors. If you want reliably dry days, pick the October to March season instead.

Make the most of June

What is especially good about Oaxaca this month.

Green valleys

The first weeks of rain turn the dry hills green, and the drive to Mitla and the mezcal villages looks completely different.

Clear mornings at Monte Alban

Mornings are reliably clear, so ruins are best done early before the afternoon storms.

Evening storms from a rooftop

Watch the rain sweep across the valley from a covered terrace with a mezcal in hand.

What to pack for June

A packable rain shell
Quick-dry shoes or sandals
A light sweater for cooler rainy evenings
A small umbrella for walking in town

Our timing tip

Plan day trips for the morning and be back in the city by mid afternoon, before the storms start.

Book Oaxaca for June.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Oaxaca
Opens a hotel search for Oaxaca in June, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for June
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 June. 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.

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.