Mexico, North America

Oaxaca in October

Rains taper, marigolds appear in the markets, and Dia de Muertos preparations build through the last two weeks. Book early for late October.

BestDrying out, highs near 78F (26C)

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

The straight answer

October is one of the best months of the year to visit Oaxaca. Rains taper, marigolds appear in the markets, and Dia de Muertos preparations build through the last two weeks. Book early for late October.

Weather: Drying out, highs near 78F (26C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What October is like in Oaxaca

October is when the rains taper off and highs settle near 78F (26C). Marigolds and sugar skulls fill the markets, and Dia de Muertos preparations build through the last two weeks. Crowds and prices climb as the month goes on.

Early October is a quiet, green, good-value window. Late October is for travelers who want to be here for the altars and comparsas, and it needs booking four to six months ahead. If you want the dry season without the crowds, pick January or February instead.

Make the most of October

What is especially good about Oaxaca this month.

Dia de Muertos build-up

Watch altars being built and markets filling with marigolds, candles, and pan de muerto in the last week of the month.

Street parades

Costumed comparsas start to fill the streets as the holiday nears on October 31.

Green landscapes, drying roads

The countryside is still green from the rains, and trips to Mitla and Hierve el Agua get easier.

What to pack for October

A light rain jacket for early October
A warm layer for late-night outings
Comfortable walking shoes
A small daypack for market shopping

Our timing tip

Arrive about a week before October 31 to see the altars being built before the biggest crowds arrive.

Book Oaxaca for October.

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

What's on in October

Dia de Muertos

Late October through November 2, peaking October 31 to November 2

Altars, marigolds, candlelit cemetery vigils, and street parades. Oaxaca's most famous and most booked time of year.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.