Oaxaca · Month comparison

August vs October

October ranks #1 overall vs August at #12. Día de Muertos — the single greatest cultural event in Latin America unfolds across Oaxaca

Oaxacan cemetery altar preparation with marigolds and candles

August

#12 of 12 months

Worth considering

Post-Guelaguetza lull with the heaviest rains of the year — good value if you don't mind the wet

  • Prices drop significantly after Guelaguetza; accommodation is easy to find
  • Valley lush and green — the landscape is at its most photogenic after months of rain
Día de Muertos altar covered in marigolds and candles in Oaxaca cemetery

October

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Día de Muertos — the single greatest cultural event in Latin America unfolds across Oaxaca

  • Día de Muertos (Oct 31–Nov 2) is incomparable — candlelit cemetery vigils, marigold carpets, sugar skulls and genuine emotion
  • Rains almost finished; dry bright days and cool evenings make the festival setting perfect
FactorAugustOctober
Weather score
5
7
Value score
6
4
Crowd score
5
8
Events score
5
10
Atmosphere
6
10
Avg high temp25°C27°C
Monthly rain82mm52mm
Daily sunshine7.5hrs8.5hrs

August trade-offs

  • August is the wettest month — afternoon downpours are heavy and sometimes all-day
  • Some villages in the Valles Centrales are harder to reach on muddy roads

October trade-offs

  • Hotel prices peak at annual high; accommodation within the city sells out months ahead
  • Crowds from CDMX and international visitors make the most famous cemeteries (Xoxocotlán) extremely busy on Nov 1
Scores compare months within Oaxaca. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →