Oaxaca · Month comparison

November vs October

October ranks #1 overall vs November at #6. Día de Muertos — the single greatest cultural event in Latin America unfolds across Oaxaca

Oaxaca colonial courtyard with flower-draped arches in dry season

November

#6 of 12 months

Strong option

Post-Día de Muertos calm with perfect dry season weather — the overlooked sweet spot

  • Ideal 20–26°C dry season weather returns; every site fully accessible
  • Hotel prices drop after the festival peak; good availability throughout
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
FactorNovemberOctober
Weather score
7
7
Value score
6
4
Crowd score
5
8
Events score
6
10
Atmosphere
7
10
Avg high temp28°C27°C
Monthly rain15mm52mm
Daily sunshine9.5hrs8.5hrs

November trade-offs

  • Fewer headline events after October's spectacle
  • The city is noticeably quieter — not a negative for most travellers

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 →