Mexico in January

Dry and sunny; cold nights in the highlands; whale watching on the Pacific.

• Central highlands · Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuatobest weather

  Dry, sunny and mild Nov–Apr with cold nights (near 5 °C in Dec–Jan); afternoon storms May–Oct, mornings usually clear. Air quality in Mexico City is worst Feb–May.

• Yucatán and Caribbean coast · Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Mérida, Bacalarbest weather

  Hot and humid; Mérida tops 40 °C in April–May. Hurricanes Jun–Nov, sargassum seaweed on the Caribbean beaches roughly Apr–Sep.

• Pacific coast · Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca coast, Los Cabosbest weather

  Dry Nov–May; heavy rain and hurricane risk Jun–Oct, with September the wettest. Whale season Dec–Mar.

• North and Baja · Chihuahua, Copper Canyon, Baja Californiacool

  Desert extremes; Copper Canyon has snow some winters and is best Mar–May and Oct–Nov.

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• New Year's Day

  1 Jan

  Public holiday; beaches busy.

• Día de Reyes

  6 Jan

  Rosca de reyes cake; not a public holiday.

Crowds · Mexico

High

Prices · Mexico

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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Rated best or good this month

• Central highlands

  Best weather of the year (Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato)

• Yucatán and Caribbean coast

  Best weather of the year (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Mérida, Bacalar)

• Pacific coast

  Best weather of the year (Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca coast, Los Cabos)

• Mexico City

  Dry and cool mornings.