With the exception of some northern regions, it remains hot and rainy throughout most of Mexico in August. The best way to beat the discomfort caused by the muggy conditions is to spend as much time in the cool waters of either Mexican coast. Average temperatures in the country will have risen sharply by the time August rolls around, hitting highs of 35°C (95°F) and lows of 12°C (54°F).
While domestic tourism does experience a mini resurgence during the first two weeks of August given schools are still not in session for the summer term, the month remains generally quiet and free of large crowds and foreign tourists. As a result, if you book early enough, you could end up getting great deals on flights and hotels during this rainy period.
Unless your itinerary involves a trip to Mexico City or Oaxaca where it can be slightly chilly in the mornings and evenings, you needn't have to worry about including too many sweaters or jackets. It is going to be hot, wet, and humid, throughout most of Mexico, and you should pack with these weather conditions in mind. Include a lot of summer clothes but don't forget your swimwear and raincoats either.
To get a better understanding of what Mexico is like in terms of climate and weather conditions during the month of August, continue reading below.
Mexico Weather in August: Overview
- Average temperature range: 12°C (54°F) – 35°C (95°F)
- Rainfall: 200 mm (8 inches) in Mexico City; 115 mm (5 inches) in Cancun; 115 mm (5 inches) in Oaxaca; 60 mm (2 inches) in Cabo San Lucas.
- Rainy days: 19 in Mexico City; 12 in Cancun; 10 in Oaxaca; 4 in Cabo San Lucas.
Average August temperatures will fluctuate from city to city in Mexico. They will touch highs of 24°C (75°F) in the capital, Mexico City, 32°C (90°F) in Cancun, 27°C (81°F) in Oaxaca, and 32°C (90°F) in Cabo San Lucas. The average temperature lows will be around 12°C (54°F) in Mexico City, 25°C (77°F) in Cancun, 14°C (57°F) in Oaxaca, and 27°C (81°F) in Cabo San Lucas. Oaxaca and Mexico City are both characterized by particularly chilly mornings and evenings.
Popular destinations like Mexico City and Chichen Itza can be particularly wet during August, so they are best avoided during this time of year. If you do still want to visit them, though, plan most of your activities around the mornings and early evenings as it's usually the afternoons when it rains the most. It is usually nice and sunny on either side of the day's rains.
Hurricane season in Mexico is particularly bad during the months of September and October. That being said, although rare, it is not uncommon to see hurricanes and heavy tropical storms touching down in August either. As such, it's best to always stay prepared and up to date with the latest weather developments by routinely checking local and national forecasts.
August is a great time to be in Mexico if you're into watersports and wildlife spotting. From surreal encounters swimming with Whale Sharks to appreciating the magnificence of the coral reefs by snorkeling and diving, there are several options for you to choose from. August is also a nice time to relax on the beach in spots like La Paz and attend the world's largest Mariachi festival in Guadalajara!
Weather of Mexico Major Cities in August
| City | Min. Temp | Max. Temp | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | 12°C (54°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 200 mm (8 inches) |
| Cancun | 25°C (77°F) | 32°C (90°F) | 115 mm (5 inches) |
| Guadalajara | 17°C (63°F) | 28°C (82°F) | 155 mm (6 inches) |
| Oaxaca | 14°C (57°F) | 27°C (81°F) | 115 mm (5 inches) |
| Chichen Itza | 26°C (79°F) | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (6 inches) |
| Cabo San Lucas | 27°C (81°F) | 32°C (90°F) | 60 mm (2 inches) |
| Monterrey | 22°C (72°F) | 35°C (95°F) | 50 mm (2 inches) |
Best Places to Visit in Mexico in August
1.Cancun
While you may experience the odd rain shower during your time in Cancun in August, it's still very sunny in this beach haven on the Caribbean coast. Cancun provides you with easy access to other popular spots like Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, and plenty of opportunities to scuba dive and snorkel to see some of Mexico's best coral reef systems. If you're here in August, you'll also get the chance to swim side-by-side with the world's largest fish, the Whale Shark, an opportunity you definitely shouldn't miss.
2.La Paz
Baja California Sur is home to one of the prettiest, most laid-back, beach towns in all of Mexico, La Paz. La Paz has some of the most incredible beaches including Balandra Beach, Playa El Coromuel, and Playa Pichilingue. While you can expect it to be hot and sunny, you don't have to worry about it raining at all, meaning you can soak up the sun, take a dip to cool off, and explore at ease. The beaches are also great for birdwatching!
3.Guadalajara
As the capital of the western state of Jalisco, Guadalajara is a booming metropolis popularly referred to as the cultural heartbeat of the country. It's where mariachi music originated and if you're in the city at the end of August, you can attend the world's biggest mariachi festivals, The International Mariachi Festival. The festival features some of the best mariachi bands from across the globe and some of the finest local performers you'll ever see play live.
August Crowds and Costs
Overall, August continues to be another quiet month in Mexico. While you can expect a slight rise in domestic tourism until the middle of the month when schools have time off for their summer holidays, places around the country are generally free of many large crowds and tour groups during this time of the year.
Plenty of good deals as far as flights and hotels are concerned remain on the table if you're traveling to Mexico in August, and if you book early enough, you could save a lot on these.
August Events in Mexico
Guadalupe Valley Grape Harvest Festival: The Valle de Guadalupe Fiestas de la Vendimia, or the Guadalupe Valley Grape Harvest Festival, takes place for three weeks from the beginning of August until the middle of the month featuring grand wine tastings, dinners, and galas hosted by several top wineries in the valley. While most of these events are small, the wineries do come together to co-host a much larger public event featuring wine tasting and local cuisine that is attended by hundreds of people. If you'd like to attend the smaller, more exclusive, events, do bear in mind that tickets are needed for those, and they sell out quickly.
International Mariachi Festival: The city of Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco hosts the world's largest Mariachi festival, Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charreria, starting on the last Sunday of every August. The festival features city-wide parades showcasing mariachi music and traditional dances, and the performers are some of the best in the world in their craft.
What to Wear in Mexico in August
The only places in Mexico that'll require you to carry lightweight sweaters, jackets, or pullovers remain Mexico City and Oaxaca. The mornings and evenings tend to be on the chillier side temperature-wise in these two parts of the country. For the rest of your trip, though, you can forget about these and focus on packing items that'll keep you as cool and dry as possible.
Including the following items in your luggage for a trip to Mexico in August should put you in good stead: quick-drying athletic t-shirts, linen or cotton tops, skirts, dresses, shorts, swimwear, beach cover ups, reef shoes, lightweight pants, a reliable raincoat, an umbrella, poncho, sandals, waterproof shoes, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a few sweaters or jackets if your itinerary involves a trip to Mexico City or parts of Oaxaca.
Explore Mexico with Global Highlights
Mexico is an absolute dream to visit, and our team of travel experts here at Global Highlights would be thrilled to help you realize that dream. We know the ins and outs of traveling around Mexico and have years of experience planning the perfect itinerary for this Central American paradise. This expertise will ensure you have a thoroughly memorable time during your holiday, and come back home refreshed, rejuvenated, and with plenty of stories to tell your friends. We'll keep everything from weather conditions to special interests in mind, so all you need to worry about is having as good a time as possible!
