Mexico is a big, varied country: a huge highland capital, colonial towns in the mountains, ancient Maya and Aztec sites, deserts in the north and long coastlines on both the Pacific and the Caribbean. Most of the country no longer changes its clocks, but it still spans several time zones, and the weather depends as much on altitude as on the season.
Mexico for visitors
Many trips start in Mexico City, one of the largest cities in the Americas, with the historic centre around the Zócalo, world-class museums, markets and food at every level. Within a day trip are the pyramids of Teotihuacan and the towns of the central highlands. North-west of the capital, colonial cities such as Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende and Querétaro have cobbled streets, churches and a cooler mountain climate.
Yucatán and the Caribbean coast
The Yucatán Peninsula is the most visited region. Cancún and the coast south of it, the Riviera Maya with Playa del Carmen and Tulum, have white-sand beaches and coral reefs, while inland are Maya sites such as Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, the colonial city of Mérida, and cenotes, natural sinkholes filled with fresh water that you can swim in.
Oaxaca and Chiapas
In the south, Oaxaca is known for its food, crafts, markets and indigenous traditions, with the ruins of Monte Albán above the city and beaches on its Pacific coast. Chiapas, further south-east, has highland towns such as San Cristóbal de las Casas and the jungle ruins of Palenque.
The Pacific coast and the north
The Pacific coast has long-established resorts, such as Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Acapulco, and quieter surf towns. Baja California, the long peninsula in the north-west, offers desert landscapes, wine country and whale watching off its coast in winter. The northern states are largely desert and mountains, with the Copper Canyon as their best-known natural sight.
Getting around
Distances are long, so domestic flights are the quickest way between regions. Long-distance coaches are comfortable and cover the whole country, and are the usual way to travel between nearby cities. Passenger trains are few, although a newer line, the Tren Maya, serves towns on the Yucatán Peninsula. Renting a car works well in Yucatán and Baja California; in Mexico City, the metro, taxis and ride-hailing apps are easier.
Time in Mexico
Right now Mexico uses 4 different UTC offsets. The capital is on Central Time, America/Mexico_City, which is UTC−6 all year. From east to west:
- Quintana Roo (Cancún, the Riviera Maya, Tulum): UTC−5 all year. The state moved to its own zone in 2015 ([1]), so it is an hour ahead of the capital.
- Central Time (Mexico City and most of the country, including Yucatán, Campeche, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Jalisco with Puerto Vallarta, and Chihuahua): UTC−6.
- Pacific Time in Mexican usage (Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, most of Nayarit, and Sonora): UTC−7 all year. The Bahía de Banderas area in Nayarit, next to Puerto Vallarta, follows Central Time instead.
- Baja California (Tijuana, Ensenada): UTC−8 now, changing its clocks with California.
Mexico stopped using daylight saving time after 2022, except in areas near the US border that keep US rules ([1]). Those areas are Baja California and border strips of Chihuahua (around Ciudad Juárez), Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas, which change their clocks on the same dates as the United States. Everywhere else, including the capital, Cancún and the Pacific resorts, the clocks never change.
What does change is the gap with the United States and Canada. Right now Mexico City is 1 hour behind New York and 2 hours ahead of Los Angeles. From March to November, when most of the United States is on summer time, the gap with New York grows by an hour and the gap with Los Angeles shrinks by one. The capital is also 6 hours behind London right now. For flights to Cancún from the capital, remember to move your watch forward an hour when you land.
Climate and weather
Mexico's climate is mostly tropical in the south and dry in the north, but altitude changes everything. The central highlands, where Mexico City, Guadalajara and the colonial towns are, have mild, spring-like weather much of the year, with cool nights. The coasts and the Yucatán Peninsula are hot and humid. The north and Baja California are desert or semi-desert, with very hot summers and cool winters.
Across most of the country the year splits into a dry season from about November to April or May and a rainy season from about May or June to October, when afternoon storms are common. In the capital, average highs range from 21°C in January to 27°C in April, so the warmest weather there comes in spring, before the rains. The wettest month in Mexico City is July, with about 133 mm of rain, while December has almost none.
- Mexico City
Show the numbers
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | 4.8 | 5.2 | 9.6 | 17 | 46 | 109 | 133 | 132 | 124 | 57 | 15 | 2.3 |
On the Caribbean and Gulf coasts, and on the Pacific coast, hurricanes and tropical storms can bring strong winds and heavy rain from early summer into autumn, with the greatest risk late in the season. The desert north can be dangerously hot in summer; our guide to extreme heat covers how to plan around it. Mexico City can also have poor air quality, usually at its worst in the warm, dry spring months.
Best time to visit Mexico
For most trips, the dry season from about November to April is the best time: sunny days, little rain and comfortable temperatures in the highlands, and warm, calm weather on the beaches. It is also the busiest period on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, especially around Christmas, New Year and Easter, so book early for those dates.
Spring, from March to May, is the hottest time in much of the country before the rains arrive, which suits beach trips but can be tiring in the lowlands and the north. The rainy season brings green landscapes and fewer visitors; in the highlands showers usually come in the afternoon or evening, so mornings remain good for sightseeing. On the coasts, late summer and early autumn carry the highest hurricane risk.
Whale watching off Baja California is a winter activity. The Day of the Dead, around the start of November, is a popular time to visit Oaxaca, Mexico City and Michoacán.
Practical facts
- Capital: Mexico City.
- Population: about 130 million (UN World Population Prospects 2024, 2023 estimate).
- Currency: Mexican peso (MXN). Cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops in cities and resorts; carry pesos in cash for markets, street food, small towns and taxis.
- Language: Spanish. Many indigenous languages are also spoken, especially in the south. English is common in the main resorts and tourist areas, much less so elsewhere, so a few words of Spanish help.
- Calling code: +52.
- Tipping: customary in restaurants, and for hotel staff, tour guides and porters.
- Driving: on the right. Toll motorways (cuotas) are usually faster and in better condition than free roads.
- Emergency number: 911, for ambulance, fire and police ([2]).
Plan your trip with hoyoopin
- Mexico City city guide: the highland climate month by month, the summer storm season, altitude and air quality, what to pack and how the capital's clock works.
- World Clock: Mexico's time zones next to your own.
- Weather: live conditions and the forecast for Cancún, Oaxaca or any other town in Mexico.
- North America: time zones and key facts for the continent.
- Further reading: scheduling meetings across time zones.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Mexico City in?
Mexico City is on Central Time, UTC−6 all year, with the IANA identifier America/Mexico_City.
Does Mexico have daylight saving time?
Not in most of the country. Mexico stopped changing its clocks after 2022 ([1]). Only Baja California and some areas along the US border still follow US daylight saving rules.
Is Cancún on the same time as Mexico City?
No. Quintana Roo, where Cancún is, uses its own zone, UTC−5 all year, an hour ahead of the capital.
When is the rainy season in Mexico?
In most of the country it runs from about May or June to October, with afternoon storms. In the capital, July is the wettest month. The north-west is dry most of the year.
When is hurricane season in Mexico?
Hurricanes can affect both coasts from early summer to autumn, with the highest risk late in the season.
Do you tip in Mexico?
Yes, in restaurants and for many services a tip is customary.
Sources
- IANA tz database, NEWS file: release 2022f (Mexico no longer observes daylight saving time after 2022, except for areas near the US border that continue to observe US rules), release 2022g (the Chihuahua border strip around Ciudad Juárez follows US rules) and release 2015a (Quintana Roo, America/Cancun, changes to its own time zone in 2015).
- GOV.UK: Mexico, getting help: 911 for ambulance, fire and police.