June is the green month and the emptiest month. The rains are properly established at about 170 mm, the valley is transformed, the temperature has eased to 30°C, and almost nobody is here. If you can accept a thunderstorm most evenings, it is the best value Oaxaca offers.
The numbers
What 170 mm actually feels like
It sounds like a lot and it does not behave like a lot, because of how it falls.
- Clear mornings, almost always. The pattern is remarkably consistent: sun until early afternoon, cloud building over the Sierra, a storm between about 4pm and 9pm.
- Storms are heavy but short, typically one to three hours, and they clear the air completely.
- You lose evenings, not days. Structure the trip around morning excursions and late lunches and you will barely notice.
- Humidity stays moderate in the valley because of the altitude. The coast is a different story.
- Dirt roads deteriorate. The Hierve el Agua road and some of the palenque tracks get rough; a higher-clearance vehicle or a driver is worth it.
The green season, and what it opens up
- The valley and the Sierra are at their most beautiful. Monte Alban surrounded by green hills is a completely different site from the dust-brown version in the guidebooks.
- Waterfalls run. The cascades in the Sierra Norte and the Mixteca only really work in the wet season.
- Wild mushrooms appear in the Sierra Norte from June, and villages around Cuajimoloyas build a mushroom fair around them.
- The milpa is planted. Maize, beans and squash go in with the rains, which is the agricultural rhythm behind everything in Oaxacan food.
- Chapulines, wild greens and squash blossom come into the markets.
Guelaguetza preparation
June is when the city starts building towards its biggest event. Delegations from the eight regions rehearse, the calendas – street processions with giant puppets and brass bands – become more frequent, and hotel prices for the second half of July start climbing. If you are coming for Guelaguetza in July, June is already late to book. See Oaxaca in July.
Where to go in June
- The Sierra Norte – Cuajimoloyas, Latuvi and the Pueblos Mancomunados, cool, green and misty, with mushroom season starting.
- Monte Alban and Mitla in the morning, with green hills behind them.
- The central valleys – markets, weavers and mezcal, with no tour buses.
- The coast, with caution – hot, humid, big surf and the hurricane season under way.
- Waterfalls in the Sierra and the Mixteca, which only run now.
Prices and crowds
The lowest of the year, along with September. Hotels discount, restaurants have tables, and the sites are quiet. The exception is anything already priced for Guelaguetza in late July. See what a trip to Mexico costs.
What to pack
A genuinely waterproof jacket and quick-drying shoes, not an umbrella – the storms come with wind. A light layer for evenings at about 15°C. Insect repellent, which matters now. Strong sunscreen for the clear mornings. A dry bag for electronics. Sandals or shoes you do not mind soaking, because the streets flood briefly.
The June 2027 calendar
- Through June – established rainy season, about 170 mm, falling as late-afternoon and evening thunderstorms.
- Through June – the valley and the Sierra at their greenest; waterfalls running.
- From June – wild mushroom season in the Sierra Norte, with a mushroom fair around Cuajimoloyas.
- Through June – calendas and rehearsals as the city prepares for Guelaguetza.
- Through June – the Pacific hurricane season is active; watch the forecast if you are going to the coast.
- No federal public holidays fall in June in Mexico.
Read alongside
- Oaxaca in May – the rains arrive.
- Oaxaca in July – Guelaguetza.
- Oaxaca in August – deep green and very quiet.
- Best time to visit Oaxaca – all twelve months compared.
- Oaxaca travel guide – the city, the valley and the coast.
- Oaxaca itinerary – how to put a trip together.
- Things to do in Oaxaca – the year-round list.
- Oaxaca food guide – moles, tlayudas and the markets.
Frequently asked
Is June a bad time to visit Oaxaca because of rain?
No. Mornings are almost always clear and the rain comes as a heavy evening storm. You lose evenings rather than days, and you gain green landscapes, low prices and no crowds.
How much does it rain in Oaxaca in June?
About 170 mm, which is close to the annual peak, but concentrated into short late-afternoon storms.
Is June cheap in Oaxaca?
It is one of the two cheapest months, with September. The exception is accommodation already priced for Guelaguetza in late July.
When should I book for Guelaguetza?
Well before June. Prices for the second half of July climb sharply from the start of the summer, and the best-located hotels go months ahead.
Can you visit Hierve el Agua in the rainy season?
Yes, but the access road deteriorates. Use a higher-clearance vehicle or a driver, and go in the morning before the storms.
Is the Oaxaca coast safe in June?
The hurricane season is active from 15 May, so track the forecast. Day to day it is hot, humid and very quiet, with a large swell at Puerto Escondido.
What food is in season in June?
Wild mushrooms in the Sierra Norte, squash blossom, wild greens and chapulines in the city markets – all tied to the arrival of the rains.
Are there public holidays in Mexico in June?
No federal ones.
Oaxaca month by month
- January – dry, bright days and genuinely cold nights.
- February – carnival, Candelaria and perfect dry-season weather.
- March – Semana Santa, jacarandas and the heat building.
- April – the hottest and driest month, just before the rains.
- May – the rains arrive and the valley turns green.
- June – clear mornings, afternoon storms, and no crowds (this page).
- July – Guelaguetza, the biggest festival of the year.
- August – deep green season and the quietest city of the year.
- September – Independence, the wettest month and the hurricane peak.
- October – Dia de Muertos and the end of the rains.
- November – dry, clear and arguably the best month of all.
- December – Noche de Rabanos, posadas and the Christmas peak.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
