September is the wettest month of the Oaxacan year and the cheapest. It is also the most patriotic: Independence is celebrated on the night of 15 September with the Grito in every town square in the country, and Oaxaca’s zocalo does it properly. If you can work around evening rain, this is the month with the best ratio of atmosphere to price.
The numbers
Independence, and what actually happens on the 15th
Mexican Independence is 16 September, but the event is the night before.
- On the evening of 15 September the governor appears on the balcony of the state government building on the zocalo and gives the Grito de Dolores – the shout that re-enacts the call to arms of 1810 – followed by fireworks and a long night in the square.
- Thursday 16 September 2027 is the federal public holiday, with a civic parade in the morning.
- Expect closures on the 16th and a late night on the 15th. Book a restaurant with a zocalo view early if that is what you want.
- The whole month is decorated – green, white and red across the centro from the start of September.
The wettest month, in practice
- About 175 mm, the annual peak, still falling mostly as late-afternoon and evening storms.
- The exception is a tropical system. September is the peak of the Pacific hurricane season, and the remnant of a storm can bring a genuine day or two of continuous rain, plus landslides on mountain roads.
- Mountain roads are the weak point. The routes to the coast and into the Sierra can close after heavy rain; leave slack in any tight connection.
- Mornings are still usually clear, and the working pattern is the same as the rest of the wet season.
- The landscape is at its most saturated green, and the waterfalls are at their fullest.
What September is good for
- Independence night on the zocalo, which is the best free spectacle of the Oaxacan year.
- The lowest prices of the year, along with June.
- Empty archaeological sites – Monte Alban and Mitla with almost nobody in them.
- Turtle arribadas building on the coast at beaches such as La Escobilla.
- Chiles en nogada, the seasonal Independence dish, on menus through the month.
- Mushroom and wild-greens season continuing in the Sierra Norte.
Where to go in September
- Oaxaca City for the Grito on the 15th and the parade on the 16th.
- Monte Alban and Mitla in the morning, empty and green.
- The Sierra Norte, cool and in cloud, with the waterfalls running.
- The coast, with the forecast checked daily – quiet, cheap and in the middle of turtle season.
- The city markets, which are the obvious answer to an afternoon downpour.
Prices and crowds
The lowest of the year. Hotels discount heavily, the sites are empty, and the only busy night is 15 September. See what a trip to Mexico costs.
What to pack
A serious waterproof jacket, not a light shell, and shoes that dry. A layer for 15°C evenings. Insect repellent. Sunscreen for the clear mornings. A dry bag. And genuine schedule slack if you are combining the city with the coast, because mountain roads can close.
The September 2027 calendar
- Through September – the wettest month at about 175 mm, and the peak of the Pacific hurricane season.
- Wednesday 15 September, evening – the Grito on the Oaxaca zocalo, followed by fireworks.
- Thursday 16 September – Independence Day, a federal public holiday, with a civic parade.
- Through September – chiles en nogada in season on restaurant menus.
- Through September – olive ridley arribadas building on the Oaxaca coast.
- Through September – the lowest accommodation rates of the year.
Read alongside
- Oaxaca in August – peak green and the post-festival quiet.
- Oaxaca in October – Dia de Muertos.
- Oaxaca in November – the best month of all.
- 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
When is Mexican Independence Day?
16 September, a federal public holiday. The main event is the night before, when the Grito is given from the balcony on the main square at about 11pm.
Is September too wet to visit Oaxaca?
It is the wettest month at about 175 mm, but it still mostly falls as evening storms. The real risk is a tropical system bringing a day or two of continuous rain and closing mountain roads.
Is September the cheapest month in Oaxaca?
It and June are the two cheapest. Hotels discount heavily and the sites are empty.
Can roads close in September?
Yes. The mountain routes to the coast and into the Sierra can close after heavy rain or landslides. Leave slack around flights and tight connections.
What are chiles en nogada?
A seasonal Mexican dish of stuffed poblano chilli with walnut sauce and pomegranate, in the colours of the flag. It appears on menus around Independence.
Can you see turtle arribadas in September?
Yes – the mass arrivals of olive ridleys on beaches such as La Escobilla build through the autumn. Go with a licensed guide or through the Mazunte turtle centre.
Is it safe to go to the coast in September?
Day to day yes, but this is the peak of the Pacific hurricane season. Track the forecast, and be prepared for a road or flight disruption.
How hot is Oaxaca in September?
About 28°C by day and 15°C at night in the city – the cloud keeps it slightly cooler than the dry season.
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.
- 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 (this page).
- 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.
