Best Time to Visit Puerto Escondido: Month-by-Month Guide
The best time to visit Puerto Escondido is December to April. It’s dry, sunny and around 84°F (29°C) every day, with almost no rain from December to April. June to October is the rainy season: hotter, greener, quieter and cheaper, with afternoon storms and the best of the turtles and bioluminescence.
There’s no bad month to visit. It depends on whether you want guaranteed sunshine, big surf, wildlife or lower prices.
Puerto Escondido weather by month
| Month | High / Low | Rain | Rainy days | What’s happening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 84 / 72°F | 0.4 in | 0 | Peak season, whales |
| February | 84 / 73°F | 0.0 in | 0 | Driest month, whales |
| March | 84 / 74°F | 0.0 in | 0 | Whales, Semana Santa crowds |
| April | 85 / 76°F | 0.4 in | 0 | Hot and dry, crowds thin after Easter |
| May | 86 / 78°F | 2.8 in | 4 | Hottest month, big swells start |
| June | 86 / 77°F | 8.7 in | 11 | Rains start, turtle nesting begins |
| July | 86 / 76°F | 8.3 in | 11 | Green season, bioluminescence |
| August | 86 / 76°F | 9.4 in | 11 | Turtle peak, warmest sea |
| September | 86 / 76°F | 10.6 in | 13 | Wettest, quietest month |
| October | 86 / 75°F | 4.9 in | 7 | Rains ease off |
| November | 86 / 74°F | 1.0 in | 1 | Fiestas de Noviembre, surf contest |
| December | 84 / 72°F | 0.4 in | 0 | High season, holidays |
Averages for 1991-2020. The sea stays between 82°F and 86°F all year.
December to April: dry season
This is high season, and for good reason. The sky is clear, it almost never rains, and the evenings are the coolest of the year.
- December: busy from mid-month, and very busy between Christmas and New Year. Book early.
- January and February: the most reliable weather of the year. February is the driest month. Humpback whales pass the coast from about December to March, and boat tours leave from the main bay.
- March: still dry, still whale season. Semana Santa (March 21-28, 2027) fills the town with visitors from across Mexico, so book well ahead or avoid that week.
- April: the heat builds and the crowds thin out after Easter. It’s a good month if you want dry weather with more space on the beach.
Best for: first visits, beach days, whale watching, and anyone escaping a Canadian winter.
May: the hot shoulder month
May is the hottest month of the year. A few storms arrive late in the month, and the big south swells start rolling into Zicatela, which is when the Mexican Pipeline shows why it’s famous.
Best for: experienced surfers and people who like heat.
June to October: rainy season
The rain usually comes as afternoon or evening storms, and the mornings are often clear. Everything turns green, prices drop, and the town is at its quietest.
- June and July: the rains begin and turtle nesting season starts. Bioluminescence in Laguna Manialtepec is at its brightest in these months, especially near a new moon.
- August: the peak of turtle season. You can join an evening hatchling release on Playa Bacocho. The sea is at its warmest, around 86°F.
- September: the wettest month, with about 13 rainy days. It’s the quietest and cheapest time to visit.
- October: the rain eases off, and the landscape is still green.
Hurricane season runs from June to November, with the highest risk from August to October. Most years pass without a direct hit, but buy travel insurance for these months and watch the forecast.
Best for: budget travellers, wildlife, surfers, and anyone who doesn’t mind a daily storm.
November: the best of both
The rain has mostly stopped, the hills are still green, and high season hasn’t started yet. The Fiestas de Noviembre run all month, from November 2 to 30, with music, food, cultural events and the international surf contest at Zicatela.
Best for: good weather without peak crowds, and anyone who wants to see local culture.
Whatever month you visit, your flight home could save a dog
Dogs from Huellitas de Acero are adopted by families in Canada all year round, and every one of them needs a traveller to fly home with. We call them Flight Angels.
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December to April is when the direct flights to Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg run, so it’s the easiest time to help.
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May to November is when we need you most. Fewer visitors means fewer travellers flying home, while adopted dogs keep waiting. If you’re visiting in the rainy season, you’re exactly who we’re looking for, even if you connect through Mexico City.
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It’s free. We pay for the dog’s ticket.
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We handle everything: health certificate, vaccination records, travel crate and the dog’s booking.
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We meet you at the airport, and the adopter meets you when you land.
Become a Flight Angel. Fill in the form once your flight home is booked. Here’s how it works, and here are all the direct flights from Canada.
Want to meet the dogs while you’re here? Volunteers are welcome at the shelter all year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Puerto Escondido?
February. It’s the driest month, averaging 84°F with no rain, and it’s in the middle of whale season. Anywhere from December to April is good.
When is the rainy season in Puerto Escondido?
June to October. September is the wettest month, with about 13 rainy days. Rain usually falls in the afternoon or evening.
When can you see whales in Puerto Escondido?
Humpback whales pass the coast from about December to March.
When is turtle season in Puerto Escondido?
Turtles nest from about May to November, with the peak from July to October. Evening hatchling releases take place on Playa Bacocho.
When is the cheapest time to visit Puerto Escondido?
The rainy season, especially September. It’s the quietest month, and accommodation is at its lowest prices.
TRAVELING TO PUERTO ESCONDIDO OR HUATULCO, MEXICO?
Becoming a Flight Angel might be the perfect way to combine your passion for travel with the joy of helping a rescued dog find their forever home!
Why Become a Flight Angel?
Becoming a Flight Angel is an incredibly rewarding experience. You’ll witness firsthand the power of adoption and play a pivotal role in a heartwarming story.
- Make a Real Difference: Your willingness to share a bit of space on your flight directly impacts the life of a deserving dog. You’ll be the reason they get a second chance at happiness in a loving forever home.
- Witness the Joy of Adoption: There’s nothing quite like seeing the pure joy of a rescued dog meeting their new family for the first time. You’ll be a part of that unforgettable moment and the start of a beautiful new chapter.
- Travel with a Purpose: Turn your next trip into a meaningful adventure. Instead of just visiting a new destination, you’ll be a hero on a mission to reunite a dog with their loving family.
- Simple & Rewarding: Becoming a Flight Angel is a straightforward process. We handle the logistics, so you can focus on the joy of the experience.
If you don’t know what a flight angel is, it’s when you volunteer with a dog shelter to take a dog on a flight to it’s new adopted home on your way back from vacation.
When you travel, check with nearby dog shelters and ask if they need a flight angel to your home town. They are always so desperate for them; they and the adopted doggie parents will be forever grateful to you.
It’s how I give back to the community I’ve been visiting. It doesn’t cost you anything and the shelter takes care of everything, it’s super easy! You just have to love dogs. 🙂