Guadalajara plaza with jacaranda trees in bloom

Planning

Best Time to Visit Guadalajara

Month-by-month breakdown with weather, crowd levels, prices, and festivals. The short answer: October–December. The long answer is below.

12 months comparedFestival calendarPrice trendsReal verdictsPrices verified Mar 2026· 10 min read· Prices may vary

The Quick Answer

October–December is the sweet spot. The rainy season just ended, the air is fresh, temperatures are perfect (22–26°C), and the Fiestas de Octubre — a month-long festival with free concerts, the Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi, charrería shows, and food stalls — transform the city into one giant party. November–December add the Día de Muertos and Christmas atmosphere.

March–May is the second-best window — dry and warm, with jacaranda trees blooming purple across the city in March. It gets hot (30°C+) by May.

Colorful Guadalajara plaza with clear blue skies during dry season — October through May offers clear skies and ideal weather for exploring Guadalajara.

Guadalajara has two seasons:Dry (October–May) and rainy (June–September). The rainy season doesn't mean constant rain — mornings are clear, with heavy afternoon showers at 3–5pm that last 1–2 hours. You can still travel during rainy season; just plan indoor activities for afternoon.

Month by Month

Street food vendor in Guadalajara preparing tacos during festival season — Fiestas de Octubre (October) transforms Guadalajara into a month-long celebration.

January

Good

🌡️ 12–24°C🌧️ Minimal👥 Low–Med

Post-holiday calm. Cool mornings, warm afternoons. Good prices after the Christmas spike. Clear skies.

February

Good

🌡️ 13–26°C🌧️ Minimal👥 Low

Driest month. Warming up. Low crowds, good deals. The FICG (film festival) sometimes falls in Feb/Mar.

March

Good

🌡️ 14–28°C🌧️ Minimal👥 Medium

🎉 Jacaranda bloom, Semana Santa (variable)

Jacarandas bloom purple across the city — stunning. Semana Santa (Holy Week) can spike prices and crowds if it falls in March. Book ahead.

April

Good

🌡️ 16–31°C🌧️ Low👥 Med (Semana Santa)

🎉 Semana Santa (variable)

Getting warmer. If Semana Santa falls here, expect 30–50% price jumps and fully booked hotels for that week. Otherwise, pleasant and manageable.

May

🌡️ 18–33°C🌧️ Starting👥 Low

Hottest month. 33°C peaks, humidity building. First rains start late May. Low crowds and prices compensate. Drink more water than you think.

June

🌡️ 18–30°C🌧️ Heavy👥 Low

Full rainy season begins. Daily afternoon downpours 3–5pm. Mornings are clear and fresh. Lowest prices of the year. Lush green landscape.

July

🌡️ 17–28°C🌧️ Heavy👥 Low

Peak rain. Afternoons are reliably wet. Temperature actually drops — pleasant if you don't mind planning around rain. Flash flooding can disrupt traffic.

August

Avoid

🌡️ 17–28°C🌧️ Heavy👥 Low

Heaviest rain month. Some flooding risk. Outdoor day trips (Tequila, Guachimontones) can be disrupted. Best avoided unless budget is the only priority.

September

🌡️ 17–27°C🌧️ Heavy → tapering👥 Low

🎉 Independence Day (Sep 15–16)

Rain starts tapering mid-month. Independence Day celebrations Sep 15–16 are festive — fireworks, live music in plazas, patriotic energy. Worth timing for.

October

Best

🌡️ 16–27°C🌧️ Ending👥 Medium

🎉 Fiestas de Octubre (month-long), Romería Oct 12

The best month. Rain stops, air is fresh, the month-long Fiestas de Octubre transform the city. Centered on the Auditorio Benito Juárez fairgrounds, the festival features free concerts, the Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi (the world's premier mariachi competition), charrería (Mexican rodeo) exhibitions, regional food stalls, and nightly entertainment. The Romería de la Virgen de Zapopan (Oct 12) draws over a million pilgrims — one of Mexico's largest religious processions. Book 3+ weeks ahead.

November

Best

🌡️ 13–26°C🌧️ Minimal👥 Medium

🎉 Día de Muertos (Nov 1–2)

Perfect weather. Día de Muertos celebrations with altars, marigolds, and cemetery visits. Not as elaborate as Oaxaca's, but genuine and less touristy. Great month.

December

Best

🌡️ 11–24°C🌧️ Minimal👥 High

🎉 Christmas, New Year, posadas

Cool and festive. Posadas (pre-Christmas processions) fill the streets mid-Dec. Christmas and New Year spike hotel prices 40–60%. Book well ahead. The atmosphere is worth the premium.

Price Seasons

SeasonMonthsHotel Price Impact

PeakDec 15–Jan 5, Semana Santa+40–60%

HighOct, Nov, Mar+10–20%

ShoulderJan–Feb, Apr, May, SepBaseline

LowJun–Aug−15–30%

Boutique hotel courtyard in Guadalajara showing accommodation options — Hotel prices fluctuate significantly by season — January and February offer the best deals.

Best value sweet spot: Late January or February. Post-holiday calm, dry weather, low crowds, baseline prices. You miss the festivals but save 20–40% vs peak season.

Colonial Guadalajara street with jacaranda trees in dry season — March through May brings warm, dry weather and blooming jacaranda trees across the city.

Frequently Asked Questions

October. Perfect weather, Fiestas de Octubre celebrations, and the Romería pilgrimage (Oct 12). November is a close second with Día de Muertos.

Not terrible — mornings are clear, rain hits 3-5pm for 1-2 hours, then stops. You can absolutely travel June-September; just plan outdoor activities for morning and indoor (markets, museums, restaurants) for afternoon. Prices are 15-30% lower.

June-August (rainy season). Flights and hotels are at their lowest. January-February is the best balance of good weather AND reasonable prices.

Not really. December-January nights can drop to 5-10°C — you'll want a jacket for evenings. Daytime stays 20-25°C year-round. It never freezes in the city.

August if you dislike rain — it's the wettest month. The week of Semana Santa and Dec 20-Jan 5 if you're on a tight budget — prices spike significantly.