Climate
South of the Tropic of Cancer, which slices the country in half, there is a humid and hot climate along the coasts, especially in summer, whereas in the highlands the weather tends to be drier and more temperate. Most rain falls in the northern hemisphere's summer season. The north-west has a desert climate, while the Yucatán peninsula is very hot and muggy from May to October but there can be hurricanes in the autumn and cooler fronts passing through in winter. The annual range of temperature in Mexico City is 9-25o C, in Cancún 20-32oC.
Below are two graphs showing the average 24-hour temperature and rainfall for for Mexico City, Huehuetenango (in the highlands), Flores (near Tikal in the north) and London for comparison. No rainfall data was available to Flores.
Average 24-hour Temperature (in oC)
Average Rainfall (in mm)
Festivals and Holidays
Every town and village in Mexico has a fiesta. These are often raucous affairs lasting several days. The principal holidays are carnival, celebrated in February/March with costumes and parades, notably in Veracruz and Mazatlán. Easter week (Semana Santa) and Christmas are taken very seriously all over Mexico, and transport and commercial services can be disrupted. Other major occasions are Independence Day (September 16th) and the Day of the Dead (November 1st).
Currency
The local currency is the Mexican Peso. Current US dollar exchange rates are available via Google currency conversion or the OANDA currency converter. It’s not advisable to try to acquire Latin American currency before travelling, if a currency is available in high street banks or exchange outlets the exchange rate is usually very poor. You can change US dollar cash or travellers checks locally and obtain cash advances via ATMs in most towns and cities. We’d advise that you tell your bank you intend to use your card abroad before you set off.
Visas
British citizens can find up-to-date information on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website. Citizens of other countries should consult their embassy before travel.
Vaccinations
We recommend that you always check with your own travel clinic or health professional before you travel, for advice specific to your requirements. The NHS Fit For Travel website contains for up-to-date health advice and lists the common vaccinations for travellers to Mexico.