San Cristóbal de las Casas, nestled in the highlands of Chiapas, enjoys a subtropical highland climate with mild, spring-like temperatures year-round. The city experiences a distinct dry season from November to April and a pronounced rainy season from May to October. Its altitude provides cool nights, lush surroundings, and a refreshing escape from Mexico’s hotter lowlands.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
San Cristóbal de las Casas is known for its temperate, mountain climate, shaped by its elevation of around 2,200 metres. The city’s weather is characterised by mild days and cool nights throughout the year. Average daytime highs range from 20°C in January to 24–28°C in April and May, the warmest months. Nights are notably cooler, often dropping to 6–11°C, and can feel chilly even in summer. The coldest months are December and January, but frost is rare and snow is virtually unknown.
The climate features two distinct seasons. The dry season, from November to April, brings sunny days, crisp air, and very little rainfall – just 10–45 mm per month. This period is ideal for exploring the city’s colonial streets and nearby highland villages. The rainy season runs from May to October, with June to September being the wettest months. During this time, monthly rainfall can exceed 150–225 mm, and showers are frequent, especially in the afternoons. Despite the rain, mornings are often sunny, and the surrounding landscapes turn lush and vibrant. Annual precipitation is around 1,085 mm, and humidity is moderate to high, especially in the wet season. Winds are generally light, averaging 8–12 km/h, but can feel brisk in the open highlands. San Cristóbal enjoys about 2,000 hours of sunshine per year, with daylight lasting 11–13 hours depending on the season.
| Average climate data for San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 28 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 32 | 24 | 33 | 69 | 230 | 360 | 211 | 321 | 273 | 255 | 68 | 26 | 1,903 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 15 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 24 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 17 | 13 | 250 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 77 | 73 | 70 | 68 | 76 | 86 | 80 | 82 | 87 | 88 | 85 | 78 | 79 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 32 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 37 | 52 | 43 | 45 | 54 | 54 | 44 | 33 | 39 |
| Average UV index | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
The best time to visit San Cristóbal de las Casas is from February to May and November, when rainfall is low, days are pleasantly warm, and nights are cool. These months offer ideal conditions for sightseeing, hiking, and enjoying the vibrant local culture with fewer weather disruptions.
The least favourable time to visit is from June to September, when heavy afternoon rains are frequent and some outdoor activities may be disrupted. December and January can also be chilly at night, but days remain mild and dry, making winter less problematic than the rainy season.
San Cristóbal de las Casas has a mild, spring-like climate due to its high elevation. Days are usually warm (20–25°C), nights are cool (6–11°C), and there is a distinct dry season (Nov–Apr) and rainy season (May–Oct).
The best time to visit is from February to May and November, when the weather is warm, rainfall is low, and outdoor activities are most enjoyable. These months are also less crowded than peak holiday periods.
Rainfall is concentrated from May to October, with June to September being the wettest. During these months, afternoon showers are frequent, but mornings are often sunny. The dry season (Nov–Apr) sees very little rain.
Nights are cool year-round, often dropping to 6–11°C, and can feel chilly even in summer. December and January are the coldest months, but frost is rare and snow is virtually unknown.
Yes, the city’s mild climate is ideal for hiking, day trips, and exploring nearby villages. The dry season is best for outdoor activities, while the rainy season requires more flexibility due to frequent showers.
Pack layers: light clothing for warm days, a jumper or jacket for cool nights, and a rain jacket and waterproof shoes if visiting in the rainy season. Sun protection is recommended year-round due to the altitude.
San Cristóbal is relatively protected from hurricanes due to its inland, highland location. Extreme weather is rare, but heavy rain can occasionally cause travel disruptions during the wettest months.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is April (27.5 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (21.8 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 24.4 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is May (16.7 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (11.6 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 14.2 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (360.3 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is February (23.8 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,903.3 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is September (28.6 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is December (12.6 days). Over the whole year there are 249.7 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is October (88.1 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is April (68.4 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 79.3 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is January (4.7 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is September (3.2 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 4 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is September (54.3 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is March (24.6 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 39.3 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 13 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 11 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is May (Average sunshine: 10.2 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is October (Average sunshine: 5.9 h). Over the whole year there are 8.2 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are March and April (UV index: 6). The month with the lowest average UV index is November (UV index: 4). Over the whole year the average UV index is 5.1.
