By Julie R Butler
Summer officially begins on Friday 21 June, when the sun reaches its most southerly point in the sky. The beginning of summer means school is out, the temperature heats up, and the outdoor festival season kicks in. It also means it’s time for relaxation and fun in Mexico. Read on to learn the top reasons why summer is one of the best times to vacation in Mexico.
Mexico’s Terrain Offers Many Appealing Summertime Destinations
Many people think of Mexico as a place to go to in the winter to escape the cold and snow. And there’s a tendency to assume that the farther south you go, the hotter the temperature gets. But Mexico is a big country that has everything from dry deserts to tropical forests, fertile valleys to snow-capped mountains. And with its extensive coastlines and mountainous terrain, that just isn’t the case.
Yes, it can get scorching hot in desert regions that are just south of the US border. But on the coasts, summertime temperatures aren’t as extreme, remaining in the mid-80s to 90s. Just take a dip in the ocean or chill out with a cold beverage in a hammock under a palapa, and you’re good to go!
For cooler temperatures, head to higher altitudes. In cities like Mexico City, which is at 2,250 meters, (7,400 feet) and San Cristóbal de las Casas, at 2,200 meters (7,200 feet.), you can enjoy vibrant and intriguing cultural centers while beating the heat in lower lying areas of the country.
The Summer Rainy Season in Mexico
In addition to hotter temperatures, verano in Mexico also means rain and possibly even hurricanes. But the daily rainstorms that are responsible for transforming the brown dry-season landscape lush and green often don’t occur until later in the day, so you can usually still enjoy outdoor activities under clear blue skies throughout most of Mexico’s rainy season.
As for hurricanes, the season officially begins in June; but it’s not until August that the hurricane season really kicks in, so your chances of being caught in one of these weather events is much smaller during the early months of summer in Mexico.
Off-Season Deals at Mexico’s Popular Beach Resorts
There are several great things about visiting Mexico during the off-season. One is that you can find great bargains on airfare, hotels, and excursions, if you decide to hit the beaches in and around the resort towns of Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, and Cancún. Plus, you may just find that you have the place all to yourself.
Summertime Eco-Adventures and Surfing in Mexico
Initio de verano brings some wonderful opportunities for nature lovers to encounter whale sharks and sea turtles in Mexico. Whale sharks are the largest fish in the sea, and you can swim with them in their summer breeding grounds in the warm, plankton-rich waters north of Cancun.
Summer is also the egg-laying season for sea turtles, when you can observe females as they arrive at beaches throughout Mexico to nest and lay their eggs. You can even participate in helping save these amazing creatures from extinction by volunteering in conservation efforts to ensure that the eggs hatch and the hatchlings make it into the ocean.
Also, surf’s up on the Pacific coast of Mexico. From Ensenada to Puerto Escondido, summer is the time of year when you can catch the best waves.
Mexico Summer Festivals
Finally, there’s a wealth of festivals and events that take place over the summer all over Mexico, from folklóricos and film to wine, food, and music. July festivals include a traditional dance festival in Oaxaca and a colorful balloon festival in Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, while you may enjoy August festivals featuring mariachis in Guadalajara cinema in Monterrey.
With so many great reasons to visit Mexico in the summertime, there’s something for everyone in Mexico!