Best time for vacation in Mazatlan?

A common question that people have is "When is the best time to visit Mazatlan?"

A really simple answer would be "anytime!" Another common answer is "whenever your schedule/work allows you to." But for those who have real flexibility about their visit, here are a few thoughts:

There are basically two factors that affect your vacation that vary throughout the year. One is the weather, and the other is the crowds.

If you want to know more about how the weather in Mazatlan varies throughout the year, you can read our other post about that. Basically, if you're trying to escape the cold, Mazatlan has moderate weather in the winter. In the coldest months (January and February) it will get down to 60 F at night, but that's not really cold at all! If you don't like it to be too hot and humid, you might want to avoid the summer months (July through September), when temperatures do get up to the low 90's with high humidity. However, with air conditioning and cold drinks in the shade of a palapa, you'll definitely still be able to enjoy yourself!

The other factor that affects your vacation in Mazatlan is the crowds. The most marked crowds are during Mexican vacations, which fall during the week before and after Easter, and during the month of July and the first part of August. During these times, a lot of Mexicans come to Mazatlan for vacation, so it is pretty crowded. The "gringo" tourists are not nearly as concentrated, but the majority of gringos come from December through April.

So, if you prefer to avoid the crowds, and you prefer the moderate weather (warm and sunny, but not totally hot), the best times to come are from April through June, and from October through November.