Best Time to Visit Zapopan

Dry and cool: November to March

This is the sweet spot. Days are warm and sunny, and nights get properly cool, down to about 10°C in December and January. You'll want a jacket in the evening, especially if you're eating outdoors.

It's the best time for walking around Zapopan's centre, the Basílica de Zapopan and the plazas nearby. It also suits day trips to Guadalajara's historic centre, Tlaquepaque for crafts, and Tequila town for agave fields and distillery tours. Rain is rare. By March it's getting hot, but the air stays dry.

Late November is also when the Feria Internacional del Libro (a huge book fair) fills Guadalajara. Hotels can be pricier then. December brings Christmas and posadas (neighbourhood parties before Christmas), and domestic travel picks up.

Hot and dry: April and May

These are the hottest months. May tops out at 34°C, and April is close behind at 33°C. Afternoons are strong and bright, so plan museum visits, markets and long lunches for midday. Save walks for the evening.

If you hate crowds, this can work well. It's a quieter stretch outside Easter week, when Mexican families travel and hotels fill up. Rain starts creeping back in May, but it's still light.

Rainy season: June to September

July is the wettest month, with 204 mm and rain on 28 days. August and September are nearly as wet. Don't expect all-day drizzle. The usual pattern is a sunny morning, then heavy afternoon storms that flood some streets quickly. Humidity feels sticky, and the sky is often grey.

The upside is green hills, cooler days around 26°C and fewer visitors. It's a fine time for museums, cafés and food crawls. Try tortas ahogadas (pork sandwiches drowned in spicy sauce) while the rain drums on the roof. It's less good for outdoor plans, like the Barranca de Huentitán canyon or Bosque La Primavera.

The big date is October 12. The Romería de la Virgen de Zapopan is a huge procession that carries the small statue of the Virgin from Guadalajara's cathedral to the Basílica de Zapopan. It's moving, packed and very loud. Hotels fill, so expect heavy crowds along the route.

October: the turning point

October is rated Excellent, but it's still a bit damp, with rain on about 10 days. Showers fade fast, and the hills stay green. If you can handle the odd shower, you'll get greener scenery than in winter, with lighter crowds once the Romería is over.