English people famously love talking about the weather, so as an Englishman who has spent the last ten years living in Cuernavaca, this is the blog post I’ve been looking forward to writing.
Coming from a country like England, Mexican weather is extremely predictable. In England it can rain on any day of the year. It can rain for four weeks in August without warning, right in the middle of the school summer holidays, and then in March, when it’s supposed to be mild, there can be an unexpected four week heatwave. In Cuernavaca, Mexico, everything is more predictable. Here we have a dry season that generally runs from October to May and a rainy season that begins in late May or early June and lasts until September.. Easy. No surprises. For an Englishman, this is bliss.
The City of Eternal Spring
When Alexander Von Humbolt, the German Naturalist, passed through Cuernavaca in 1803, he was so impressed with the year-round climate that he nicknamed the city “The City of Eternal Spring“. And it really is. Daytime temperatures are generally somewhere between 70°F and 85°F (21–29°C) all year round; at night this may drop a bit but usually not by much. Unlike Mexico City to the north, in winter it’s never unpleasantly cold, and unlike coastal cities like Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Escondido or Cancun, in summer it’s never oppressively hot. The temperature always hovers around that perfect “spring-like” level.
This also means that all the way through the year, there is an enormous variety of fresh fruit and vegetables that grow in the city. Every week you can go to the market in the city centre and find new species of fruit that you didn’t see the week before. This has a knock-on effect on the gastronomy of the city. Local restaurants change their menus depending on the season, to accommodate for the ever-changing variety of fresh produce that you find in the local area. We’ve rounded up some of our favourites in our guide to the best restaurants in Cuernavaca.
Cuernavaca is so famous for the abundance of fresh fruit that you find here that residents of Cuernavaca are known all across Mexico by the affectionate nickname of “guayabos” – the people of the guava.
Is there really a “rainy season”?
Coming from England, when you hear the phrases “rainy season” you imagine grey days full of cold drizzly rain from morning to night. Thankfully, this is not the case in Cuernavaca. In Cuernavaca during the rainy season (from late May to September), it almost always rains only at night.
A typical day in rainy season is like this: bright blue skies and sunshine all day, from dawn til dusk. Then, at night, usually around 8pm or 9pm, there is a big tropical storm which lasts for several hours, usually finishing just after midnight. Could it get any better? No rain in the day, only at night. Perfect.
Thanks to the storms, Cuernavaca is one of the greenest cities in Mexico. In summer, after a night-time rainstorm, you wake up in the morning and everything smells fresh, all the plants are watered and all the rivers are full. The ravines in the city are bursting with vines and flowers; the forests are full of life. Then, in the daytime, from dawn til dusk, it’s beautiful bright warm sunshine again.
You really couldn’t design it better if you tried.
What should I pack if I join an Iguana Abroad Spanish immersion program in Cuernavaca?
Here’s the in-detail weather advice for the month you are planning to visit Cuernavaca.
September–May (Dry Season)
If you’re joining us during the dry season, you’ll spend most days in shorts, T-shirts, summer dresses or other lightweight clothing. Daytime temperatures are warm without being oppressive, making Cuernavaca ideal for walking around the historic centre or taking part in afternoon activities.
Evenings, particularly between December and February, can sometimes feel cool, so I’d recommend bringing:
- a light jumper or fleece
- a thin jacket
- comfortable walking shoes
- sunglasses
- sunscreen
- a hat
Late May–September (Rainy Season)
Don’t let the name “rainy season” put you off.
Most days are still bright, warm and sunny, with heavy tropical rain arriving in the evening after most activities have finished.
For this time of year I’d pack:
- lightweight summer clothes
- a compact umbrella
- a waterproof jacket
- trainers or shoes you don’t mind getting wet
- a small backpack for excursions
If you do forget something, don’t worry. Cuernavaca has plenty of supermarkets, pharmacies and shopping centres, so it’s easy to buy anything you’ve left at home.
Pack light, bring comfortable shoes and an open mind, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Planning your trip? Our free Why Study in Cuernavaca? booklet covers everything from the city’s neighbourhoods and climate to local culture, accommodation and what to expect during your stay.