VitaminDholidays

Vitamin D in Mexico: best months for sun and a travel guide

The best months for vitamin D in Mexico are November to May. In April, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.7 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is rainy or stormy from June to October.

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Mexico month by month

Mexico is rated at its median coastal place, for skin type III at age 30. Click a month for the details.

MonthRatingSun windowPeak UVFull dose, age 30Full dose, age 65Afternoon highRainy days
JanuaryGood6.3 h5.79 min18 min24°C1/30
FebruaryExcellent7.1 h6.88 min15 min25°C1/30
MarchExcellent8.1 h8.07 min13 min27°C6/30
AprilExcellent8.7 h8.66 min12 min30°C0/30
MayExcellent9.1 h8.96 min11 min32°C4/30
JuneBad weather8.2 h8.36 min12 min31°C20/30
JulyBad weather9.0 h8.76 min11 min32°C20/30
AugustBad weather8.5 h8.66 min12 min33°C21/30
SeptemberBad weather7.7 h7.87 min13 min30°C23/30
OctoberBad weather6.9 h6.98 min14 min31°C11/30
NovemberGood6.6 h6.09 min17 min28°C1/30
DecemberGood6.2 h5.310 min19 min26°C0/30

Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.

Travel guide: why go to Mexico

Why go

Mexico mixes Caribbean and Pacific beaches with Maya ruins, colonial cities, tacos and a long warm season, at a good price from North America.

Best for

Families, couples, backpackers, divers and history fans.

What to expect

A dry season from November to April on both coasts, and hot, humid weather with rain and hurricanes from June to November. Sargassum seaweed can affect Caribbean beaches in spring and summer. Use bottled water in most places.

Compare stays in Mexico

Places in Mexico

Each place has its own climate, so its best months can differ from the country as a whole.

Cancún best: Excellent

Big resort strip of all-inclusives, white sand and nightlife.

Best for families, groups, couples

Best months November to May · Avoid rainy or stormy from June to October

One of the world's most popular and famous beaches, known for its clear Caribbean waters, its lively party atmosphere, and its…

Playa del Carmen best: Excellent

Lively beach town with a pedestrian main street and ferries to Cozumel.

Best for couples, groups, families

Best months November to May · Avoid rainy or stormy from June to October

Tulum best: Excellent

Cliff-top Maya ruins and boho beach hotels.

Best for couples, wellness seekers

Best months November to May · Avoid rainy or stormy from June to October

Mayan coastal city with spectacular Caribbean vistas. Dates from late Mayan period.

Cozumel best: Excellent

Island with a famous reef and cruise ships.

Best for divers, snorkellers

Best months December to May · Avoid rainy or stormy from June to November

Isla Mujeres best: Excellent

Small laid-back island with calm water and golf carts.

Best for couples, families

Best months July, August, November to May · Avoid rainy or stormy in June and from September to October

Holbox best: Excellent

Car-free island with shallow flats and whale shark trips in summer.

Best for couples, nature lovers

Best months November to August · Avoid rainy or stormy from September to October

Bacalar best: Excellent

The Lagoon of Seven Colours.

Best for couples, kayakers

Best months November to April · Avoid too hot in May and from August to September; rainy or stormy from June to July and in October

Mérida best: Excellent (inland)

Colonial capital of Yucatán with food and Maya culture.

Best for culture travellers, foodies

Best months November to February · Avoid too hot from March to September; rainy or stormy in October

Chichén Itzá best: Excellent (inland)

The most famous Maya pyramid, usually a day trip.

Best for history fans, families

Best months November to February · Avoid too hot from March to June and from August to September; rainy or stormy in July and in October

Cabo San Lucas best: Excellent

Desert and ocean meet at Land's End, with whales in winter.

Best for couples, anglers, groups

Best months November to August · Avoid rainy or stormy from September to October

La Paz best: Excellent

Baja capital for sea lion and whale shark swims.

Best for divers, families

Best months November to April · Avoid too hot from May to October

Puerto Vallarta best: Excellent

Pacific resort with a cobbled old town and a malecón.

Best for couples, families, retirees

Best months November to June · Avoid too hot from August to September; rainy or stormy in July and in October

Sayulita best: Excellent

Surf village with colourful streets.

Best for surfers, backpackers, young travellers

Best months November to June · Avoid rainy or stormy from July to October

Mazatlán best: Excellent

Pacific port with a historic centre and a long waterfront.

Best for families, anglers, retirees

Best months September to July · Avoid rainy or stormy in August

Lively Pacific coast town, Mazatlán is a shipping port, a transportation hub with ferries to Baja California, and a beach resort…

Acapulco best: Excellent

Classic Pacific bay with cliff divers and nightlife.

Best for families, groups

Best months October to July · Avoid rainy or stormy from August to September

A sophisticated urban beach setting known for its top-notch nightlife, elegant dining, and nightmarish traffic.

Puerto Escondido best: Excellent

Powerful surf and a bohemian beach crowd.

Best for surfers, backpackers

Best months October to March · Avoid too hot from April to May; rainy or stormy from June to September

Huatulco best: Excellent

Nine protected bays with calm swimming.

Best for families, couples, snorkellers

Best months May, October to March · Avoid too hot in April; rainy or stormy from June to September

Zihuatanejo best: Excellent

Quiet fishing town with a calm bay.

Best for couples, families

Best months October to August · Avoid rainy or stormy in September

Oaxaca City best: Excellent (inland)

Food capital with markets and mezcal, high and mild.

Best for foodies, culture travellers

Best months June, October to April · Avoid too hot in May; rainy or stormy from July to September

Mexico City best: Excellent (inland)

Giant, exciting capital of museums and food, at altitude.

Best for culture travellers, foodies

Best months November to June · Avoid too cool in October; rainy or stormy from July to September

Capital of the republic, one of the three largest cities in the world, and a sophisticated urban hub with a 700-year history.

Some short descriptions come from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Questions about vitamin D in Mexico

When is the best time to visit Mexico for vitamin D?

The best months for vitamin D in Mexico are November to May. In April, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.7 usable sun hours a day.

Can you get vitamin D from the sun in Mexico in December?

Yes, but slowly. In December a full dose takes about 10 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 6.2 usable hours a day.

How long do I need in the sun in Mexico?

In April, the best month, about 6 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 12 minutes at age 65. Darker skin needs longer and fair skin burns sooner, so keep sessions short. This is an estimate for planning, not medical advice.

Which months should I avoid in Mexico?

For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is rainy or stormy from June to October.

What is the best place in Mexico for vitamin D?

In April the strongest sun of the places we rate is around Puerto Vallarta. Each place has its own rating, so open the place list to compare them.

Plan by month

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