San Cristóbal de las Casas in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), San Cristóbal de las Casas sees average daytime highs around 24°C and overnight lows near 13°C, with 37 mm of rain over about 7 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 24°C in early December to 26°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 59% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is San Cristóbal de las Casas's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see San Cristóbal de las Casas's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 24°C
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 13°C
- Rainfall
- 37 mm
- 7 wet days
- Avg wind
- 6 km/h
- Travel score
- 8.5
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in San Cristóbal de las Casas in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 24°C in early December to 26°C by late February.
A typical winter day in San Cristóbal de las Casas reaches about 24°C and drops to 13°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
San Cristóbal de las Casas weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24° / 12° | 12 | 2.6 | 11.1 | 8.6 |
| Feb | 26° / 13° | 7 | 1.7 | 11.4 | 8.5 |
| Mar | 27° / 14° | 18 | 3.7 | 11.9 | 7.8 |
| Apr | 28° / 15° | 50 | 8.6 | 12.4 | 6.7 |
| May | 27° / 16° | 223 | 19.2 | 12.8 | 5.1 |
| Jun | 25° / 16° | 486 | 25.7 | 13 | 4.1 |
| Jul | 25° / 16° | 300 | 21.6 | 12.9 | 4.8 |
| Aug | 25° / 16° | 363 | 23.2 | 12.6 | 4.6 |
| Sep | 25° / 16° | 429 | 26.3 | 12.1 | 4.1 |
| Oct | 24° / 15° | 230 | 18.1 | 11.6 | 5.5 |
| Nov | 24° / 14° | 58 | 7.9 | 11.2 | 7.5 |
| Dec | 24° / 13° | 18 | 2.6 | 11 | 8.5 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 59% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
San Cristóbal de las Casas gets around 37 mm of rain over 7 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 6 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 06 min in early December to 11 h 36 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 5.0 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for San Cristóbal de las Casas
None of San Cristóbal de las Casas's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
San Cristóbal de las Casas's monsoon runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit San Cristóbal de las Casas?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is one of the better times to visit San Cristóbal de las Casas for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for San Cristóbal de las Casas in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, San Cristóbal de las Casas sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 13°C. Worth packing: light clothes and sun protection. About 7 days see rain.
UV index in San Cristóbal de las Casas in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in San Cristóbal de las Casas peaks around April 12 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 8 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 9 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 8 |
| Level | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Very high |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 14 | Extreme |
| Apr | 14 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 14 | Extreme |
| Jul | 13 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 9 | Very high |
| Dec | 8 | Very high |
Air quality in San Cristóbal de las Casas in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in San Cristóbal de las Casas is worst in April — around 38 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 3.1× the cleanest month (December, 12 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 13 | 21 | 27 | 38 | 37 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 13 | 12 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Moderate |
| Feb | 21 | Moderate |
| Mar | 27 | Moderate |
| Apr | 38 | Poor |
| May | 37 | Poor |
| Jun | 21 | Moderate |
| Jul | 24 | Moderate |
| Aug | 20 | Moderate |
| Sep | 19 | Moderate |
| Oct | 15 | Moderate |
| Nov | 13 | Moderate |
| Dec | 12 | Moderate |
Where is San Cristóbal de las Casas?
San Cristóbal de las Casas sits at 16.7°N, 92.6°W, 2,183 m above sea level, in Mexico. The nearest listed city is Teopisca, 27 km away.
Topography around San Cristóbal de las Casas
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of San Cristóbal de las Casas.
Within 3 km, the terrain around San Cristóbal de las Casas has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 392 m around an average of 2,158 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,344 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,842 m.
The land around San Cristóbal de las Casas is covered by artificial surfaces (60%) and trees (26%) within 3 km, trees (58%) and grassland (30%) within 16 km, and trees (62%) and grassland (27%) within 80 km.
Mexico travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 / 127 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 54% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $13,889
- 2025
- Happiness
- 7.0 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 43%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 24.9
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.8
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- Very low
- EF EPI 440
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for San Cristóbal de las Casas (16.7301°, -92.6382°, elevation 2,183 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.