The climate in Mexico is tropical and there is little temperature fluctuation between the seasons. Some areas of the country are dry while others experience significant rainfall. In mountainous regions, the weather is cooler and less humid as you climb in altitude. Mexico receives about 40 inches of rain each year.
In the winter, a cold wind from the United States, called a “norte,” can cause sudden drops in temperature in the northern and central portions of the country. The peninsula of Baja has a very mild climate and there is very little rainfall from November to March.
The best time to visit Mexico is during the dry season which runs from December to April. Although still warm, the coolest months are December and February.
When visiting Mexico, one of the must-do activities is to ride a Chicken Bus. These are school buses from the United States or Canada that have been refurbished and given new life. They are brightly painted, and they list their destinations in the front window. The buses are crowded with people sometimes sitting three or four to a seat. The schedule for Chicken Buses is very relaxed but the fare is very low and it provides you with some fun people watching on the way to your destination. Vendors climb onto the bus at stops trying to sell snacks.
There are also modern coach buses in Mexico with a variety of classes, including Executive, First and Second Class. The second-class busses may not have air conditioning or bathrooms and they also make more stops. First and executive class are more comfortable and sometimes provide snacks as well as reclining seats.
Colectivos are large vans designed for 10 to 15 passengers that follow a set route. However, drivers try to get as many people into the colectivo as possible so they can become very crowded.