What is the 'Green Season' and which months does it cover?
The rainy season — or green season, as we prefer to call it — runs from late May to early November. September and October are statistically the wettest months, when the Pacific can form tropical storms. The flip side? The mountains turn deep green, the lagoons fill up, prices drop, and the town gets its local rhythm back.
Does it rain all day? Here's the real pattern
No. The typical day dawns sunny and clear with high humidity; clouds build up in the afternoon and the downpour — torrential but brief — usually falls at nightfall or in the early morning. The next day the sky wakes up washed clean. If you plan the important things for the morning, the rain almost never steals a plan from you.
Tip
Schedule ocean and routes before noon and leave the afternoon for a long lunch, a spa, or a nap. The evening downpour is best enjoyed from under a palapa.
5 reasons to come in the green season
What to do when the downpour hits
Getting around in the rain: why the scooter is not your friend
The dirt streets of La Punta and the tracks to the outlying beaches turn into slippery mud and deep puddles. A 150cc scooter is unstable in those conditions; a 4x4 Jeep or an ATV turns the same road into part of the adventure. Drive by day, slow down, and never cross a flooded ford.
Heads up
In September and October watch the forecast: if a tropical storm is announced, follow Civil Protection instructions and stay off the highway. Local rivers rise fast.
What to pack for the green season
Beaches and ocean in summer: where you CAN swim
Summer groundswells pound the open coast, but the closed bays — Carrizalillo, Puerto Angelito, Manzanillo — stay calm and suitable for any level. Zicatela at this time of year is professionals-only territory: waves over six meters and extreme currents. Respect the flags and the lifeguards.
“The green season is Puerto Escondido unfiltered: cheaper, greener, and more yours.”
— KORU RENT
Note
Coming in the green season? Tell us your plan and we'll suggest the right vehicle so the rain doesn't change your route.