Picturesque view of the city tucked away in the mountains and forest.

Xalapa, a festive and lively city of about 500,000 people, is nestled in the mountains of southeast Mexico at an altitude of 4,500 feet. It is about an hour away from the port city of Veracruz and its beautiful beaches, and about 5 hours away from Mexico City by bus.

**Xalapa is located in the Central Standard Time Zone**

The climate is humid, temperate, and comfortable, with an average annual temperature of 18ºC/ 64.4ºF. Early in the morning Xalapa is often draped with fog, which gives the city its distinctive mountain atmosphere. During the afternoon it often drizzles, commonly called chipi chipi by the locals, so be sure to bring a waterproof jacket or an umbrella.

In summer, the climate is warm, but with frequent showers. In spring, the climate varies. In March, there are still some cold nights. Starting in May, it is quite hot, so bring summer clothes, but do not forget to pack a sweater. In the fall, the climate is variable with warm days, afternoon winds and foggy nights. Be prepared and bring suitable clothing for those unpredictable temperatures. In winter, the temperature drops quite a bit. In Xalapa, there is never any snow, so in spite of the cold, it is not extreme. However, there is generally no heating or air-conditioning in homes.

**Average monthly highs and lows (degrees Fahrenheit) and rainfall (inches) in Xalapa**

Type	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Highs	67	70	74	78	79	78	77	77	76	74	72	68
Lows	52	53	56	60	62	62	61	61	61	59	56	53
Avg. Rainfall	.86	.71	.76	1.07	1.31	3.41	3.04	3.32	3.69	2.69	.76	.70