When you think of summer in Mexico, you probably picture warm weather and sunshine. But the truth is that’s not what the summer looks like all over Mexico.

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This is What a Blissful Summer Looks Like in Mexico City | My Heart of Mexico

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Summer is the season when most tourists come to Mexico. Of course, most of them go to visit sunny beaches like Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta.

For those of us who actually live in Mexico, the summer isn’t such an enjoyable season. In fact, it’s my least favorite season.

I don’t usually get the chance to go on a nice beach vacation during the summer, so I just stay at home in good old Mexico City.

But this is just the worst time to be in Mexico City because it’s the rainy season. And by rainy I mean there’s soggy, drenching, soaking, pouring rain.

By rainy, I mean the sun hardly comes out a few hours a day. And mushrooms grown randomly in lawns. And the city gets flooded. And then it rains some more.

So for me, the summer brings rain. Every. Single. Day.

This is what the summer looks like in Mexico City

Centuries ago, the Aztecs built a city on an island in the middle of a huge inland lake. It was called Tenochtitlan.

The Aztecs grew powerful and prosperous, and so did their city. It grew so large it was larger than the largest European city of the time.

In order for the city to grow, the Aztecs developed a technique for building more land on the lake. They also devised a system of dams, aqueducts, canals, and bridges to control the lake waters and to get around the city.

This is What a Blissful Summer Looks Like in Mexico City | My Heart of Mexico
The ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan

In the 16th century, the Spanish conquistadores destroyed the Aztec city and built a new city on top of the old one. And on top of the lake.

Of course, without the old Aztec system of dams and canals, the new city was flooded every time the rainy season arrived so the lake was drained.

It didn’t work. Today, Mexico City still sits on top of the old lake bed. The rivers have been harnessed, but it still gets flooded every year during the rainy season.

These are the same rains that used to fill up a huge inland lake, only the lake is long gone. But the water has to go somewhere, right?

This is what Mexico City residents must endure every single summer.

Trying to take the subway home when there’s a storm during rush hour.

Try driving in this. Like Mexico City drivers weren’t crazy enough!

You’d better not get caught beneath the overpass when it starts raining.

Sometimes, a new river pops up right at your front door.

Going shopping in the rain is a whole new adventure.

Fortunately, even rainy days have their charm. When the rain isn’t a downpour but a drizzle, my little girl and I like to go out on walks.

This is What a Blissful Summer Looks Like in Mexico City | My Heart of Mexico

The ancient Aztecs believed the rainy season was a gift from the rain god, Tlaloc, to water their crops and bring a plentiful harvest. They celebrated the start of the rainy season with a feast day in a sacred mountain.

This is What a Blissful Summer Looks Like in Mexico City | My Heart of Mexico

Nowadays, the modern residents of Mexico City may not be able to see any blessing in the daily rain, but it is. Without the rain that feeds aquifers and reservoirs, the megalopolis wouldn’t be able to survive. Although the rain can turn the streets into rivers, it is truly a blessing in disguise.

What’s the summer like where you live? How do you cope with rainy days? Share your thoughts in the comments!

I'm a Mexican, mom, wife, blogger, ESL teacher, and translator. My blog is dedicated to sharing all the fascinating things about Mexico that have nothing to do with politics, violence, and drug cartels, I hope you will gain a deeper understanding about my country and learn to love it as much as I do.

30 thoughts on “This is What a Blissful Summer Looks Like in Mexico City”

    1. That’s because it’s a little too chilly for us. But the interesting part here is that nobody in Mexico City walks around in shorts and sandals, even during the hottest part of the year (April and May).

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  2. Not sure why people would choose to vacation in Mexico during the summer months. It seems more people would choose to head there when their home town is cold and snowy.
    North Carolina is pretty temperate for a southern state. We have plenty of 90+ degree summer days, but winter is not so cold and snow days are extremely limited in my area.

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      1. Humidity can make summer days uncomfortable, but nothing like the humidity of Florida. My wife and I are considering a move to Arizona. Very low humidity, very few rainy days (except monsoon season) but summer temps are exceptionally high. Wherever we live, we will discover many joys and benefits because we appreciate the sanctity of life and the blessings associated with it.

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  3. Thank you for all this insight into Summers in Mexico. I love everyday above the ground, but if I chose the weather, it would only rain when I’m indoors and don’t plan to come out. 🙂 I didn’t know it rained so much in the Summer in Mexico, and it is interesting that most tourists would go in that season. I would have guessed it would be in the Winter. 🙂

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  6. OMG so much rain!!! I hope you were able to catch up on the fun once the rain has been gone! Mexico has so many beautiful places and people.

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  7. Crazy! I remember these daily storms from when I was a kid growing up there. But as a kid I just remember that they were fun because I could play en “los charcos” and sometimes got to miss school.

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  9. jejej me dio envidia de la buena. Yo estoy en Monterrey y bueno no te puedo contar el calor tan espontanoso que esta haciendo, aunado a que este verano en particular ha sido muy seco, 😦

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  10. You pretty much described Miami. Florida is called the sunshine state, but we get torrential downpours just about every summer afternoon. Then it disappears and an hour later you would have no idea that it rained so much.

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  11. This just such a great blog, I found you on Dray’s question of the day. Loved Mexico ever since a holiday some years ago in Puerto Vallarta. I loved the old town and the local people were so friendly. Thank you for sharing 😀

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  13. Perfección en la descripción! This is sooo Mexican summers and I adore them! The rains rolling in through the mountains and sweet relief from the heat. I’m in Indiana where it’s hot, humid and dry all at the same time. The sun is so nice but some rain that isn’t bringing severe weather or tornadoes is a good thing.

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  14. I was laughing because like you say a lot of people imagine hot summer Mexico days but nope. I’ve been there in the summer and those storms are nothing like the ones here. They are actually scary.

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