What is the best time to visit Guatemala?

Best Time to Visit Guatemala

The best time to travel to Guatemala is during the dry season from November to April and the wet season from May to October.

Dry Season in Guatemala

The dry season in Guatemala runs from November to April and is the most popular time to visit. During this season, the weather is mostly sunny and dry with temperatures ranging from 16°C to 30°C. Tourists can expect to experience pleasant weather conditions and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. The dry season is also the best time to visit Guatemala’s national parks, as the trails are less muddy and the wildlife is more visible. Popular festivals such as Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Day of the Dead take place during this season, making it a great time to explore the country’s culture and traditions.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Guatemala

Guatemala in January

Weather

January is the driest month of the year in Guatemala. Temperatures are mild and range from an average low of 13°C (55°F) to an average high of 28°C (82°F).

Events

• New Year’s Day is celebrated on January 1st and is a national holiday.
• The Feast of the Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th and is a national holiday.
• The Day of the Race is celebrated on January 20th and is a national holiday.
• The National Day of the Revolution is celebrated on January 30th and is a national holiday.
• The International Festival of Chocolate is held in January in the city of Antigua.

Guatemala in January

Weather

January in Guatemala is typically warm and sunny. Temperatures range from the mid-70s to low-80s Fahrenheit throughout the country, with the higher elevations being cooler. Rainfall is light, with an average of 1-2 inches of rain for the entire month.

Events

• New Year’s Day (January 1): Many Guatemalans celebrate the New Year with fireworks, parades, and parties.
• Dia de los Reyes Magos (January 6): This holiday is celebrated in Guatemala to commemorate the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus.
• Dia de la Candelaria (January 31): This holiday celebrates the presentation of Jesus in the temple. People gather to light candles and share food.
• La Antigua Guatemala Colonial Fair (January): This annual fair celebrates the colonial history of La Antigua Guatemala with music, dancing, and traditional food.
• Semana Santa (March or April): This week-long festival is one of the most important holidays in Guatemala. People celebrate with parades, processions, and religious ceremonies.

Guatemala in March

Weather

March in Guatemala is generally warm and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit (20-30°C). Rainfall is common in March, with an average of 11 days of precipitation.

Events

• March 19th is the Day of the Fatherland, a national holiday in Guatemala. Celebrations include parades, fireworks, and traditional Mayan dances.
• The Semana Santa (Holy Week) is celebrated in Guatemala in March. This is a religious festival that includes processions, parades, and other activities.
• The International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th in Guatemala. This is a day to celebrate women’s rights and to honor the achievements of women.
• The International Festival of Music and Dance takes place in Guatemala City in March. This is a week-long celebration of traditional music and dance from all over the world.
• The Festival of the Cross is celebrated in many towns and villages in Guatemala in March. This is a religious festival that includes processions, parades, and other activities.

Guatemala in April

Weather

April in Guatemala is usually warm and humid, with temperatures reaching up to 28°C. The rainy season begins in April and lasts until November, so there is usually some rain during the month.

Events

• Good Friday is celebrated on April 10th in Guatemala. It is a religious holiday that commemorates the death of Jesus Christ.
• Easter Sunday is celebrated on April 12th in Guatemala. It is a religious holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Semana Santa (Holy Week) is celebrated in Guatemala from April 5th-12th. It is a week-long celebration that includes religious processions, parades, and other activities.
• The Feria Internacional de la Primavera (International Spring Fair) is held in Guatemala City from April 16th-19th. It is a four-day event that includes live music, food, and other activities.
• The Festival Internacional de la Cultura Maya (International Mayan Culture Festival) is held in Quetzaltenango from April 24th-26th. It is a three-day event that celebrates Mayan culture and includes traditional music, dance, and food.

Guatemala in May

Weather

May is the beginning of the dry season in Guatemala, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit. The days are sunny and the nights are cool.

Events

• May 1st is Labor Day, a national holiday in Guatemala.
• May 5th is Cinco de Mayo, a celebration of the Mexican victory over the French in 1862.
• May 10th is Mother’s Day, a day to honor mothers throughout the country.
• May 15th is the Feast of San Isidro, a religious festival celebrated in many parts of Guatemala.
• May 30th is the Day of the Child, a day to celebrate children and their rights.

Guatemala in June

Weather

June in Guatemala is the start of the dry season. Temperatures are warm, with average highs in the mid-80s Fahrenheit (mid-20s Celsius). The days are sunny and the nights are cool.

Events

• The June 1st is the Day of the Army in Guatemala. This day is celebrated with military parades and ceremonies.
• June 8th is the Day of the Marimba, a traditional Guatemalan musical instrument. This day is celebrated with concerts and performances of marimba music.
• June 15th is the Day of the Flag in Guatemala. This day is celebrated with flag-raising ceremonies and parades.
• June 20th is the Day of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, a popular religious holiday in Guatemala. This day is celebrated with religious services and processions.
• June 29th is the Day of the Saint Peter and Saint Paul, another popular religious holiday in Guatemala. This day is celebrated with religious services and processions.

Guatemala in July

Weather

July is the hottest month in Guatemala, with temperatures reaching an average of 27°C (81°F). Rainfall is common during this month, with an average of 20 days of rain throughout July.

Events

• The Fiestas de Santa Ana, held in the town of Santa Ana La Libertad, is a popular event that takes place in July. It includes traditional music, food, and dancing.
• The Festival de la Virgen del Carmen is a religious celebration held in the town of San Juan Sacatepequez. It includes a procession of the Virgin of Carmen, traditional music, and fireworks.
• The Festival de la Cruz is a religious festival held in the town of San Pedro Sacatepequez. It includes a procession of the Virgin of Carmen, traditional music, and fireworks.
• The Festival de la Virgen de Guadalupe is a religious celebration held in the town of San Juan Sacatepequez. It includes a procession of the Virgin of Guadalupe, traditional music, and fireworks.
• The Festival de San Pedro is a religious celebration held in the town of San Pedro Sacatepequez. It includes a procession of the Virgin of Guadalupe, traditional music, and fireworks.

Guatemala in August

Weather

August in Guatemala is typically hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s. Rain is common, with an average of 8-10 days of rain per month.

Events

• August 15th is a national holiday in Guatemala, celebrating the Assumption of Mary.
• The Festival of San Lorenzo in Quetzaltenango is held on August 10th. It is a celebration of the patron saint of the city, with parades, music, and traditional dancing.
• The Festival de la Virgen de los Angeles is held in Antigua Guatemala on August 2nd. It is a celebration of the patron saint of the city, with parades, music, and traditional dancing.
• The Festival of San Bartolome in Chichicastenango is held on August 24th. It is a celebration of the patron saint of the city, with parades, music, and traditional dancing.
• The Festival of San Simon in Chichicastenango is held on August 28th. It is a celebration of the patron saint of the city, with parades, music, and traditional dancing.

Guatemala in September

Weather

September in Guatemala is usually hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-90s Fahrenheit. Rainfall is common, with an average of 10-15 days of rain throughout the month.

Events

• The Feria de los Moles is a festival of food and music that takes place in Antigua, Guatemala in mid-September. The festival celebrates the traditional mole sauces of the region, and features live music, dancing, and other entertainment.
• The Festival Internacional de la Cultura Maya is a celebration of Mayan culture that takes place in late September in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. The festival features traditional Mayan music, dance, art, and food.
• The Festival de la Virgen de la Asunción is a religious celebration of the Virgin Mary that takes place in mid-September in Guatemala City. The festival features parades, processions, and other religious ceremonies.
• The Festival de la Música is a music festival that takes place in late September in Guatemala City. The festival features a variety of musical styles from around the world, including jazz, folk, rock, and more.
• The Festival de la Revolución is a celebration of the Guatemalan Revolution that takes place in late September in Guatemala City. The festival features parades, concerts, and other events to commemorate the revolution.

Guatemala in October

Weather

October is the start of the dry season in Guatemala. Temperatures are mild and the days are sunny. The average temperature in October is around 72°F (22°C).

Events

• The Day of the Race is celebrated on October 12th. This holiday honors the indigenous people of Guatemala. It includes parades, traditional dances, and music.
• The Day of the Dead is celebrated from October 31st to November 2nd. It is a time to remember and honor deceased loved ones. Families visit cemeteries and decorate graves with flowers and candles.
• The International Chocolate Festival takes place in October in the city of Coban. Visitors can sample a variety of chocolate-based treats and watch traditional dances.
• The Antigua International Film Festival is held in October in the city of Antigua. It showcases films from around the world and includes workshops and panel discussions.
• The Guatemala City Marathon takes place in October. It is a popular event that attracts runners from all over the world.

Guatemala in November

Weather

November in Guatemala is generally warm and humid, with temperatures ranging from 20-30°C (68-86°F). Rainfall is common, especially during the second half of the month.

Events

• All Saints Day (November 1st): This is a national holiday in Guatemala, when people visit cemeteries to honor their deceased loved ones.
• Day of the Dead (November 2nd): This is a traditional holiday in Guatemala, when people come together to celebrate the lives of those who have passed away.
• Independence Day (November 15th): This is a national holiday in Guatemala, when the country celebrates its independence from Spain in 1821.
• Revolution Day (November 20th): This is a national holiday in Guatemala, when the country celebrates the beginning of the Guatemalan Revolution in 1944.
• Christmas Celebrations (November-December): During this time, Guatemalans come together to celebrate Christmas with traditional decorations, food, and music.

Guatemala in December

Weather

December in Guatemala is generally warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from highs of around 80°F (27°C) to lows of around 65°F (18°C). Rainfall is minimal, with only a few days of light showers.

Events

• The Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe is held on December 12th and is a celebration of the Virgin Mary. It is celebrated with traditional dances, processions, and fireworks.
• The Festival of Santa Lucia is held on December 13th and is a celebration of the patron saint of Guatemala. It is celebrated with traditional dances, processions, and fireworks.
• The Festival of the Virgin of Concepcion is held on December 8th and is a celebration of the patron saint of Guatemala. It is celebrated with traditional dances, processions, and fireworks.
• The Festival of Hanukkah is held in December and is a celebration of the Jewish holiday. It is celebrated with traditional foods, music, and candle-lighting ceremonies.
• The Festival of Las Posadas is held in December and is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. It is celebrated with traditional processions, singing, and piñatas.