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Published: 28-02-2023
Guatemala may be called the Land of Eternal Spring, but that doesn’t signify that the weather is spring-like all year round. While temperatures generally vary according to altitude rather than by time of year, the country has two distinct seasons that can have a big influence on the experience of traveling in this colorful corner of Central America.
The weather in Guatemala can be roughly divided into the wet season and dry season, but these could also be described as the "muddy" and "dusty" seasons. The weather dictates the high season for tourism, and the rains can have a big effect on how you enjoy different sights and activities. That doesn’t mean there is a bad time to visit Guatemala, but you might have to adapt your expectations according to when you travel, particularly if you want to enjoy the beach or go trekking in the rainforest. Here is our guide to the best times to visit Guatemala.
Above the Clouds
Winter
The winter season is high season (November–March). This is the best time for festivals and drier weather. Guatemala doesn’t have a traditional high season, shoulder season, and low season like other Latin American countries. Instead, there are two high seasons separated by two low seasons.
The first high season coincides with Guatemala’s dry season, so sunny days are pretty much guaranteed. The dry weather kicks off at the beginning of November, when the hurricane season draws to a close, just in time for the Day of the Dead celebrations. This first high season typically ends just after Holy Week (Semana Santa) in the run-up to Easter – another of Guatemala's biggest festivals – normally in late March or the first half of April.
Holy Week
Many tourist attractions are busy as Guatemalan city-dwellers take time off for Christmas and New Year, but the peak tourist season is Holy Week. Easter time is the most important religious holiday for Guatemalans and also when they have their main annual vacation. During Holy Week, locals flock to the coast and Lake Atitlan, which means bigger crowds in these destinations.
The historic former capital of Guatemala, Antigua, also gets busy for Holy Week, when crowds gather to watch its famous religious processions. Budget for higher prices and book your accommodations in advance during the high season (this is essential during Holy Week). If you want to avoid crowds, Guatemala City is less frenetic than usual during this time.
If you visit between November and March, keep in mind that night-time temperatures can drop quite drastically in the highlands, reaching freezing temperatures in Quetzaltenango. You won’t need a heavy winter coat unless you’re planning on camping, but a warm jacket and socks are essential. Along with dusty and windy conditions, there may be lots of smoke in the air, as this is the season when farmers burn off the old vegetation in their fields in preparation for the next planting season. If you’re prone to allergies or respiratory ailments, remember your medication and consider wearing a face mask.
Rainbow over Tikal
The summer
The summer high season runs from June to August and is the best time for outdoor pursuits and adventure activities
The second high season coincides with the summer vacation season in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It’s not quite as busy as during the first high season, but it’s definitely not the time for escaping the crowds either. June is still firmly in the rainy season, but it's usually hot and sunny in the morning and the rain usually arrives in the late afternoon or evening.
For a few weeks in July and August, there is a short dry period known as the canícula. It gets very hot at this time of the year, and there is no relief in the form of afternoon showers. However, because the skies are clear, it’s a great time to hike to lookouts and volcano summits, visit Mayan ruins in the Petén jungle, and float down the river at Semuc Champey.
Semuc Champey
Slow Seasons
The low seasons (April–May, and September–October) are the best time for slow travel. The two low seasons in Guatemala fall on both sides of the rainy season, from just after Holy Week to the end of May, and from September to the end of October. The crowds disappear and you might even have the whole hotel to yourself. The weather is variable. You might have sunny days with afternoon or evening showers, or you can have days of non-stop drizzle, especially in May and September. Rain gear, quick-drying clothes, and a waterproof cover for your backpack are essential pieces of equipment. You’ll also need bug repellent because the rain brings mosquitoes, and the risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, and zika, rises dramatically.
Accommodation is generally cheaper, and it’s easier to find places to stay during the low season. You may even find a cost-effective house-sitting gig as snowbirds fly north for summer. The rain makes the landscape vibrantly green and brings out lots of flowers, but it also produced huge amounts of mud, which can put a dampener on outdoor activities.
If you’re planning on hiking or climbing volcanos, bring waterproof hiking shoes with decent tread to get you across the slippery terrain. Good tread is also important for your everyday shoes: those cobbled streets in Antigua can become lethally slippery. Sturdy, waterproof sandals that dry quickly are best; flip-flops can easily get swept away as you’re trying to ford a street that has turned into a river.
The weather in Guatemala during the rainy season can really slow down transport, so the low season is not the time for a whirlwind trip in Guatemala. Roads get washed away or blocked by rockfalls, public transport becomes less reliable, and journeys that normally take a couple of hours will suddenly take all day. Power outages are more common in the rainy season, and internet drop-outs become more common. You may find yourself stuck in one place for longer than planned, but if you don’t have a fixed itinerary, and are traveling Guatemala at a more relaxed pace, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
