The best time to visit Guatemala is November through April
One of the first questions that prospective clients ask us is just that – when is the best time to visit Guatemala?
The good news, and we realise that this may sound like something of a cliché, is that there really is no time to absolutely avoid. Guatemala, with its many and varied highlights, is a genuine year-round destination although, of course, some months are better than others.
It is also important to take into account the topography of Guatemala which differs between the north and south. Broadly speaking, the northern half of the country, the region of Peten, is flat, low- lying and hot / humid year-round, day and night. Peten is home to the great Mayan cities of Tikal, Yaxha, Mirador etc as well as the lovely town of Flores.
The southern half of the country, the Highlands of Guatemala, is mountainous and elevated, with many of the most popular visitor destinations such as Antigua, Lake Atitlan & Chichicastenango located at over 5000 feet / 1500 metres above sea-level. What this means is that the temperature during the day can be warm to hot, with strong sunshine, while evenings are significantly cooler.
If you are planning on visiting both the north and south of Guatemala within the same itinerary, you will need to pack both t-shirts and a fleece.
November through April – Guatemala’s High Season
The best time to visit Guatemala is generally November through April with drier weather, cooler temperatures and bluer skies. As this coincides with the worst of the weather in northern America and Europe, this is Guatemala’s high season.
Although nobody can predict or guarantee the weather, if we had to choose, we would say that February & March are the very best months in which to visit Guatemala.
May through October – Guatemala’s Low Season
The summer months of May through October are considered the wet season in Guatemala although any rainfall tends to be in the form of short, sharp bursts rather than all-day rain. There is certainly no monsoon in Guatemala and it is not uncommon, even at this time of year, for days to go by without any rain.
Is there a month to avoid travelling to Guatemala? We would say that September is probably the worst time of year to travel to Guatemala but you really never know.
When Is Guatemala Busiest?
It should come as no surprise that Guatemala is at its busiest during the high season, between November & April.
Fortunately, visitor numbers to Guatemala are still relatively low – without any beach resorts, the country has avoided the worst excesses of mass-tourism in the region.
However, if you really wish to try and avoid or at least minimise the crowds, if you visit during the low season months (especially September & October), you will find many of the key tourist sites are much quieter.
As with any other holiday destination, high season equates to higher hotel prices, especially over Christmas, New Year’s Eve & Easter.
Planning on visiting Guatemala for Semana Santa?
Semana Santa, or Easter Week, is a fascinating time to visit Guatemala, especially towns such as Antigua, Chichicastenango & Quetzaltenango and, in our opinion, is the best time to visit Guatemala.
This holy week leading up to Easter is dominated by wonderfully atmospheric, religious processions through the towns and cities of Guatemala, with streets decorated with colour flower arrangements known as cofradias.
If you are do plan on visiting Guatemala during Semana Santa, here are a few things to bear in mind.
- So is everyone else, so you’ll need to book hotels a long way in advance.
- Not surprisingly, hotel rates are at their highest in the towns such as Antigua during Semana Santa.
- Perhaps less obvious, but just as important, many hotels impose minimum stay requirements during Semana Santa. Don’t expect to be able to book a hotel in Antigua for just 1 night at this time.
- In addition to hotels, flights to Guatemala also book up a long way in advance, as much with returning Guatemalans as overseas visitors.
Month by Month
