Best time of year to visit Guatemala:
The best time to visit is during the dry season, which is usually between December and May. It’s also best to travel during other time periods when there are fewer tourists around.
The best month to visit Guatemala:
Any time between the months of September and December is good for visiting because it’s low season. You can expect smaller crowds during this time of year, which will make it easier to see the Mayan ruins without having to wait in huge lines. During Christmas time there are fewer Americans on vacation overseas, so you might be able to find some great discounts too!
High tourist season:
July is the most crowded month due to the holidays (Christmas and New Year’s), but school is also out in many other countries at that time of year, so more foreigners will be traveling through Guatemala.
Guatemala isn’t a big tourist destination but it does have peak seasons that coincide with school holidays in Spring (March/April) and Autumn (October). These peak seasons should be factored into your holiday budget as certain places such as Tikal can get pretty crowded then.
You might find prices increase at these times, although accommodation will still be more than plentiful despite this. Another downside to these busy periods is that many of Guatemala’s festivals fall within the busier times, so you may miss out on some celebrations if they coincide with your visit. During
Low tourist season:
If you can avoid the peak seasons of December / January and July you’ll find many attractions are much quieter, allowing for a more relaxed vacation.
Visit Guatemala in Fall:
The weather in autumn lasts all the way up until May and is typically spectacular throughout. While it may be more difficult to avoid the school holidays, you will get to enjoy smaller crowds and some great bargains.
Visit Guatemala in winter:
Guatemala is one of the few places in Central America that can actually be visited during winter due to its position above the Tropic of Cancer. While it’s still not as warm as most other destinations, you’ll get milder temps than usual for this area which makes it very pleasant.
Winter (between December and February) is usually considered low season because there are fewer visitors, but some attractions close completely or have reduced hours so that might factor into your travel plans if you’re thinking of visiting then.
The weather at this time is great with many sunny days yet no extreme heat, perfect for hiking which will allow you to capture the magnificent views! It won’t be boiling hot like during high season either so you’ll save on air conditioning and won’t feel completely drained afterward.
The coldest month:
The coldest month of December gets down to around 13°C (55°F) average, which isn’t really much at all considering Guatemala’s close proximity to the equator. It can sometimes dip as low as 5°C (41°F), but these are pretty rare occurrences. You will find that it rains more during December though due to cloud build-up caused by warm seas meeting cold mountains.
Visit Guatemala In the summer:
Guatemala’s temperatures do tend to be a little hotter during the summer months (June-August) and it does rain more, but this is the low season and there are fewer crowds. If you’re lucky you might even get some relief from the heat with daily showers!
If you love beaches, the Caribbean side of Guatemala is perfect for relaxing on the sand and soaking up some sun which will be at its peak during these months. The Pacific coast does see a little rain this time of year so it’s not completely scorching hot but definitely warm enough to get into the water which is low in salinity and ideal for swimming.
Central America can be very humid throughout summer (May-September) so if you’re not fond of heat and humidity, avoid visiting at this time because you probably won’t enjoy your vacation as much while we’re basking in the midst of our dry season!
Visit Guatemala in spring:
Guatemala has a temperate climate all year round, so it can be visited at any time of the year. However, Guatemala City is much warmer than other parts of the country, so it may get uncomfortable for some tourists in summer due to high humidity levels.
Weather in Guatemala:
Guatemala has a subtropical highland climate which means that summers (Dec-May) are hot and dry while winters (Jun-Nov) tend to be cloudy with colder nights and some rain showers on occasion. Guatemala City enjoys a tropical climate year-round, but this changes when you reach higher altitudes such as Antigua or Lake Atitlan; where temperatures can fall below 10°C (50°F).
Temperatures: From January through March daytime temperatures will be between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (90°F); while at night time they will fall to 12°C (55°F) and 18-20°C (65-67.5°F).
In April, May and June temperatures will dip a little bit with days averaging around 22°C (73.5°F) and nights cooling down to 10 ° C(50 ° F). July through September days average around 26 ° C(78.8 ° F), but can reach up to 33 ° C or more throughout the day with nights going down to 16 – 17.5 ° C
October through December are typically sunny months with temperatures ranging between 20 – 30*e;C (68-86*e;F) throughout, but nights can get colder during December and January.
On average it rains around 120 mm (4.7 in) per month in Guatemala City; while Antigua receives about 240 mm (9.5 in). Lake Atitlan sees the most rain with an average of 450 mm (17.7 in) per year, which falls mostly between May and October – the wettest month typically receiving over 200mm (8in) of rain!
Rainy Season:
The rainy season lasts from May until November, but you will still be able to travel through this period if you avoid heavy downpours as most days remain sunny throughout
Sunny months:
December through February is Guatemala’s dry season, which makes it the perfect time to travel through the country.
Concluison
Guatemala is a perfect year-round travel destination, but the climate varies by region. Guatemala City has a subtropical highland climate with hot and dry summers (Dec-May) and cool winters (Jun-Nov). Antigua experiences an average of 450 mm rain per year, which falls mostly between May and October – the wettest month typically receiving over 200mm rainfall.
The Caribbean side enjoys warmer temperatures all year round; while Lake Atitlan sees more rainfall due to its location in the mountains where it’s cooler at higher altitudes. If you’re looking for warm weather or beaches that are less crowded during the low season, visit from June through August when daytime temps will be between 24°C to 32°C.
