Best Time to Visit Guatemala: Complete Guide 2023

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Looking for the best time to visit Guatemala? Guatemala has a tropical climate and is warm all year round. However, some months are much wetter than others, as well as changes in humidity, hours of sunshine and thunderstorms.

Similar to the rest of Central America, Guatemala has only two seasons – wet and dry. But as Guatemala is such a large country, the weather varies from the north to the south, and the best weather on the coast may be the worst in locations such as Lake Atitlan and Antigua.

In the following post, I discuss the best times to visit Guatemala – from the cheapest months to the driest and the warmest. So, let’s get started!

Did you know I have a whole post dedicated to helping you backpack Guatemala? From routes, itineraries, what to do, where to eat, what not to miss and everything in between! It’s a one-stop backpacking Guatemala guide – don’t forget to check it out!

🇬🇹 Other Guatemala posts:

• Free Cerveza Hostel Review: Lake Atitlan Guatemala
• Is Flores Guatemala Worth Visiting? < A Brutally Honest Review!
• Pacaya VS Acatenango: Which Volcano Hike Is Best?
• Flores To Tikal: EVERYTHING You Need To Know

Best Time to Visit Guatemala: A Summary

Guatemala has a warm climate, and averages between 22-32°C/70-90°F throughout the year. The hottest months, March and April, are known for their long, dry and sunny days, making it the most popular time to travel to Guatemala.

The months from May-October are in the ‘wet season’, and are known for being overly humid with a high chance of thunderstorms. The north and east (including places such as Tikal) are likely to have the most rainfall during these months.

If you’re going to be visiting the mountains and highlands in Guatemala during the dry season (technically winter), you will need to pack warm clothes. It can drop to below freezing in the evenings, so be prepared!

If I were to backpack Guatemala again, I would stick to the dry season. This is when Guatemala’s festivals and events are at their best, and the rain is rare. Whilst there may be an occasional downpour, it never doesn’t tend to longer than a few minutes.

• 🌎 Best overall time to visit Guatemala: November – April (Dry Season)
• 💸 Cheapest time to visit Guatemala: May, August, or September (Wet Season)
• ☀️ Hottest time to visit Guatemala: March and April (average 22°C/71°F)
• 🥶 Coldest month in Guatemala: January (average 18°C/65°F)
• ☔️ Rainiest months in Guatemala: September and October

Visiting Guatemala during the month of September? Check out the Guatemala Independence Day festivities!

Best overall time to visit Guatemala

If you’re backpacking Guatemala, the best time to visit is during the dry season. This is between the months of November to April. Visiting during this time means you will experience warmer days, dryer weather and blue skies.

There are also many holidays and festivals during the dry season in Guatemala. As Guatemala is a predominantly Christian country, there are big celebrations for Christmas, Holy Week (Semana Santa) and Easter.

Many local Guatemalans will be taking their own holidays during this time, so be sure to pre-book all of your accommodations early!

Related post: Best hostels in Flores, Guatemala

Best time to visit Guatemala on a budget

The cheapest time to visit Guatemala is May, August and September. This is simply because it rains so much! It’s not the ideal time to visit, but you can still visit Guatemala during these months and still have a great time.

If you want to save money, Guatemala is best visited in the rainy season. April – October is also the best time of year for surfers, especially in El Paredon, because of the high tide and waves.

When visiting Guatemala during the rainy season, be prepared with raincoats and umbrellas, especially if you are heading to the north of the country and visiting locations such as Tikal or Flores.

👀 TOP TIP: You may also be able to find some cheaper deals straight after Easter (the end of March and the beginning of April). This is because most locals are back at work and school, so prices can be lower. This isn’t guaranteed as it is still dry season, but it’s worth a look!

The worst time to visit Guatemala

There isn’t necessarily a bad time to visit Guatemala. Of course, being stuck in the rain during the wet season isn’t ideal, but it’s a great time to visit for lower prices and some of Guatemala’s best festivals and events.

As a reminder, the wet season in Guatemala is from May-November. During these months, you can expect torrential showers and thunderstorms. Some days it may only last an hour or two, whereas sometimes it can be from morning until night.

But, if you’re visiting during September, you can experience Guatemala’s Independence Day (15th September 2023), where there are festive street parties, fireworks and celebrations.

There’s also the Day of the Dead festival in late October and early November, which if you can’t get to Mexico for, is worth experiencing in Guatemala.

When is summer in Guatemala?

Summer in Guatemala is technically the months of June and August. They are known for their hot weather, but high humidity and rainy mornings. However, the rain tends to be infrequent and only as temperamental downpours.

What is the rainiest month in Guatemala?

September and October are generally the wettest and rainiest months in Guatemala. This is one of the quietest times to visit Guatemala for tourists, and you can expect lower and budget prices on accommodations and flights.

What is the hottest month in Guatemala?

March and April are the hottest and driest months in Guatemala, with a daily average of 22°C/71°F. January until April is an ideal time to take your Guatemalan backpacking trip, as you can expect long and dry days with many hours of sunshine.

National Holidays and festivals in Guatemala

There are so many incredible events and festivities throughout the year in Guatemala. In addition to the main Christian events (such as Christmas and Easter), here are some of the best yearly traditions and festivals in Guatemala:

• Dia De Los Muertos (Late October and early November): Traditional Day of the Dead celebrations
• Garinagu Festival, Livingston (November): a week-long party celebrating the Garifuna people in Guatemala
• New Year’s Eve and Day (January): Antigua is the best place to celebrate this in Guatemala! Expect big street parties and celebrations. There will also be a traditional dance Quema de Toritos y Alas (Burning of the Bull and Wings),  where you can expect fireworks and someone to be dressed as a bull, chasing people around the square!
• Día del Trabajo – Worker’s Day (May): a day dedicated to workers with street parties and celebrations.
• Guatemala Independence Day (September): A national holiday of street parties, fireworks, celebrations and food markets. There is also a march from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan where participants carry lit torches.

Related post: Everything you need to know about the Guatemala Independence Day festivities!

Best time of year to backpack Central America

Similar to El Salvador, Central America’s dry season is from November to March. This makes it an ideal time to go backpacking over the Christmas period and into the new year.

Whilst travelling Central America ourselves, we found the best weather (sunniest, brightest, driest) to be from December to April.

Visiting Guatemala during the month of September? Check out the Guatemala Independence Day festivities!

Where to stay whilst backpacking Guatemala

When backpacking Guatemala, I recommend staying in the following places. Again, my biggest piece of advice is to book hostels in advance. We missed out on so many of the best hostels in Central America as they fill up so quickly – get booking!

• Flores: Los Amigos Hostel or Hotel Peten Express Tikal
• Semuc Champey: Greengo’s Hostel or Zephyr Lodge 
• Antigua: Somos or Hostel Antigueno
• Lake Atitlan: Free Cerveza 

Related post: Backpacking Guatemala | Best hostels in Flores, Guatemala | 3 Perfect Days In Antigua

Getting around Guatemala

The most popular and best way to travel around Guatemala as a backpacker is via shuttle buses. Whilst the public buses may be more adventurous and authentic, they can double your trip time, be unpredictable and often take longer.

If you are backpacking Guatemala for the first time, I highly recommend using shuttle buses to travel around the country.

Shuttle buses can be booked via your hostel or at local travel agents, or pre-booked online here.

Best time to visit Guatemala: FAQs

1) How many days is enough in Guatemala?

If you are backpacking Guatemala for the first time, 3 weeks is enough to see the highlights. There are four major areas I would recommend travelling to if you are backpacking Guatemala for the first time (Flores & Tikal, Antigua, Lake Atitlan and Semuc Champey).

If I were to visit Guatemala again, I would do the following route:

• 2 nights in Flores
• 3-4 nights in Semuc Champey
• 7-8 nights in Antigua
• 5 nights in Lake Atitlan
• 2 nights in El Paredon

Related post: Backpacking Guatemala: FULL Guide with Routes

2) Do I need a SIM card in Guatemala?

Yes, I highly recommend downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and safety in Guatemala We found most of the cities to be chaotic and difficult to find local SIM cards.

ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America

If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

Best time to visit Guatemala: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the best time to visit Guatemala. When you’re planning a trip to Guatemala, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Guatemala content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

🇬🇹 Where to next?

• Backpacking Guatemala: COMPLETE Guide + ROUTES
• Is Semuc Champey Worth It? A COMPLETE Guide
• Antigua To Lake Atitlan Guatemala: COMPLETE Guide
• Pacaya VS Acatenango: Which Volcano Hike Is Best?