Guatemala - When to Go

When To Go

There is really no bad time for visiting Guatemala, though the rainy season - called invierno (winter) - makes access off paved roads more difficult from mid-May to mid-October, and on into November and even December in the north and east of the country. In the lowland jungles of the Peten, the mud at this time will be a bummer, guaranteed. Humidity - never low on the coasts or in the Peten - increases during the rainy season, too. In the highlands things can get very cold and damp during the rainy season, especially at night. It doesn't rain all day every day during the rainy season, but you can expect daily showers (downpours in the north) at the very least. The dry season - verano (summer) - is from about November to April, and this means sweltering heat in the Peten and along the coasts and comfortably warm days in the highlands. In the eastern parts of the country, rain is actually possible at any time.

The height of the foreign tourist season is from Christmas to Easter. Things become acute around Christmas, New Year's and Easter, when Guatemalans too take holidays and in many places you need to book ahead for rooms or transportation. A secondary high season lasts from June to August when throngs of North Americans and Europeans descend on Guatemala to study Spanish and travel about.