Just like many Central American countries Guatemala is no different to having micro-climates that make predicting the weather quite difficult. It’s a country that is filled with some much culture and history that to be honest we have traveled every month to Guatemala and have enjoyed each one for its uniqueness. The vibrant colors of Costa Rica can not be unseen even on a rainy day. But if you are looking for a more detailed look into when might be the best time to travel based on your interests such as hiking volcanoes, visiting local Mayan ruins, and even some of the less popular but up-and-coming coastal towns then here is a look at what the year’s weather is like.
Guatemala’s Climate compared to the Worlds
Guatemala has a tropical climate located just 15 degrees north of the equator making it a country of many micro-climates and also a volcanic country causing for many micro-climates and lowlands. While this might be different to much of the world the onen thing it has in common with the rest of the world is that it is changing and every year its harder and harder to pinpoint the start and the end of the dry and green seasons. (We call it the green season so we don’t scare off the tourists by calling it the rainy season because it is still a great time to visit)
When is the Dry Season in Guatemala?
Probably the most common question asked for any vacationer is when is the dry season. In Guatemala it runs from November to April. What are some of the advantages to the dry season.
- Temps are perfect
- Hiking Volcanos you will almost always hit and not miss when it comes to seeing the activity and the summits and craters.
- Festivities if you are in to see some of the local festivals; although visit any market in Guatemala anytime of the year and you get all the culture experience you can imagine.
- You might be dealing with more crowds in certain areas like Tikal or Antigua.
- You might be paying sligtly higher prices although Guatemala is still relatively cheap compared to other countries like Europe and Costa Rica.
When is the Green Season in Guatemala
May to October is the green season in Gautemala and dont think this is just rain all day. Its mostly a one hour shower in the afternoon and beautiful mornings. One thing about the rain is it can bring cooler temperatures to hot days. We recently had a day with the family in Tikal and it was one of the hottest days and it started to rain. None of us even took our raincoats out and just enjoyed being in the Plaza between these giant temples imagining what life was like thousands of years ago with non rain jackets. It was one of our most memorable experiences.
Another benefit to the rainy season is that everything becomes so vibrant green. The dry season can take its tool on the tropics and even in recent years droughts have been an issue in the rainforest and when the rain does come the forest comes to life and and you see it in its full vibrant glory.
After a good rain you can expect wildlife to be out and and about so if you are in to seeing wildlife and having monkeys in your backyard this is the time of the year to have the best chance.
While things are as green as they get sometimes you during the rainy season you actually spend a little less green if you are coming from the USA. Your dollar goes a little farther because tours and hotels drop their prices anywhere from 10% to 20% during the rainy season.
There is more…
The area you decide to visit can vary from region to region. Because elevation and weather patterns change you will find yourself wondering why it might be sunny in the green season or why it might be rainy in the dry season. The answer is probably a much longer blog post but we can atleast point out a few sections to look out for.
One of the many mistakes people make is that the dry season is the hot season and this is not the fact. In the tropics temperatures change quite a bit not throughout the year but throughout the day so the dry season for a town like Antigua can get into temperatures low enough to need some layers.
Pacific beach towns can also be sunny during the green season so dont put off those surfing classes you were hoping for.
In Closing…
Just visit Guatemala it is truly a magical place that has not yet been over run with tourism and a chance to look deep into an ancient culture where almost 50% of the population is still Mayan.
When it comes to times to visit if you want to experience the magic of hiking up Volcan Acatenango and get an upclose look at the Volcan de Fuego then the dry season will be your best bet.
But non matter when you decide to go to Guatemala we can promise you that you will bring home less of the weather with you and more of the culture and spirit of what this special country has to offer. Its like entering and leaving another planet during your stay.
