Weather and Climate in Guatemala

There are two seasons in Guatemala – the rainy season occurs from May to October, in the north and east the rainy season lasts until December, and on the Atlantic coast it is quite humid all year round. Nonetheless, continuous rain rarely falls, you have to reckon with short, heavy and frequent showers.

The dry season in Guatemala is from November to April, with significantly lower rainfall. The amount of precipitation in the Caribbean lowlands and the mountains on the Atlantic side of Guatemala is determined by the northeast trade wind, which drives warm, humid air from the Caribbean to the mainland. The amount of precipitation is greatest on the mountain slopes facing the wind, and lowest in the Caribbean lowlands. Although the precipitation decreases somewhat in the winter months, there is no pronounced dry season on the Atlantic side.
In the lowland rainforest of El Petén, there are hardly any differences between dry and rainy seasons. The climate here only varies between hot and humid during the rainy season and hot and less humid during the dry season. The rainy season can limit some activities and make roads and trails difficult to pass.

The temperatures of the basically tropical climate are determined by the altitude. In the low parts of the country at altitudes of up to 1,000 meters (tierra caliente) and on the Pacific coast, the climate is humid and hot. The constantly high humidity drops a little in the dry season. In contrast, in regions between 1,000 and 1,800 meters above sea level (tierra templada), the climate is more moderate. The maximum temperatures here are rarely above 30 ° C and the nights are also significantly cooler. In the higher altitudes above, the region called ” tierras frias “, it is usually drier than in the rest of the regions. Spring-like temperatures between 15 and 25 ° C prevail all year round. It gets very cold at night and temperatures can drop to almost freezing point or even below.

The dry season is the best time to travel for Guatemala, as the humidity is also lowest during these months. Especially at high altitudes it can be very pleasantly warm and dry – ideal for trekking tours and animal observation. Visits are also advisable at high altitudes during this time. However, in May it can get very hot in low-lying areas (tierra caliente).

In addition to the summer holidays, this time is also the most touristy. The high point of the foreign tourist season extends from Christmas to Easter. In many places, it is advisable to reserve rooms or transport, especially around Christmas, New Year and Easter. The second holiday season runs from June to August when many North Americans and Europeans come to Guatemala. Semana Santa (Holy Week) is recommended for trips during Easter. The festivals in Guatemala peak during this week.

However, nothing stands in the way of a trip during the rainy season, as the rainfalls are usually limited to the afternoon. Nevertheless, there is already an intermediate dry season from mid-July to mid-August, which is a good time to travel due to the pleasant climate and the still green landscape. The rainy season is particularly popular with surfers or for white water rafting. However, it is precisely during these months that there is also the risk of tropical cyclones. Many accommodations are cheaper during the rainy season.

Average daytime temperature

Region

Jan

Feb

March

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Flores

27 ° C

30 ° C

33 ° C

34 ° C

33 ° C

32 ° C

32 ° C

32 ° C

33 ° C

30 ° C

29 ° C

27 ° C

Guatemala City

23 ° C

25 ° C

27 ° C

28 ° C

29 ° C

27 ° C

26 ° C

26 ° C

26 ° C

24 ° C

23 ° C

22 ° C

Puerto Barrios

27 ° C

28 ° C

29 ° C

30 ° C

32 ° C

31 ° C

30 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

29 ° C

28 ° C

27 ° C

Average night temperature

Region

Jan

Feb

March

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Flores

17 ° C

18 ° C

18 ° C

20 ° C

22 ° C

21 ° C

21 ° C

22 ° C

22 ° C

21 ° C

20 ° C

18 ° C

Guatemala City

12 ° C

12 ° C

14 ° C

14 ° C

16 ° C

16 ° C

16 ° C

15 ° C

16 ° C

15 ° C

14 ° C

13 ° C

Puerto Barrios

20 ° C

20 ° C

21 ° C

22 ° C

23 ° C

24 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

22 ° C

21 ° C

Average hours of sunshine / day

Region	Jan	Feb	March	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Guatemala City	7	7	6	7	5	4	6	5	5	4	7	8

Average rainy days / month

Region	Jan	Feb	March	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Flores	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	2	2	0	1
Guatemala City	2	2	2	5	8	20	17	16	17	13	6	2
Puerto Barrios	14	11	9	7	8	15	18	17	15	16	14	15