When is guatemala winter

Government offices and banks are closed on official holidays, transportation services are reduced, and stores and markets might also close. Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip. Book Hotels. Guatemala When to Go in Guatemala.

Frommer's Belize Buy Now. Get Inspired for Your Next Vacation. This is accompanied by live music, fireworks and the parade of devil effigies, with the biggest celebrations in Antigua. The end of the dry season also sees what is perhaps the biggest celebration in Guatemala — Holy Week or Semana Santa.

Keep in mind that government offices and banks will be closed over much of this holiday period and transportation services are heavily reduced. Accommodation also gets booked out well in advance in cities such as Antigua which host large-scale processions popular with tourists. Our brochure includes more information on our trips, more about this destination, and other helpful content.

Join 1,s of other volunteers and travelers and stay up to date on Build Abroad! Please enter your email below to receive your free copy of 'The Ultimate Guide to Volunteering Abroad. No menu assigned! No Comments 0. The dry season, or verano, lasts from November until the beginning of May. The rainy season, or invierno, usually lasts from May until November.

During the rainy season, the mornings are usually clear, with daily showers occurring in the afternoon. The rain is heaviest during September and October. In general, the Pacific Slope and Western Highlands are the wettest parts of Guatemala — they receive around 30—60 inches 76— cm of rain a year.

Parts of the Central Highlands tend to average around 20—30 inches 51—76 cm of rain each year. The Caribbean Coast tends to be the rainiest place in Guatemala. There are also often short periods during the rainy season when no rain falls. This is a great time to come in the summer , especially for families with children on summer vacation.

The weather typically does not inhibit getting to Guatemala , but it is important to stay up-to-date on the local weather during the rainy season.

There can be issues accessing some of the older, more rural roads during inclement weather. Once you reach the country, you will not have to wait long to begin your adventure—most tourists need little more than a valid passport and proof of onward or return travel to enter the country.

Celebrated across Guatemala, the biggest festivities take place in Antigua, where all the churches have vigils and processions. During the day period leading up to Semana Santa and Easter, Lent is celebrated with vigils, parades, and masses in all the churches, starting off on Sundays before increasing and size and frequency in the lead-up to one of the biggest celebrations in the Catholic calendar. The biggest festivities are found in Antigua and Quetzaltenango, with colorful carpets laid across the streets and traditional parades every day of the week.

While Guatemala's rainy season starts in May and lasts until October, the summer months are pretty warm and sunny, with occasional afternoon downpours and the odd tropical storm. While the humidity and the rain may put you off visiting Tikal in the summer months, if you time it right and head to the temples in the morning you might also miss the rains entirely, but don't count on blue skies and good visibility for photographs.

The rain can also cause mudslides and wash away roads, making traveling around the country more difficult, especially to the more off-grid destinations like Huehuetenango , so bear this in mind when you're planning your itinerary.

June is usually quiet, but July and August can be quite busy in Guatemala due to the summer holidays in Europe and North America. If you're planning on doing a language course or heading to tourist hotspots like Antigua, then you will want to plan ahead and book your accommodation and activities in advance.

It can also still get quite cold up in the mountains, so if you do decide to climb the volcanoes or go trekking make sure you're prepared for all eventualities, with waterproofs and warm clothes essential.

The best way to see them is to join one of the night-time tours led by the sea turtle conservation groups around Monterrico. Festival of the Virgin of the Assumption, Guatemala City - August 15th: People across the country celebrate this important religious day, but nowhere more so than Guatemala City, where the residents honor their patron saint with religious parades, street food, and parties. Fall is the wettest time of year in Guatemala and also one of the quietest times of year to visit, which means fewer tourists and off-season prices.

While you can expect afternoon downpours until around mid-October in most of the country, in Tikal and the north the rainy season usually lasts until November. However, it doesn't usually rain all day every day so there are still plenty of opportunities to sightsee and enjoy the lush countryside, especially around Rio Dulce and in the Highlands. While it's still quite rainy, the fall months are also a great time to head to Monterrico and the Pacific coast, where conservation charities release baby sea turtles back into the ocean at sunset.

It's always worth bearing in mind though that the rain can affect transport links around the country, especially in the mountains and more remote areas or places where the roads leave a lot to be desired. It is also hurricane season on the Caribbean coastline, and if the conditions are right then they can also hit the western side of the country and move in from the Pacific, so it's worth paying close attention to any warnings and checking the weather.