Guatemala in April

Semana Santa if late: Antigua sells out; Petén very hot; hazy skies from field burning.

April is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• DecemberGreatClear and cool; Burning of the Devil (7 Dec) and Christmas crowds in Antigua.
• JanuaryGreatDry and clear; cold nights in the highlands; best volcano views.
• FebruaryGreatDry and warm; Lent processions start in Antigua on Sundays.
• MarchGreatDry; Lent processions and flower carpets; Semana Santa may fall here (check).

• Highlands · Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Quetzaltenango, Chichicastenangobest weather

  Spring-like days (22–26 °C (72–79 °F)) and cold nights, near freezing on Acatenango's summit. Rains most afternoons May–Oct with a drier spell (canícula) in July–August.Spring-like days (72–79 °F (22–26 °C)) and cold nights, near freezing on Acatenango's summit. Rains most afternoons May–Oct with a drier spell (canícula) in July–August.

• Petén lowlands · Flores, Tikal, Yaxháhot

  Hot and humid all year; April–May reach 35 °C (95 °F)+; the rains turn tracks to mud.Hot and humid all year; April–May reach 95 °F (35 °C)+; the rains turn tracks to mud.

• Caribbean and Verapaz · Río Dulce, Livingston, Semuc Champeybest weather

  Wet much of the year; Semuc's pools turn brown after heavy rain.

• Pacific coast · Monterrico, El Paredónhot

  Hot black-sand beaches; turtle nesting Jul–Dec.

• Caribbean Coast: Caribbean lowlands (Rio Dulce, Puerto Barrios, Livingston) · Sea-level river and coastfine

  Rain is heaviest June–October; the driest window is roughly February–April. Temperatures stay hot and humid all year.

• Central Highlands: Antigua and the central valley · 1,500–1,700 m around Antigua and Chimaltenangofine

  Dry, clear mornings November to April; afternoon showers May to October.

• Central Highlands: Alta Verapaz (Cobán) · Cloud forest north of the central rangefine

  Wetter and cooler than Antigua year-round; rain most months, heaviest June–October.

• Eastern Guatemala: Eastern lowlands and hills · Jutiapa, Chiquimula, Zacapa, Esquipulasfine

  Hot and dry much of the year; the rainy season runs roughly May to October.

• Northern Lowlands: Petén and northern lowlands · Flores, Tikal, El Remate, Sayaxchébest weather

  Hot all year, 30 °C (86 °F)+ by day. Mildest November to February, when nights can be cool. Rain late May to October; mosquitoes peak then.Hot all year, 86 °F (30 °C)+ by day. Mildest November to February, when nights can be cool. Rain late May to October; mosquitoes peak then.

• Pacific Lowlands: Pacific plain and coast · Sea level to about 300 m, border to borderdry

  Hot year-round; rainy season May–October brings afternoon downpours and heavy lightning. The plain is hotter and stickier than Antigua.

• Pacific Lowlands: Sierra Madre foothills · Coffee and rubber belt above the plaindry

  Cooler than the coast, wetter in the same months; cloud sits on the ridge in the afternoons.

• Western Highlands: Lake Atitlán basin · Panajachel and the lake villages, about 1,560 mfine

  Mild year-round; afternoon cloud and rain May–October, clearest mornings Nov–April.

• Western Highlands: Quetzaltenango and the Cuchumatanes · 1,900–2,500 m and abovefine

  Cold at night, frost possible at the highest villages Dec–Feb; strong sun at midday.

• Antigua Guatemala27 °C (81 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 5 rain days
• Almolonga24 °C (75 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 10 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 10 rain days
• Cantel27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 7 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 7 rain days
• Carmelita34 °C (93 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 5 rain days
• Chichicastenango26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 6 rain days
• Chimaltenango27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 7 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 7 rain days
• Chiquimula33 °C (91 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 9 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 9 rain days
• Cobán27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 15 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 15 rain days
• Dolores32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 rain days
• El Ceibo33 °C (91 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 5 rain days
• El Naranjo34 °C (93 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 9 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 9 rain days
• El Paredón33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 5 rain days
• El Remate31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
• Escuintla34 °C (93 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 6 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 6 rain days
• Esquipulas27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 9 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 9 rain days
• Flores35 °C (95 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Guatemala City28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 6 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 6 rain days
• Huehuetenango27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
• Jaibalito26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 7 rain days
• Jutiapa31 °C (88 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 5 rain days
• Lanquín32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 8 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 8 rain days
• Livingston33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 10 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 10 rain days
• Mazatenango34 °C (93 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 8 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 8 rain days
• Melchor de Mencos33 °C (91 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 6 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 6 rain days
• Monterrico33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 5 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 5 rain days
• Panajachel26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 6 rain days
• Puerto Barrios31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 8 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 8 rain days
• Puerto San José33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 5 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 5 rain days
• Quetzaltenango23 °C (73 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 8 rain days
• Raxruja32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 rain days
• Retalhuleu30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 7 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 7 rain days
• Rio Dulce33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 8 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 8 rain days
• Sacapulas28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 7 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 7 rain days
• Salcajá25 °C (77 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 8 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 8 rain days
• San Andrés33 °C (91 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 5 rain days
• San Andrés Xecul27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 6 rain days
• San Antonio Palopo25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 8 rain days
• San José32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 rain days
• San Juan La Laguna26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 6 rain days
• San Marcos La Laguna27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 7 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 7 rain days
• San Miguel35 °C (95 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• San Pedro la Laguna26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 7 rain days
• San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta26 °C (79 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 5 rain days
• Santa Catarina Palopó31 °C (88 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 7 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 7 rain days
• Santa Cruz la Laguna30 °C (86 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 5 rain days
• Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa34 °C (93 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 6 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 6 rain days
• Santa Maria Nebaj25 °C (77 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 9 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 9 rain days
• Santiago Atitlán26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 8 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 8 rain days
• Sayaxché31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 7 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 7 rain days
• Sololá27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 3 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 3 rain days
• Todos Santos Cuchumatán22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 10 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 10 rain days
• Uspantán26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 10 rain days
• Zunil25 °C (77 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 10 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 10 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Semana Santa big impact

  Mar–Apr (check)

  Antigua's processions and sawdust carpets; rooms book out months ahead; Thu–Fri shut.

• Feast of San Pedro de Betancourt check

  30 April · Antigua Guatemala

  Pilgrims come to the tomb of Hermano Pedro, Guatemala's first saint; the church and square are busy.

Crowds · Guatemala

High

Prices · Guatemala

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Guatemala, side by side.

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Highlands

  Best weather of the year (Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Quetzaltenango, Chichicastenango)

• Caribbean and Verapaz

  Best weather of the year (Río Dulce, Livingston, Semuc Champey)

• Almolonga

  Best months: Nov–Apr

• Cantel

  Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)

• Carmelita

  Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)

• Chichicastenango

  Best months: Nov–Apr, plus Dec for the festival

• Chimaltenango

  Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season, cooler temps)

• Chiquimula

  Best months: Nov–Apr

• Cobán

  Best months: Nov–Apr

• Dolores

  Best months: Nov–Apr

• El Paredón

  Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season, best surf)

• El Remate

  Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)