Guatemala in December

Clear and cool; Burning of the Devil (7 Dec) and Christmas crowds in Antigua.

No other month rates higher than December for Guatemala in this guide.

• 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, Yaxhábest weather

  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 Champeyfine

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

• Pacific coast · Monterrico, El Paredónbest weather

  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 Chimaltenangobest weather

  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, Esquipulasbest weather

  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 mbest weather

  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 abovebest weather

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

• Antigua Guatemala23 °C (73 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 2 rain days
• Almolonga22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 6 rain days
• Cantel22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• Carmelita29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 8 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 8 rain days
• Chichicastenango21 °C (70 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 9 rain days
• Chimaltenango22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• Chiquimula26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
• Cobán24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 11 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 11 rain days
• Dolores28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 10 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 10 rain days
• El Ceibo28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
• El Naranjo30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 8 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 8 rain days
• El Paredón31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 2 rain days
• El Remate27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 7 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 7 rain days
• Escuintla32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
• Esquipulas23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 5 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 5 rain days
• Flores29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 9 rain days
• Guatemala City24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 3 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 3 rain days
• Huehuetenango22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 8 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 8 rain days
• Jaibalito23 °C (73 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 3 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 3 rain days
• Jutiapa28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 2 rain days
• Lanquín27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 13 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 13 rain days
• Livingston30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 8 rain days
• Mazatenango32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 3 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 3 rain days
• Melchor de Mencos28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 10 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 10 rain days
• Monterrico32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 3 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 3 rain days
• Panajachel24 °C (75 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 3 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 3 rain days
• Puerto Barrios28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 13 rain days
• Puerto San José32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 3 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 3 rain days
• Quetzaltenango21 °C (70 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 3 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 3 rain days
• Raxruja28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 11 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 11 rain days
• Retalhuleu27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 4 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 4 rain days
• Rio Dulce30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 5 rain days
• Sacapulas24 °C (75 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 5 rain days
• Salcajá22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 3 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 3 rain days
• San Andrés28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
• San Andrés Xecul22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 6 rain days
• San Antonio Palopo22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 6 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 6 rain days
• San José28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
• San Juan La Laguna24 °C (75 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 3 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 3 rain days
• San Marcos La Laguna23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• San Miguel29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 9 rain days
• San Pedro la Laguna24 °C (75 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 3 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 3 rain days
• San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta23 °C (73 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 2 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 2 rain days
• Santa Catarina Palopó28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 5 rain days
• Santa Cruz la Laguna27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 8 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 8 rain days
• Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa32 °C (90 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 3 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 3 rain days
• Santa Maria Nebaj22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 8 rain days
• Santiago Atitlán24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 4 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 4 rain days
• Sayaxché28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 3 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 3 rain days
• Sololá22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• Todos Santos Cuchumatán18 °C (64 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 7 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 7 rain days
• Uspantán22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 9 rain days
• Zunil22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 6 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.

• Burning of the Devil

  7 Dec

  Bonfires and effigies at 18:00.

• Christmas and New Year

  24–25, 31 Dec

  Midnight fireworks; half days on 24 and 31 Dec.

• La Quema del Diablo (Burning of the Devil)

  7 December · Antigua Guatemala

  Households burn effigies and rubbish in the street at dusk to mark the start of Christmas season — smoky and loud for an evening.

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.

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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Rated best or good this month

• Highlands

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

• Petén lowlands

  Best weather of the year (Flores, Tikal, Yaxhá)

• Pacific coast

  Best weather of the year (Monterrico, El Paredón)

• Antigua Guatemala

  Dry; Christmas crowds and fireworks.

• 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