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When to go · Guatemala

Guatemala in January

Great month. Dry and clear; cold nights in the highlands; best volcano views.

Key facts

Verdict
Great
Crowds
High
Guatemala
Prices
Medium
Guatemala

Verdict

GreatVoykit month rating for Guatemala

Dry and clear; cold nights in the highlands; best volcano views.

Is another month better than January?

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

Weather in January

  • 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.

  • Petén lowlands · Flores, Tikal, Yaxhábest weather

    Hot and humid all year; April–May reach 35 °C (95 °F)+; 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.

  • 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 Guatemala24 °C (75 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 1 rain days
  • Almolonga22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 5 rain days
  • Cantel22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days
  • Carmelita30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days
  • Chichicastenango22 °C (72 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • Chimaltenango22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days
  • Chiquimula28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days
  • Cobán24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 12 rain days
  • Dolores28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 10 rain days
  • El Ceibo28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days
  • El Naranjo30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 8 rain days
  • El Paredón31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days
  • El Remate28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days
  • Escuintla32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days
  • Esquipulas23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 5 rain days
  • Flores29 °C (84 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days
  • Guatemala City24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 2 rain days
  • Huehuetenango22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 8 rain days
  • Jaibalito24 °C (75 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 2 rain days
  • Jutiapa28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 2 rain days
  • Lanquín27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 12 rain days
  • Livingston30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Mazatenango32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 2 rain days
  • Melchor de Mencos28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 10 rain days
  • Monterrico32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 2 rain days
  • Panajachel24 °C (75 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 2 rain days
  • Puerto Barrios28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days
  • Puerto San José32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 2 rain days
  • Quetzaltenango21 °C (70 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 2 rain days
  • Raxruja28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 10 rain days
  • Retalhuleu28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 4 rain days
  • Rio Dulce30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days
  • Sacapulas24 °C (75 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days
  • Salcajá22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 2 rain days
  • San Andrés28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days
  • San Andrés Xecul22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days
  • San Antonio Palopo22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days
  • San José28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days
  • San Juan La Laguna24 °C (75 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 2 rain days
  • San Marcos La Laguna24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days
  • San Miguel29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 8 rain days
  • San Pedro la Laguna24 °C (75 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 2 rain days
  • San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta23 °C (73 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 2 rain days
  • Santa Catarina Palopó28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 5 rain days
  • Santa Cruz la Laguna28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 8 rain days
  • Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa32 °C (90 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 2 rain days
  • Santa Maria Nebaj22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days
  • Santiago Atitlán24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 3 rain days
  • Sayaxché28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 2 rain days
  • Sololá22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days
  • Todos Santos Cuchumatán18 °C (64 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 6 rain days
  • Uspantán22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 8 rain days
  • Zunil22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 5 rain days

Festivals and holidays

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.

  • New Year's Day

    1 Jan

    Public holiday.

  • Christmas and New Year

    24 Dec – 1 Jan · Antigua Guatemala

    Fireworks most nights; some restaurants shorten hours or close.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Guatemala
High
Prices · Guatemala
Medium

Compare two months

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

  • Verdict

    Jan: Great

    Feb: Great

  • Crowds

    Jan: High

    Feb: Medium

  • Prices

    Jan: Medium

    Feb: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Jan: 2

    Feb: 0

January: Dry and clear; cold nights in the highlands; best volcano views.

February: Dry and warm; Lent processions start in Antigua on Sundays.

Guatemala: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in January

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, sunny days, cold nights.

  • 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