When to go · Guatemala
Guatemala in November
Good month. Dry season begins; giant kites at Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez on 1 Nov.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Good
- Crowds
- Medium
- Guatemala
- Prices
- Medium
- Guatemala
Verdict
Dry season begins; giant kites at Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez on 1 Nov.
Is another month better than November?
November is rated good. 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).
Weather in November
- Highlands · Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Quetzaltenango, Chichicastenangofine
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, Yaxháfine
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 Champeyrainy
Wet much of the year; Semuc's pools turn brown after heavy rain.
- Pacific coast · Monterrico, El Paredónfine
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 rangerainy
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, Sayaxchéfine
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 Guatemala24 °C (75 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 4 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 4 rain days
- Almolonga22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 8 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 8 rain days
- Cantel24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 5 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 5 rain days
- Carmelita29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 10 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 10 rain days
- Chichicastenango22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 8 rain days
- Chimaltenango23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 6 rain days
- Chiquimula27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 6 rain days
- Cobán25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 12 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 12 rain days
- Dolores29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 11 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 11 rain days
- El Ceibo29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 9 rain days
- El Naranjo31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 8 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 8 rain days
- El Paredón31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 6 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 6 rain days
- El Remate28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 8 rain days
- Escuintla31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 rain days
- Esquipulas24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 6 rain days
- Flores30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 11 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 11 rain days
- Guatemala City24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 6 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 6 rain days
- Huehuetenango24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 7 rain days
- Jaibalito23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 6 rain days
- Jutiapa28 °C (82 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 5 rain days
- Lanquín28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 15 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 15 rain days
- Livingston31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 9 rain days
- Mazatenango31 °C (88 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 8 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 8 rain days
- Melchor de Mencos29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 11 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 11 rain days
- Monterrico31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 7 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 7 rain days
- Panajachel24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 7 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 7 rain days
- Puerto Barrios30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
- Puerto San José32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 6 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 6 rain days
- Quetzaltenango21 °C (70 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 7 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 7 rain days
- Raxruja29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 12 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 12 rain days
- Retalhuleu28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 5 rain days
- Rio Dulce30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 6 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 6 rain days
- Sacapulas24 °C (75 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 7 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 7 rain days
- Salcajá22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 8 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 8 rain days
- San Andrés29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 10 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 10 rain days
- San Andrés Xecul23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 6 rain days
- San Antonio Palopo22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 10 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 10 rain days
- San José29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 10 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 10 rain days
- San Juan La Laguna24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 7 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 7 rain days
- San Marcos La Laguna24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 6 rain days
- San Miguel30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 11 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 11 rain days
- San Pedro la Laguna24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 7 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 7 rain days
- San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta24 °C (75 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 3 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 3 rain days
- Santa Catarina Palopó29 °C (84 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
- Santa Cruz la Laguna28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 7 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 7 rain days
- Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 rain days
- Santa Maria Nebaj22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 10 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 10 rain days
- Santiago Atitlán24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 8 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 8 rain days
- Sayaxché30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 5 rain days
- Sololá23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 5 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 5 rain days
- Todos Santos Cuchumatán19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 10 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 10 rain days
- Uspantán23 °C (73 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 12 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 12 rain days
- Zunil22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 8 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.
All Saints' Day and giant kites
1 Nov
Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez kite festivals; Todos Santos Cuchumatán horse race.
Day of the Dead check
1 November · Antigua Guatemala
Family visits to cemeteries with flowers and food; the giant-kite festivals in nearby towns are a well-known half-day trip.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Guatemala
- Medium
- Prices · Guatemala
- Medium
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Guatemala, side by side.
Verdict
Nov: Good
Jan: Great (better)
Crowds
Nov: Medium
Jan: High
Prices
Nov: Medium
Jan: Medium
Festivals listed
Nov: 2
Jan: 2
November: Dry season begins; giant kites at Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez on 1 Nov.
January: Dry and clear; cold nights in the highlands; best volcano views.
Guatemala: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
Where to go in November
Rated best or good this month
Rain ends; clear views, All Saints Day.
Best months: Nov–Apr
Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)
Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)
Best months: Nov–Apr, plus Dec for the festival
Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season, cooler temps)
Best months: Nov–Apr
Best months: Nov–Apr
Best months: Nov–Apr
Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season, best surf)
Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season)
Best months: Nov–Apr