Best time to visit · Antigua · Guatemala
The best time to visit Antigua
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Walter Rodriguez, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
The best time to visit Antigua is the dry season from November to April, when skies are clear, volcano views are reliable and hiking conditions are good. Holy Week (March or April) is spectacular but crowded and expensive. May to October is greener and cheaper, with mornings usually dry and rain in the afternoons.
Key facts
- Best months
- November–March
- Shoulder season
- April–May and October
- Warmest month
- April (avg high 27°C (81°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 23°C (73°F))
- Rainiest month
- September (~21 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- May–June and September–October
Seasons
Antigua has a mild highland climate with spring-like days most of the year. The dry season runs from about November to April; the rainy season from May to October brings green hills and afternoon downpours, with mornings often clear.
November–February
Dry season
Sunny days, cool nights and the clearest volcano views; the most comfortable time for Acatenango and Pacaya, with Christmas and New Year busy with domestic visitors.
February–April
Lent and Holy Week
Warm and dry, with Lenten processions every Sunday building to Semana Santa; book rooms well ahead for Holy Week.
May–July
Early rains
Afternoon storms begin, the hills turn green and prices fall; mornings remain good for sightseeing and hikes.
August–October
Late rains
The wettest months, with heavy afternoon rain and muddy trails, but quiet streets and low hotel rates.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23°C | 9°C | 2 | 11.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| February | 25°C | 10°C | 2 | 11.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| March | 26°C | 11°C | 3 | 12 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| April | 27°C | 12°C | 6 | 12.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| May | 26°C | 14°C | 14 | 12.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| June | 25°C | 15°C | 20 | 13 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| July | 24°C | 14°C | 18 | 12.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| August | 24°C | 14°C | 19 | 12.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| September | 24°C | 14°C | 21 | 12.2 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| October | 23°C | 14°C | 16 | 11.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| November | 23°C | 12°C | 6 | 11.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 23°C | 11°C | 3 | 11.3 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| February | Lenten Sunday processions (begin with Lent, usually February or March) |
| March | Semana Santa — processions and sawdust carpets (Holy Week, March or April) |
| April | Semana Santa — processions and sawdust carpets (Holy Week, March or April) |
| July | Feast of Santiago, the town's patron saint (25 July) |
| September | Independence Day — torch relays and school parades (14–15 September) |
| November | Giant kite festivals in Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez (1 November) |
| December | Quema del Diablo — bonfires burning effigies of the devil (7 December); Christmas posadas — evening processions (mid to late December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in May–June and September–October, and the sights are quietest in May–June and September–October.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Dry season | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Lent and Holy Week | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Early rains | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Late rains | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Antigua?
The best time to visit Antigua is the dry season from November to April, when skies are clear, volcano views are reliable and hiking conditions are good. Holy Week (March or April) is spectacular but crowded and expensive. May to October is greener and cheaper, with mornings usually dry and rain in the afternoons.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Antigua?
Usually in May–June and September–October. The rains start, usually as afternoon storms; mornings are still good for sightseeing and prices drop.
+What is the rainiest month in Antigua?
September, with about 21 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Antigua get?
The warmest month, April, averages highs of 27°C (81°F) and lows of 12°C (54°F).