Season guide · Antigua · Guatemala
Antigua in the dry season
November–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
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. Expect highs up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 13 rainy days across November–February. November–February are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- November–February
- Temperatures
- 9°C (48°F) to 25°C (77°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 13
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in the dry season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23°C (73°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 2 | 11.4 h | 4/5 |
| February | 25°C (77°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 2 | 11.6 h | 4/5 |
| November | 23°C (73°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 6 | 11.4 h | 3/5 |
| December | 23°C (73°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 3 | 11.3 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 24°C (75°F) against a yearly 24°C (75°F), and 13 of the year's roughly 130 rainy days fall in these 4 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in the dry season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Lenten Sunday processions (begin with Lent, usually February or March)
- November: Giant kite festivals in Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez (1 November)
- December: Quema del Diablo — bonfires burning effigies of the devil (7 December)
- December: Christmas posadas — evening processions (mid to late December)
Make the most of the weather
Viewpoint · La Merced and Calle del Arco
Cerro de la Cruz
A stone cross on a hillside north of town looks straight down the street grid to Volcán de Agua, the classic overview of Antigua.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours return
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Active
Experience · San Felipe de Jesús
Finca Filadelfia coffee tour
Visit between December and March to see the harvest and red coffee cherries being picked and processed.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Kids
Day trips in the dry season
- Pacaya volcano (About 1.5 hours by shuttle) — Pacaya is an active volcano near Guatemala City with a guided trail of about 1.5–2 hours up through farmland and forest to black lava fields.
- Acatenango overnight hike (About 1 hour to the trailhead) — The steep climb up Acatenango to a camp at about 3,600 m takes five to six hours, rewarded by views of neighbouring Fuego erupting through the night.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the dry season a good time to visit Antigua?
Yes: November–February are among the best months. 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.
+What is the weather like in Antigua in the dry season?
Highs of up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 13 rainy days over the season.