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The climate of Guatemala: when to go to Guatemala

The climate of Guatemala is tropical and sub-tropical, but varies greatly in relation to altitude. In fact, in the areas of the plateau, between 800 and 1,600 meters high, where the largest inhabited centers of the country are located, the climate is temperate throughout the year. With average minimum temperatures ranging between 12 ° C and 16 ° C, and average maximum temperatures between 29 ° C and 22 ° C. The rains are concentrated in the months between May and October, while the dry season runs from November to April. In these areas, the annual average rainfall is around 1,300 mm.

On the mountains at over 2,000 meters the temperatures drop considerably with average temperatures between 5 ° C and 14 ° C and strong temperature variations between day and night.

In the coastal area of the Pacific Ocean and in the Petén plains the climate is tropical. The temperature never drops below 25 ° C, with summer maximums (July) of 30 ° C-32 ° C, and an annual average of temperatures around 28 ° C. Here the average annual rainfall is around 1,500 mm, in this area sometimes during the rainy season (May-October) even violent cyclones can occur.

The northern area of the country is the rainiest, with averages ranging from 1,500 mm to 2,500 mm, and with higher peaks at the most exposed hills.

The seawater temperature of Guatemala varies between 28 ° C and 30 ° C along the coast of the Pacific Ocean and between 26 ° C and 30 ° C along the coast of the Caribbean Sea.

WHEN TO GO TO GUATEMALA

The best time to visit Guatemala is the dry season, which runs from late November to early April.

THE CLIMATE OF GUATEMALA: CLIMATIC TABLES

GUATEMALA CITY (1500 meters)
Month Average low (°C) Average high (°C) Precip. (mm) Precip. days
January 13,2 24,3 2,8  1,7
February 13,6 25,8 5,4  1,4
March 14,6 26,8 6,0  2,0
April 16,0 27,8 31,0  4,7
May 16,8 27,1 128,9  12,3
June 16,8 25,8 271,8  21,1
July 16,3 25,4 202,6  18,6
August 16,5 25,5 202,7  19,0
September 16,4 25,1 236,6  20,8
October 16,0 24,7 131,6  14,6
November 14,7 24,2 48,8  6,2
December 13,7 23,9 6,6  2,6
YEAR 15,4 25,5 1274,8  125,2
QUETZALTENANGO (2330 meters)
Month Average low (°C) Average high (°C) Precip. (mm) Precip. days
January 2,3 22,0 1,8  0,8
February 2,9 23,5 5,5  0,9
March 3,9 25,5 14,4  2,3
April 6,3 23,8 41,1  5,9
May 8,8 23,1 131,5  16,8
June 9,3 21,9 147,8  21,9
July 8,2 21,9 98,6  18,0
August 8,5 22,1 106,9  17,5
September 9,0 20,9 134,7  22,8
October 8,4 21,7 93,5  14,5
November 6,0 21,3 18,7  5,7
December 2,8 22,1 7,1  2,1
YEAR 6,4 22,5 801,8  129,3

CHAMPERICO (Pacific Ocean)
Month Sea Water Temperature °C
January 28,2
February 28,4
March 29,1
April 29,7
May 30,1
June 30,0
July 30,1
August 30,3
September 29,9
October 29,1
November 29,6
December 29,0

LIVINGSTON (Carribean Sea)
Month Sea Water Temperature °C
January 26,6
February 26,5
March 27,2
April 27,9
May 28,8
June 29,5
July 29,4
August 29,6
September 29,9
October 29,0
November 28,2
December 27,4