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The best time to visit Guatemala is during the dry season. Even so, you should be aware that Guatemala has a hot and humid climate. The best months to visit the country are from December to April.

When to travel to Guatemala

As the best time to travel to Guatemala is during the dry season, it might be best to avoid the months of May to November. Particularly October and November, as this is when the hurricanes tend to appear in this region.

Now, let’s look at each region to find out the best times to travel to Guatemala, and which are the most favorable months to enjoy your journey through this Central American country.

Keep the popular festivals in Guatemala in mind when you plan your travel. That way you will be able to experience the unique and the traditional first-hand. Festivities like the All Saints Day of Santiago de Sacatepéquez, or the indigenous folk festivals are well worth seeing.

Of all the events that take place in Guatemala, there are certain festivals that you should not miss. The tradition, the costumes, the music, and the Guatemalan folklore will provide you with a different and unique experience. Take a look at the following festivities and, when planning your journey, choose the one you like the most.

January - New Year

In January, as in the rest of the world, Guatemalans celebrate the New Year. For the inhabitants of this country, this date is a reason for family celebrations. The most curious thing about the New Year in Guatemala is the burning of dolls, which is a way of eliminating all the bad things from the year that is ending. The dolls symbolize everything that you want to leave behind in order to enter the new year on a good footing. Of course, there are also firework displays and celebrations with music and dancing throughout the country.

February - Huelga de Dolores

In February the popular festivals in Guatemala are divided into various dates: the 20th of February is Marimba Day, this musical instrument is the symbol of the country. The 26th of February is the day for celebrating the National Cultural Heritage. This day celebrates the first official government visit to Tikal, a Mayan city of great importance, which took place in 1848.

Another event in Guatemala which stands out because of its originality is the Huelga de Dolores (The Strike of Pain), which is a carnival parade. The carnival parades through the streets of the historic center of Guatemala City and groups of hooded students shout protest songs against the government.

March and April - Holy week

Festivities in Guatemala for the months of March and April turn to Holy Week. Guatemalans celebrate this Christian event with a great deal of fervor. They cover the streets with flowers and bring their saints out on processions.

In Chichicastenango, the processions are as impressive as those in Old Guatemala, but they stand out because the native inhabitants are dressed in their traditional costume. The mass is celebrated in the Quiché language and is enveloped in Mayan incense and ancestral prayers.

May - Holy Cross

From the 1st to the 20th of May the festival in honor of the Holy Cross and the Child of Atocha is celebrated in Amatitlán. This festival has different social and cultural events, such as folk dances. From the 17th to the 21st in Patzún and Chimaltenango there are various festivities, for example, the Festival in honor of San Bernardino de Sena and the Corpus Cristi.

June - Dance of the Giants

The dance of the Giants in Antigua is one of the Guatemalan festivals celebrated during the month of June. It consists of a folk dance performed by giants and figures with oversized heads who take over the cathedral square in Antigua Guatemala. According to tradition, the dance is announced to the inhabitants on the day of Corpus Christi.

July -  National Indigenous Festival

One of the most traditional popular Guatemalan festivals is the National Indigenous Festival of Rabin Ajaw. Equally, in Verapaces as in Cobán, the national indigenous queen of Rabin Ajaw is chosen and crowned. The whole country takes part in this traditional festival which is considered to be the most important Mayan festival in Guatemala.

Also in July the Baile del Palo Volador (the Dance of the Flying Stick) is celebrated in Cubulco, which coincides with the festival in honor of Saint James the Apostle. The dancers, dressed in black, dance around a stick which is 30 meters high, and hang from it upside down. This is a celebration that you really shouldn’t miss.

August - National Folklore Festival of El Paab’anc

In August, one of the events celebrated in Guatemala is the National Folklore Festival of El Paab’anc in Cobán. This traditional Q’eqchi festival is a religious celebration of the indigenous inhabitants of Alta Verapaz. It is a Mayan festival where candles are lit, offerings are made and traditional dances are performed.

September - Independence Day

On the 15th of September, Guatemala celebrates its Independence Day, which took place on this same day in 1821.

October - Saint Francis of Assisi

Within popular festivals in Guatemala, October welcomes the festivals in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi in Totonicapán. There are also various social, cultural and sporting events, as well as folk dances.

November - All Saints Day

But without a doubt, the month of November brings one of the most surprising Guatemalan festivals. On All Saints Day, the festival of the Giant Kites is celebrated in Sumpango. This festival is a mixture of tradition, music, and color, where the kites, or giant comets, chase away the bad spirits.

December - Quema del Diablo

Of all the popular festivals in Guatemala, the Quema del Diablo (Burning of the Devil) is a magic-religious event celebrated each year on the 7th of December. Its purpose is to perform a spiritual cleansing by burning paper effigies symbolizing the devil.

If you can coincide your travel dates with any of these festivals, you are sure to enjoy both the culture and the traditions of Guatemala.

Knowing what to eat in Guatemala is essential when preparing for your trip. This multi-cultural country is full of different ethnic groups and it has gastronomy that is equally as varied and rich. You will want to try many of the traditional dishes of Guatemala.

If you don’t know what to eat in Guatemala, don’t worry, as we will go on a gastronomic journey of the country below. We will begin with the traditional Guatemalan dishes and then focus on their variety and unique gastronomy.

Kaq ik

This typically Guatemalan dish comes from the Q’eqchi’ region and is truly delicious. It is a meat soup made from chunto or turkey, which is prepared with various spices such as coriander, chili and annatto. Different vegetables are added to the soup and it is served accompanied by little tamales made with lard and rice.

This typical Guatemalan dish was declared a part of the intangible cultural heritage by the country’s Ministry for Culture and Sports in 2007. The ancestry of the dish is pre-hispanic and, before serving it, you drink cacao and sugar cane liquor.

Enchiladas

Of all the things you will find to eat in Guatemala, the enchiladas will be the one you try the most. These toasts are filled with minced meat, cheese, and beetroot and served with onion rings, to which are added tomato sauce with chopped parsley and two slices of hard-boiled egg.

Guatemalan enchiladas stand out because of the purple color of the beetroot and the accompaniment of vegetables with which they are served. You will find them in every market, fair and restaurant in the country.

Fiambre

This traditional Guatemalan dish is prepared for All Saints Day. The dish is a very varied salad consisting of a mix of different cold meats and vegetables. It is also prepared by using different types of cheese and its flavor comes from the chicken sauce.

The history of this dish recounts that it emerged as an offering, or at least that is how it appears in 17th-century chronicles. Its ingredients vary from one region to another, but throughout the country, it is the national dish for the 1st of November.

Paches

This typical Guatemalan dish is very like tamales, but these are made with potato dough. Paches are the star food for celebrations: birthdays, Christmas, Easter, New Year, etc. Its main ingredients are Potatoes, garlic, onion, sesame, chili, paprika, butter, and chicken or beef.

They are served on banana leaves and you can find them at any market in the country. They are also known as potato tamales, the most famous of which are those made with potato, rice, and the black-colored ones.

Chuchitos

Continuing with the food delights of Guatemala, we find this simple, yet tasty traditional dish. Chuchitos are made with a tortilla covered with layers of maize leaves. This tortilla is filled with chicken, pork or beef and is served with grated cheese and a tomato sauce.

There is a sweet version which is known as chuchito de cambray. This is a characteristic dish throughout the whole country and you can find it in any market.

Pepián

This Guatemalan dish is the most famous stew in the country. Little wonder that it has survived as an inheritance from the Mayas.

To prepare it, place maize tortillas over a griddle, with tomatoes, sesame, chilies, garlic, and coriander. To this mix, add carrots, meat, and potatoes. Make a very fragrant soup with all these ingredients and serve it with rice.

Tortillas

Now that you know what to eat in Guatemala, don’t forget the importance of tortillas or tortitas. These delicious maize doughs are a substitute for bread and accompany most dishes.

Tortillas are not only served as an accompaniment to the mail meals, but they can also be served on their own, with cheese or with beans.

Shucos

Shucos are a variation of what we know as the sandwich, or what has become known as our tapas. They are a base of bread, which is served with avocado, cabbage, and cold meats, and sometimes roast meats are added. You can add mayonnaise, mustard and tomato sauce with jalapeños according to taste.

Strolling through the streets, you will find vendors with barrows selling shucos. You will have the opportunity to try them on almost every street corner.

To complete our culinary journey through this beautiful country, what better than to end with one of its desserts. Don’t forget to try tamarind balls, pumpkin dessert or milk rings. The coconut or guava colochos (a confection made with sugar), along with figs in honey are other temptations that you won’t be able to resist.

This is just the beginning of what you need to know about things to eat in Guatemala and about its traditional dishes. This country will conquer you, not just visually, but also through its flavors.

If you don’t know what to buy in Guatemala, don’t worry, we are going to summarise the most typical souvenirs of the country. From brightly colored fabrics to Arabian quality coffee and Guatemalan rum.  Everything in this country is exotic and tasty, so you will definitely buy more than one gift as a souvenir.

Of everything you can buy in Guatemala, the best thing is to take some of the typical products home as a souvenir.  Amongst these, there is one essential thing that everyone drinks and has made the leap to social networks: Zacapa Rum.

Zacapa Rum

This aged rum from Guatemala is one of the best known typical Guatemalan products, and all of its flavors is made at more than 2,300 meters of altitude in Quetzaltenango. In this region, more than four types of Zacapa rum are made, the most sought after and valued.

Zacapa rum 23 is a mix of various 6 to 23-year-old rums whose main ingredient is caramel.  As well as this touch of caramel, it also contains various spices and fruits which help to give it flavor in its aging process.

The Zacapa Edición Negra is another variant, this time with rums aged up to 24 years, which gives a smoky flavor.  Chocolate and dried fruits are added to this characteristic flavor.  If you like rum, this could be the perfect gift to buy in Guatemala.

The Zacapa Xo, a mix of different rums aged between 6 and 25 years in French oak barrels. It is a gourmet rum with a spicy and fruity flavor.  Its age is perfect, and its aroma is unforgettable to the most discerning palate.

The last example is the Zacapa Royal, made with a mix of rums aged up to 30 years. The King of rums, aged in exclusive barrels and distilled with citric and caramel notes.  A delicate and perfect rum for connoisseurs of this drink.

Quetzalteca

Another of the typical Guatemalan products is Quetzalteca, an aguardiente (fire water) of different flavors. It can be tamarind or hibiscus flavor and has started to be sold in all of the country’s shops and around the world.  It is also available in its original version without added flavors, in any case, it is a symbol of the country.

This liquor has been made since 1937 and has also been linked to daily life and customs of the locals.  It is so popular that it is sold in a pocket-sized bottle, although there are also other sizes. You will recognize it by the indigenous woman who decorates the label, which is why it’s called Indita.

Guatemaltecan coffee

If you are still unsure of what to buy in Guatemala, or you're not into liquors, coffee is a perfect choice.  This coffee is considered one of the best in the world and has been made since 1760. Is aroma, acidity and body are due to the fact it is grown at high altitude and dried in the sun.

Guatemalan coffee requires a lot of time to process it, everything is done manually.  One of the most famous varieties is the Volcán de Oro Coffee, grown at 1600 meters, which has a very high quality.

Other known brands include Café León, Café Isabel, and Café Capeuleu, these three are exported around the world.  The second is dedicated to the high-quality Arabian variety, and the last is a gourmet coffee.

Now you have the perfect souvenir from Guatemala to take home or to surprise one of your friends as a gift.  But leaving to one side the products that can be drunk, there are more things to buy in Guatemala.

Ceremonial Masks

The most exotic thing to buy in Guatemala is ceremonial masks made by indigenous people.  These masks are usually used in rituals, dances and religious ceremonies.  They are made of bright colors and show different expressions of animals or humans.  In general, they are made of pine and are a great lure for tourists.

Guatemalan masks, far from disguising the person wearing them, have the task of transforming their wearer into the character they are wearing.  Whether it’s a goddess, angel or animal, the person wearing the mask takes on the role it represents.  This way they fully enter a new world that they want to get to know and/or express.

Jade Jewellery

The jade mines of Guatemala supply the country's jewelers to make extremely beautiful necklaces and rings.  There are many companies who export jade to the rest of the world from Guatemala.

This green colored precious stone is highly valued in jewelry for its beauty and durability.  Jade is resistant to knocks, and the most widely sold in Guatemala is a type of jade known as jadeite.  This jade is characterized for not being as shiny as nephrite jade, but it has a wider variety of shades.

In addition, for the Mayas, jade was always very valuable, even more so than gold.  Its extreme hardness was a symbol of immortality for them.  They also attributed special powers of fertility and life to it as well as therapeutic powers.

You can buy a necklace, ring, or a figure made of jade with a special meaning to give someone as a gift.  This is undoubtedly one of the best souvenirs of Guatemala that you can find as s souvenir of your trip.

In addition to all of the things that you can buy in Guatemala mentioned above, you also have multicolored fabrics that can be used to make scarves, cushion covers, rugs, quilts and much more.  Leave space in your suitcase and fill it with memorable souvenirs form this beautiful South American country.