Guatemala travel guide

Best time to visit Guatemala from the UK

Best value: May, Oct. Nov–Apr: dry season. Busiest and priciest: Nov–Apr.

Each bar is the average temperature in Guatemala City for that month, and its colour shows the season for visitors: best value (good weather, fewer crowds and lower prices), busiest and priciest, or quiet (off-peak, sometimes because the weather is poorer).

• Our pick: May and OctoberThe warmest of the best-value months (20–23°C), with fewer crowds than peak season.
• Peak season: Nov–AprUsually 19–23°C. The busiest time, so book flights and rooms early and expect higher prices.
• Quiet season: Jun–SepAround 21–22°C. The cheapest and least crowded time, though often because of rain or heat.
• Warmest: April (23°C) · coolest: December (19°C)Temperatures barely change through the year, so the season matters more than the weather.

Festivals and events

• Semana Santa Mar–Apr · Antigua
• Giant Kite Festival Nov · Sumpango

Festival dates move from year to year: check before you book.

Getting there from the UK

Flight time

About 11h 15m

Distance

8,747 km

Main airport

GUA

Flight times are straight-line estimates for a direct flight from Heathrow; journeys with a change take longer.

Add Guatemala to your bucket list Search flights to GUA

Practical info and travel guidance

• FCDO adviceAdvises against all but essential travel to parts of GuatemalaCheck which areas before you book.
• VisaNo visa neededUp to 90 days
• HealthcareNo free healthcareYou pay for treatment, so travel insurance with medical cover is essential.
• LGBT+ travellersLegal, but attitudes can be conservativePublic affection may draw attention.
• Women travellersNo specific FCDO warningTake the usual precautions.

For British passport holders, summarised from the FCDO's advice for Guatemala, checked October 2026. FCDO page last updated 13 August 2026. Rules change: read the official FCDO travel advice for Guatemala before you book and again before you go.