Lake Atitlan Weather: When’s The Best Time To Visit?
What’s Lake Atitlan weather like? Depending on the time you visit – it could either make or break your trip. Find out the best time to visit!
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Ashley Metcalfe
June 18, 2024
Ready to visit the beautiful Lake Atitlan in Guatemala?
But maybe you’re wondering…
…What’s Lake Atitlan weather like?
When you visit Lake Atitlan could either make or break your trip. That’s why it’s such an important question! After living in Lake Atitlan for 2 months, we got a feel of what the weather and crowds were like.
In this blog post, you’ll learn about Lake Atitlan weather, the best (and worst) times to visit Lake Atitlan, when the rainy season is and the best time to get the cheapest prices.
Here’s The Quick Answer: The best time to Lake Atitlan is January, February and March. These are warm months, reaching temperatures of 82°F (28°C), so you’ll get more sunshine if you visit during these months.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Time to Visit Lake Atitlan
There are so many factors that go into deciding the best time to visit Lake Atitlan.
Here are some things you should consider about Lake Atitlan weather:
- Humidity
- Rainy season
- Prices
- Events and
- Crowds
It’s easy to decide when the best time to visit Lake Atitlan weather for you based on how you like to travel. Everyone’s wants, needs and preferences are different – and that’s okay!
Matthew and I love visiting top digital nomad destinations during the shoulder months when there are fewer crowds and better rental deals around – even if that means a couple of days of rain.
But if you don’t mind crowds of tourists and prefer to have sunshine all day, every day – then you can enjoy these destinations during their peak seasons! Peak season is usually when Lake Atitlan weather is the best (which makes sense).
Here are some questions to help you choose the best time to visit Lake Atitlan:
- Will the rain ruin your digital nomad travels/vacation?
- Do crowds of people bother you?
- Are you wanting to spend the majority of your time outdoors?
- Do you care about humidity?
Think of the activities you’d like to do while in Lake Atitlan and make a list of your preferences. This helps planning, organizing and booking your trip so much easier!
When Is The Best Time To Visit Lake Atitlan?
The best time to visit Lake Atitlan is from November to May. During these months, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the lake is pretty calm.
The worst time to visit Lake Atitlan is from June to October. The rainy season tends to come around these months (sometimes earlier or later) but you can bank on the fact that it might rain a couple of days while you’re there.
Quick Stats on Lake Atitlan Weather & Seasons
- Warmest month in Lake Atitlan: April (81°F | 27°C)
- Coolest month in Lake Atitlan: February (73°F | 23°C )
- Rainiest month in Lake Atitlan: June
- Driest month in Lake Atitlan: January
- Most crowded months in Lake Atitlan: December/April
- Least crowded months in Lake Atitlan: June, July, August
Lake Atitlan Weather – General Overview
Lake Atitlan weather in general is pretty nice. The annual average temperature in Lake Atitlan is around 66°F to 77°F (19°C to 25°C). It never gets too cold or too hot! I’d heard this about the weather in Lake Atitlan, but before going I really couldn’t comprehend what people meant. You really need to be there to experience the perfect temperature!
The Best Months To Visit Lake Atitlan
The dry season is from November to May. You’ll get plenty of sunshine, calm lake waters and the humidity isn’t too bad. But…if we had to narrow down the best months to visit Lake Atitlan it would be January, February and March!
The humidity is pretty low compared to Playa del Carmen weather, for example. You won’t be sweating too much while walking around the beautiful villages – which is awesome! There’s usually a slight breeze too which is nice!
Why these specific months?
In December and April, there are 2 large holidays celebrated around Guatemala. Christmas and Semana Santa (Holy Week) fall during these 2 months and while the weather is still pretty great – it’s the crowds that might annoy you. Usually, there isn’t much rainfall during these months, however, the number of crowds definitely increases (and it’s easier to feel the influx of people because the lake villages are pretty small).
Good weather means more crowds, and the events or festivals can affect the influx of crowds but again – it might be the reason you visit the lake! Lots of local tourists from all over Guatemala tend to spend Semana Santa week in Lake Atitlan which can make everything busier and the prices for accommodation increase by at least 30%.
The lake feels extra magical during the dry season so it’s worth planning in advance!
The Worst Months To Visit Lake Atitlan
The worst months to visit Lake Atitlan are June, July and August!
You’ll get the most amount of rainfall for the year during this time and it’s hard to get outside to do any activities around the lake with the rain. The waves also get pretty serious when there’s heavy rainfall so there are barely any boats going across the lake.
But maybe you don’t mind some rain?
You can enjoy the lake without the crowds of tourists all around. It might be a better time for you to travel to Lake Atitlan if crowds aren’t your thing.
The other thing about visiting during the rainy season is that the electricity can go out during a rainstorm. We experienced a pretty heavy rainstorm while we were there in late May and our electricity went out from 3pm to 10pm. Our host said that it depends on which town you’re in because we could see lights across the lake in San Marcos but they turned them off in San Pedro. Oh well!
TTA TIP: Be careful about riding the lanchas (boat taxis) during the rainy season the waves can get pretty dangerous and the lanchas reduce their schedules which means you could get stuck in a random town till the next day.
Lake Atitlan Weather: Temperature Year-Round
Lake Atitlan weather is one of the best we’ve experienced because it never gets too humid or too cold. I mean, you are on this beautiful lake with volcano views – it’s pretty hard to complain about the weather!
The annual average temperature in Lake Atitlan is 75°F (24°C). April is the warmest month in Lake Atitlan while February is the coolest month.
Lake Atitlan Weather: Precipitation Year-Round
The rainiest month in Lake Atitlan is June, followed by September. The rainfall during these months is around 356mm (14in), which is pretty high compared to the driest month which gets a rainfall of 2mm (0.1in). There are a couple of rainstorms that come through but nothing as major as a hurricane. It’s just the normal rainy season showers.
While we were there, the rain came early! We were there till the end of May and it rained quite a bit which sucked because it meant we had to stay indoors.
Lake Atitlan Weather: Sunshine Year-Round
The months with the most hours of sunshine are January, February and March!
We were living in Lake Atitlan as digital nomads for 2 months from March to May and we can attest to the fact that March was definitely the better month! The sun’s always out and the views across the lake are much clearer. If you plan on doing the Indian’s Nose hike – go during these months for the best views of the lake.
More sunshine means more opportunities to get out and enjoy the lake! There are plenty of activities like kayaking, hiking and exploring other towns (eg. Santa Cruz, San Pedro, Santa Catarina, etc).
What Is The Cheapest Month To Visit Lake Atitlan?
Lake Atitlan weather is the best during the dry season but…
…everyone else also wants to visit during this time – it makes sense! What does that mean though?
Two things: lots of crowds and higher accommodation prices. We have heard that some Airbnb hosts raise their prices by 30%-50% (that’s a lot more than what you could pay if you visit in the low season).
The cheapest month for accommodation prices in Lake Atitlan is October and November. I don’t want to say June or July because you won’t be able to get out and do anything. During these months, the rain is starting to lessen and it’s just about ramping up to peak season. If you get a good host, you can even negotiate to pay the same for the higher months if you stay longer.
The 2 Lake Atitlan Weather Seasons: Wet & Dry
Lake Atitlan has 2 seasons: dry season and wet season.
The wet season is when there’s heavy rainfall and higher chances of rain throughout the month.
The dry season is very nice at the lake because it gets pretty warm but it’s never too hot or humid.
Dry Season In Lake Atitlan
The dry season means it’s a great time to get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful lake activities.
The best things to do in Lake Atitlan during the dry season:
- Go kayaking around the lake
- Grab a cup of coffee at any of the cafes in Lake Atitlan
- Hike from San Marcos to Santa Cruz
- Take a day trip to other lake villages
- Dip in the hot springs (we recommend Los Termales)
Pros of visiting Lake Atitlan in the dry season
- Most activities are open
- Less likelihood of rain
- Lots of festivals and events happening
Cons of visiting Lake Atitlan in the dry season
- The narrow streets of the lake villages will be crowded with tourists
- Prices will be much higher eg. accommodation costs
- Peak tourist season (November-May)
Wet Season In Lake Atitlan
What’s the wet season like in Lake Atitlan?
Rain. Rain. And More Rain. But – there are fewer crowds.
Best things to do in Lake Atitlan during the wet season:
- Take a cooking class
- Learn about the chocolate-making process
Pros of visiting Lake Atitlan in the wet season
- Fewer chances of being surrounded by crowds of tourists
- Typical tourist attractions will be less crowded than the dry season
- Prices are likely to be cheaper for things like accommodation
Cons of visiting Lake Atitlan in the wet season
- Fewer activities to do because of possible rainstorms and power outages
- High chances of rainy days (and when it rains…it pours in Lake Atitlan)
The Best Time To Visit Lake Atitlan In Our Opinion Is…
Lake Atitlan weather is at its best during January, February and March. While we usually try to avoid crowds and go during the shoulder months – I have to say it’s worth battling the crowds for the stunning weather.
We came from San Cristobal to Lake Atitlan and I remember when we first arrived we were shocked at how perfect the temperature was. The sun was out, it was warm but we never got too humid or burnt from the weather in Lake Atitlan. We extended our stay because we were just so enchanted with the lake, volcano views and perfect weather.
Which month will you choose to visit Lake Atitlan? Comment below and let us know your thoughts!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the seasons in Lake Atitlan?
There are 2 seasons in Lake Atitlan – the wet season and the dry season.
The wet season is usually from June to October (roughly, although it can sometimes come earlier or later).
The dry season is usually from November to May.
When should I go to Lake Atitlan?
This really depends on what you’re after! Our top picks would be January, February and March. Despite the crowds, the weather is just too good to miss!
But – if you’re after cheaper deals on accommodation and fewer crowds and don’t mind some rain, visiting in October and November could work for you. This is when the rain starts to lessen but you might get better deals and fewer crowds.
Is Lake Atitlan worth it?
If you love stunning lake views, a laid-back lifestyle and delicious food, Lake Atitlan is worth a visit!
But going for a visit and living there are different things. While we loved our time living in Lake Atitlan as digital nomads, by the end of the 2 months, we were ready for our next destination!
If you’re going for a visit, a few days is perfect! As digital nomads, we would recommend staying for 1 month.
Is Lake Atitlan expensive?
We found our cost of living in Guatemala was generally more expensive than we were used to, but Lake Atitlan was definitely cheaper than Antigua.
For 2 people, our cost of living for one month in Lake Atitlan was $1,529.
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