Things to Do in Guatemala in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Guatemala
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak dry season means you'll get crystal-clear skies for Tikal sunrise tours and volcano hikes - rainfall drops to practically nothing with maybe 2 rainy days all month, compared to 20+ days in October
- December sits right in the sweet spot between rainy season mud and March's dusty heat - trails around Lake Atitlán are dry enough for hiking but vegetation is still green from recent rains, and visibility at Acatenango volcano regularly exceeds 50 km (31 miles)
- Highland temperatures are actually perfect for exploring - daytime highs around 22°C (72°F) in Antigua and Chichicastenango mean you can walk cobblestone streets comfortably without the scorching heat you'd face in April, though mornings dip to 12°C (54°F) so you'll want layers
- Christmas season brings genuine cultural experiences you won't find other months - the Quema del Diablo on December 7th, posadas processions through Antigua's streets nightly December 16-24, and elaborate nativity scenes in every highland village, plus locals are in festive spirits and markets overflow with seasonal tamales and ponche
Considerations
- This is peak tourist season, so expect crowds at major sites and prices inflated 30-50% above shoulder season rates - Antigua hotels that cost 400 quetzales in May jump to 600-700 quetzales in December, and you'll share Tikal sunrise with 200+ people instead of 40
- You need to book accommodations and shuttle buses at least 6-8 weeks ahead for the December 20-January 5 window or you'll find everything full - procrastinate and you'll pay double for whatever scraps remain, particularly around Lake Atitlán where lakeside hotels book out by October
- Highland nights get genuinely cold and most Guatemalan buildings lack heating - that 12°C (54°F) nighttime temperature feels colder indoors than the number suggests, and budget hotels in Antigua and Xela often have thin walls and single-pane windows that turn your room into an icebox by 2am
Best Activities in December
Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hikes
December offers the year's most reliable conditions for the grueling 6-hour, 1,500 m (4,920 ft) climb to camp at 3,700 m (12,139 ft) where you'll watch Volcán de Fuego erupt every 15-20 minutes through the night. Clear skies occur 85-90% of December nights versus maybe 30% in August, and you'll actually see the lava bombs arcing through darkness instead of staring into fog. The cold is real though - temperatures at camp drop to 0°C (32°F) by midnight, but that's exactly why outfitters provide better sleeping bags in December than other months. Summit sunrise views stretch across the entire volcanic chain to Mexico on clear mornings.
Tikal Sunrise Tours
Dry season transforms Tikal from a muddy jungle slog into the experience you see in photos - mist rising off the canopy as howler monkeys roar and sunlight hits Temple IV at 6:15am. December mornings are cool enough at 18°C (64°F) that you won't arrive drenched in sweat after the 30-minute predawn climb up wooden ladders to the temple top. Wildlife activity peaks in early morning dry season as animals congregate around remaining water sources - you'll spot toucans, spider monkeys, and ocellated turkeys that disappear during midday heat. The downside is you're sharing the moment with 150-200 other people versus 30-40 in September.
Lake Atitlán Village-Hopping by Boat
December's calm waters make the public lanchas between lakeside villages actually pleasant instead of the choppy rides you get during rainy season's afternoon winds. Mornings are mirror-smooth for photography, and you can comfortably spend 20-30 minutes crossing from Panajachel to Santiago Atitlán or San Pedro without getting soaked by spray. Each village maintains distinct character - Santiago for traditional Tz'utujil culture and maximón worship, San Marcos for yoga retreats, San Pedro for backpacker scene - and December's dry trails mean you can hike between villages like Santa Cruz to Jaibalito without mud. The lake sits at 1,562 m (5,125 ft) so temperatures stay comfortable for walking: 20°C (68°F) afternoons, 13°C (55°F) mornings.
Semuc Champey Natural Pools
This is actually the ideal month for the turquoise limestone pools because water levels drop just enough that you can safely swim in all the terraced pools without dangerous currents, but recent rainy season runoff keeps colors vibrant. The 45-minute uphill hike to the mirador viewpoint is brutal in any season - 400 m (1,312 ft) elevation gain on slippery rocks - but December's lower humidity makes it survivable where July's steam-bath conditions leave people vomiting. Water temperature stays around 22°C (72°F) year-round from underground springs. The 8-10 hour journey from Antigua or Cobán involves rough dirt roads that are passable in December but become impassable mud pits by August.
Chichicastenango Market Days
Thursday and Sunday market days in Chichi explode with highland Maya vendors selling everything from handwoven huipiles to copal incense, and December adds Christmas shopping urgency that brings even more vendors than usual. The market sprawls across multiple plazas and up the steps of Santo Tomás church where you'll see traditional cofradía ceremonies mixing Catholic and Maya practices. December mornings start cold at 10°C (50°F) at this 2,071 m (6,795 ft) elevation, but by 10am when the market peaks you're comfortable in light layers. The authentic cultural experience happens early - arrive by 8am before tour buses from Antigua flood in around 10:30am bringing crowds that triple by noon.
Antigua Colonial Walking and Food Tours
December weather makes Antigua's cobblestone streets actually pleasant for the 4-6 hours of walking you'll do exploring churches, ruins, and colonial architecture. Daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F) mean you're comfortable in jeans and a light shirt, unlike March-April when 28°C (82°F) heat drives everyone indoors by 2pm. The city goes full Christmas mode with elaborate alfombras (sawdust carpets) appearing for various processions, fairy lights strung across streets, and the central plaza hosting nightly posadas December 16-24. Food tours make sense in December because seasonal specialties appear - tamales colorados and negros wrapped in banana leaves, ponche (hot fruit punch with rum), and buñuelos (fried dough balls in syrup) at markets and street stalls.
December Events & Festivals
Quema del Diablo (Burning of the Devil)
December 7th at 6pm, families across Guatemala pile garbage and old belongings in the street and set them on fire to symbolically burn the devil and cleanse their homes before Christmas. In Antigua you'll see bonfires on every block with neighbors gathering around, kids running between fires, and the smell of burning wood and firecrackers filling colonial streets. It's chaotic, loud, and genuinely local - not a tourist show. The tradition dates back centuries mixing Catholic and indigenous beliefs. Some families build elaborate devil effigies to burn. Streets become impassable with smoke and crowds, so plan to walk rather than drive that evening.
Las Posadas Processions
December 16-24, neighborhoods throughout Antigua and highland towns reenact Mary and Joseph seeking lodging in Bethlehem through nightly processions called posadas. Groups carry candles and nativity figures through streets singing traditional villancicos, stopping at designated houses where they're 'refused' until finally welcomed in for hot ponche, tamales, and prayers. You can join by simply following processions that start around 7pm from various churches - locals welcome respectful observers. The final posada on Christmas Eve is the most elaborate with hundreds participating. This is living tradition, not tourist performance, so dress modestly and stay quiet during prayers.
Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at Antigua Cathedral
December 24th midnight mass at the Cathedral of San José fills with locals in traditional traje and visitors for the year's most important Catholic celebration. The service runs 90+ minutes with traditional hymns, incense, and the placement of baby Jesus in nativity scenes. Arrive by 11pm for seats or expect to stand in packed aisles. After mass around 1:30am, families gather in Parque Central sharing tamales and ponche, and fireworks explode across the city through dawn. It's festive chaos with genuine community feeling. Many restaurants and bars stay open all night Christmas Eve unlike their usual early closings.