Things to Do in Guatemala in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Guatemala
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- December marks the start of dry season - morning fog lifts to cobalt skies by 9 AM, perfect for volcano photography without the 3 PM thunderstorms that plague September
- Semana de Guatemalteco celebrations run December 1-7 with daily parades on Avenida Reforma - brass bands and marimba groups that locals attend, not tourist shows
- Highland markets (Chichicastenango on Thursday/Sunday, Sololá on Tuesday/Friday) reach peak color as weavers sell new designs for Christmas - the cobalt and coral huipiles appear overnight
- Lake Atitlán sits at 1,560 m (5,120 ft) elevation but December mornings feel crisp at 18°C (64°F) instead of the usual sticky 24°C (75°F)
Considerations
- Christmas week (December 20-January 3) brings Guatemalan families to Antigua and Lake Atitlán - expect traffic jams on CA-1 where the normal 2 hour Antigua-Lake drive becomes 4 hours
- Morning fog in the highlands lingers until 8:30 AM, killing sunrise volcano views about 40% of December mornings
- Beaches on the Pacific coast hit 35°C (95°F) with brutal humidity - the kind that makes your sunglasses fog when you step outside
Best Activities in December
Volcano Acatenango Overnight Treks
December's dry season makes the 3,976 m (13,045 ft) summit accessible without the muddy trails that close in September. Night temperatures drop to -2°C (28°F) but the sunrise over Fuego's eruptions is guaranteed clear 90% of December mornings. Most groups leave Antigua at 9 AM for a 6-hour hike to camp, with porters carrying your gear for 150 quetzales.
Antigua Walking Food Tours
December evenings cool to 16°C (61°F) - perfect for 3-hour street food circuits without sweating through your shirt. The best tours hit Mercado de Artesanías for pepian (turkey stew), street-side chuchitos (corn tamales), and the Christmas special ponche de frutas served hot in the central plaza. Most tours start at 6 PM when vendors set up under string lights.
Lake Atitlán Village Boat Tours
December's water sits at 22°C (72°F) - warm enough to swim without the rainy season's lake debris. The 3-hour boat circuits hit Santiago Atitlán for Maximon ceremonies and San Juan for weaving cooperatives. Morning boats leave Panajachel at 8:30 AM - the lake stays glass-calm until 11 AM when afternoon breezes pick up.
Tikal Sunrise Tours
December's 5:30 AM sunrise hits Temple IV at the perfect angle - golden light through the ceiba trees without the rainy season's clouds. The 4 AM departure from Flores includes a 1-hour drive plus 45-minute jungle walk. Howler monkeys start their territorial calls at 5 AM - the sound carries 5 km (3.1 miles) through the forest canopy.
Coffee Farm Day Trips
December marks peak coffee harvest - you can pick your own beans at farms above Antigua at 1,500 m (4,920 ft) elevation. The tours start with roasting demonstrations where you smell the shift from grassy to chocolate notes, then cupping sessions comparing high-altitude bourbon beans. Most farms limit tours to 12 people to keep quality high.
Chichicastenango Market Photography Tours
Thursday and Sunday markets explode with Christmas colors - the cobalt blue huipiles from Nahualá and deep purple cortes from Sololá appear in December. The best light hits the main plaza at 8 AM when vendors are setting up, before the 10 AM crowds. Local guides know the stallholders who'll pose for photos without demanding payment.
December Events & Festivals
Festival de Santo Tomás
Chichicastenango's patron saint festival runs December 13-21 with daily processions, traditional dances, and the famous palo volador pole ceremony. The market stays open until 9 PM during festival week with food stalls serving chuchitos and atole. Locals arrive from surrounding villages in traditional dress - the best photo opportunities happen during the 3 PM processions.
Las Posadas
Neighborhood Christmas processions happen nightly December 16-24, in Antigua's old town. Groups carry candles and sing carols from house to house, ending with tamales and ponche. The biggest procession starts at La Merced church at 7 PM on December 23 - arrive early for a spot near the entrance.