Travel advisory · GuatemalaSome governments advise against travel to parts of Guatemala.The warnings cover only these areas: 5 km strip along the Mexican border, Guatemala City, Zone 11, Guatemala City, Zone 12, Guatemala City, Zone 18, Guatemala City, Zone 19, Guatemala City, Zone 21, Guatemala City, Zone 24, Guatemala City, Zone 3, Guatemala City, Zone 5, Guatemala City, Zone 6, Guatemala City, Zone 7, Guatemala City, Zone 8, Huehuetenango Department, Izabal Department, La Democracia, Mixco, Petén Department, San Antonio Huista, San Marcos Department, Santa Ana Huista, Villa Nueva.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- 5 km strip along the Mexican border · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Guatemala City, Zone 11 · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 12 · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 18 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy, US
- Guatemala City, Zone 19 · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 21 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 24 · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 3 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 5 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 6 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 7 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 8 · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Huehuetenango Department · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy, US
- Izabal Department · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- La Democracia · avoid non-essential travel · New Zealand, UK
- Mixco · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy
- Petén Department · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- San Antonio Huista · avoid non-essential travel · New Zealand, UK
- San Marcos Department · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy, US
- Santa Ana Huista · avoid non-essential travel · New Zealand, UK
- Villa Nueva · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy, US
Also named by one government: Areas around active volcanoes (Germany), Agua Caliente border with Honduras (Canada), Alta Verapaz Department (Italy), Anguiatu border with El Salvador (Canada), Chiquimula Department (Italy), El Carmen border with Mexico (Canada), El Ceibo border with Mexico (Canada), El Corinto border with Honduras (Canada), El Florido border with Honduras (Canada), Escuintla Department (Spain), Guatemala City, Zone 1 (Canada), Guatemala City, Zone 13 (Italy), Guatemala City, Zone 17 (Italy), Guatemala City, Zone 20 (Italy), Guatemala City, Zone 22 (Italy), Guatemala City, Zone 23 (Italy), Ixchiguán (Italy), La Hachadura border with El Salvador (Canada), La Mesilla border with Mexico (Canada), Melchor de Mencos border with Belize (Canada), Quetzaltenango Department (Italy), San Cristobal border with El Salvador (Canada), San José (Escuintla Department) (Canada), San Pedro Ayampuc (Guatemala Department) (Canada), Siquinilá (Escuintla Department) (Canada), Tajumulco (Italy), Tecun Uman border with Mexico (Canada), Tiquisate (Escuintla Department) (Canada), Villa Canales (Guatemala Department) (Canada)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider travel | Mar 12, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Besondere Vorsicht walten lassen; keine generelle Reisewarnung (regional advisories) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) | High Degree of Caution | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | vigilance renforcée (en jaune) (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Antigua Guatemala
Cobbled streets, church ruins and volcanoes on the horizon, with Spanish-language schools and one of Guatemala's best-known Holy Week celebrations.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Antigua Guatemala is a colonial city in the central highlands, about 40 km southwest of Guatemala City, at the foot of the Volcán de Agua. Locally called Antigua, or 'Old Guatemala,' it was once the capital of the Captaincy General of Guatemala. Earthquakes in 1773 badly damaged the city, and the capital moved in 1776 to what is now Guatemala City. UNESCO listed Antigua as a World Heritage Site in 1979 for its Baroque-influenced architecture, layout and church ruins.
People come for the streets around Central Park, the Arco de Santa Catalina and church ruins such as the Escuela de Cristo and the Capuchin convent. Hikes to Fuego, Acatenango and Pacaya usually start in town, and Spanish-language schools draw students from Europe, Asia and North America. The rainy season runs from May to October, with June and September the wettest months, so plan around it. The historic center is best explored on foot, and a few days covers the main sights and one volcano hike.
Antigua Guatemala in five
- Take a shuttle from the airportShared and private shuttles from La Aurora airport take about an hour, longer at rush hour.Airport to Antigua
- Hike Acatenango with a registered guideThe overnight hike climbs to nearly 4,000 m for views of Fuego erupting. Nights are freezing; guides rent warm gear.
- Book months ahead for Holy WeekSemana Santa, in March or April, brings processions and carpets of colored sawdust, and rooms sell out.
- Take a taxi or tuk-tuk after darkThe center is walkable by day. At night, ride between restaurants and your room.
Things to do in Antigua Guatemala
See all attractions in Antigua Guatemala
Need to know
- Airport
- La Aurora (GUA), Guatemala City, about 1 hour by shuttle
- Getting there
- Shuttles from the airport and Lake Atitlán, about 2.5–3 hours
- Getting around
- Walk; tuk-tuks for longer hops
- Best base
- Within a few blocks of Parque Central
- Time needed
- 3–4 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear5 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Dry, cool nightsJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 11 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cool nights
- FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh26°Low13°Dry, clearFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 11 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- MarchPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh27°Low14°Dry, warmMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 23 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Warmest, dryAprilRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest, dry
- MayRain24 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Rains startMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 203 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains start
- JuneRain27 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh24°Low16°Rainy seasonJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 387 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rainy season
- JulyRain21 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh24°Low15°Afternoon rainJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 220 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Afternoon rain
- AugustRain25 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh24°Low15°Afternoon rainAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 293 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Afternoon rain
- SeptemberRain27 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh24°Low15°WettestSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 345 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Wettest
- OctoberRain24 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Rain easingOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 249 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain easing
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Dry, clearNovemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- DecemberPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Dry, festiveDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 23 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, festive
Average daily high and low in Antigua, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Antigua Guatemala
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
20
- Feels like
- 21°
- Humidity
- 79%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 73%
Antigua Guatemala
05:24 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°10°73%Monday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Tue22°9°100%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed22°10°80%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Thu22°9°92%Thursday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 92%.
- Fri23°9°100%Friday: Fog. High 23°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat21°9°90%Saturday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Sun22°9°98%Sunday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 98%.
Updated 04:25 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 7.656 GTQ
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Lake Atitlánabout 2.5–3 hours by shuttleVolcanoes and lakeside villages; better for several nights.Read the guide
- Pacayaabout 1.5 hours by roadA shorter guided volcano hike than Acatenango.
Before you go to Antigua Guatemala
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Antigua Guatemala, checked
- Check the entry rules for your nationality before you book your trip.
- Hikes to Acatenango and Fuego usually start from Antigua. Volcán de Fuego is almost always active at a low level, so check conditions before you set out.
- Stay away from the Pensativo River and low streets after heavy rain. The river has flooded Antigua since the colonial period.
- Bomberos, the municipal and volunteer firefighters, provide emergency medical services in Antigua. Check the name of Hospital Nacional Pedro de Bethancourt before you visit, since spellings vary.
Plan around Antigua Guatemala
Regions, entry rules, safety and money
Read the guideLake AtitlánVolcano lake villages, 2.5 to 3 hours
Read the guideGuatemala CityWhere to sleep before or after the airport transfer
Read the guideTikalMaya temples in the northern rainforest
Read the guideQuetzaltenangoHighland city at the western end of the corridor
Read the guideInsurance for GuatemalaCover for volcano hikes and medical care
Read the guideConnectivity in GuatemalaSIM or eSIM for shuttles and maps
Read the guideAntigua Guatemala FAQ
How do I get from Guatemala City airport to Antigua?
Take a shared or private shuttle, about an hour without heavy traffic. Book ahead for late arrivals.
Is the Acatenango hike hard?
Yes. It climbs about 1,500 m over the first day to a camp near 3,600 m, with freezing nights. Go with a registered guide and acclimatize in Antigua first.
When is the best time to visit Antigua?
November to April is dry. Holy Week is spectacular but crowded and pricey.
Is Antigua Guatemala safe for tourists?
The center is a tourist hub with police patrols and is walkable by day. Take a taxi or tuk-tuk at night, keep phones out of sight, and book hikes with a registered guide. Read your government's current advice before you go.
How many days do you need in Antigua?
Three to four days covers the ruined churches, a volcano hike and a chocolate or coffee tour. Add a night for Holy Week crowds, since the processions fill the streets from early morning.