SeasonMapLake Atitlán (Atitlán) weather in December
Guatemala
December in Lake Atitlán: warm, dry, with muggy air — one of the best months to visit.
#2 of 12 months in Lake Atitlán · #123 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 89/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Lake Atitlán in December
Lake Atitlán's forum calls December part of the reliable dry season — cool, brisk mornings in the mid-teens°C give way to pleasant afternoons in the low-to-mid 20s, with only the odd light shower breaking up mostly clear skies. Regulars recommend layers you can shed once the sun's up, since the highland chill at dawn catches some visitors off guard.
Add your own note from Lake Atitlán's card on the map.
Lake Atitlán climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 23°C / 73°F | 🌤 warm |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 16°C / 61°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 24°C / 75°F | |
| Rainfall | 24 mm / 0.9 in | ☀️ dry |
| Rainy days | 5 days | |
| Humidity | 76% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 14°C / 58°F | |
| Sunshine | 10 h/day | |
| Daylight | 11.3 h | |
| Wind | 10 km/h / 6 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 59 | 🙂 moderate |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Lake Atitlán in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsDry season, Santo Tomas at Chichicastenango, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Lake Atitlán's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Best weatherLake Atitlán's weather peaks December–February, best around January.
December includes Santo Tomas at Chichicastenango.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Lake Atitlán in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Xocomil on the lake
1 Nov – 30 Apr · usuallyWind seasonRiskThe xocomil gets up over the water around midday and turns the crossings into a soaking. Boatmen do the long runs in the morning, and the last lanchas back leave earlier than visitors expect.
- Season
Dry season
1 Nov – 30 Apr · usuallyCrowdedClear mornings with all three volcanoes out, and dust on every road down to the water. The villages are busiest around Christmas and Holy Week; February is the quiet middle of it.
- Festival
Santo Tomas at Chichicastenango
13–21 DecMajor festivalCrowdedAn hour and a half up from the lake, Chichicastenango spends the week to the 21st in masked dances, copal smoke on the church steps and the palo volador in the square. Day trips leave Panajachel early. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Lake Atitlán — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Lake Atitlán?
Lake Atitlán in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Lake Atitlán?
- December in Lake Atitlán: warm, dry, with muggy air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #2 of 12 months for Lake Atitlán on SeasonMap's comfort score (89/100).
- What is the weather like in Lake Atitlán in December?
- In December, Lake Atitlán averages a daily high of 22.8°C and a low of 16°C, with about 23.5 mm of rain over roughly 5.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Lake Atitlán in December?
- Lake Atitlán has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 59 in December.
Other months in Lake Atitlán
Compare Lake Atitlán in December
Warmer or cooler than Lake Atitlán in December
Similar destinations in Central America — December
Within 300 km: Antigua Guatemala's Quema del Diablo on 7 Dec.