Lake Atitlán (Atitlán) weather in May

May in Lake Atitlán: warm, soaked, with muggy air — a gamble, with 28 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Lake Atitlán🇬🇹 Guatemala · Northern Central America · Trekking57
  1. 90Jan
  2. 87Feb
  3. 80Mar
  4. 71Apr
  5. 57May
  6. 59Jun
  7. 75Jul
  8. 67Aug
  9. 60Sep
  10. 64Oct
  11. 83Nov
  12. 89Dec

#12 of 12 months in Lake Atitlán · #1206 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 57/100 (tier D)

Days
24°C
Nights
18°C
Wet days
28
Sun
10.4 h
Humidity
84%
Daylight
13 h
Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Photo: Diego Girón · Pexels

Traveller notes on Lake Atitlán in May

Lake Atitlan-forum threads on May weather for Antigua and the lake describe mornings as typically clear, real rain more likely by afternoon or evening as the month progresses toward the rainy season. Regulars call a rain jacket worth packing regardless of how clear the morning sky looks, conditions shifting fast once cloud builds. Posters describe May as genuinely transitional, some days sunny throughout while others bring real cloud and rain in roughly equal measure, a single day hard to predict. Regulars call the lake still a striking sight in this shoulder-season stretch, warm daytime temperatures a real upside regardless of an occasional shower. Posters recommend real layers for the evening chill at this elevation, comfortable warmth fading fast once the sun drops. Regulars call May a reasonable window for anyone flexible about an afternoon system. The record: 24.2C days feeling like 28C, 18.3C nights, an extraordinarily high 375.6mm across nearly 28 days and 84 percent humidity.
LakeAtitlanMayRegular · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Lake Atitlán

Lake Atitlan-forum threads on April weather describe daytime readings as comfortably warm and overnight lows as genuinely chilly but not severe, a light jacket sufficient for most evenings. Regulars call the rainy season not officially starting until May, though afternoon showers driven by Pacific tropical disturbances remain a real possibility even in April. Posters describe a genuine haze from local burning as capable of obscuring the volcanoes some years, the land looking noticeably brown this late in the year's drier stretch, the effect varying by year with wind patterns. Regulars call the lake still striking regardless of haze. Posters recommend real layers for the daily swing, comfortable daytime warmth giving way to a genuine evening chill. Regulars call April a solid month despite the small chance of haze or an isolated shower. The record: 24.9C days feeling like 28C, 17.5C nights, an extraordinarily high 185.6mm across nearly 20 days and 76 percent humidity.
LakeAtitlanAprilRegular · April · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Lake Atitlan-forum threads on typical late-February conditions describe days as genuinely warm and comfortable, short sleeves and shorts named repeatedly as standard daytime wear around Panajachel. Posters call evenings and early mornings a real contrast, a proper sweater or extra blanket standing advice once the sun drops given how much cooler the highlands run after dark. Regulars call October through March the broader favored stretch for reliably warm, sunny days paired with a genuine chill overnight, elevation keeping things cooler than the lowland tropics most visitors expect from Guatemala. Posters describe real rain as uncommon but not unheard of, worth packing a light layer just in case. Regulars call the lake and volcano views worth the trip regardless of an occasional cool evening. Posters recommend real layers for anyone underestimating highland nights. The record: 24.3C days feeling like a punishing 25C, 16C nights, a low 70 percent humidity and 10.7 hours of sun.
LakeAtitlanFebruaryRegular · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Lake Atitlan-forum threads on March describe this as sitting squarely inside Guatemala's dry season, clear blue skies the norm and essentially no meaningful precipitation expected across the month. Posters call cool mornings giving way to pleasantly warm afternoons the typical daily pattern, layering for the swing standard advice around the lake's highland towns. Regulars flag strong afternoon wind, building through March and into April, as a real factor for anyone planning a boat crossing between villages like Panajachel, San Pedro and Santiago Atitlan, choppier water making an early crossing the more comfortable option. Volcano hikes up Atitlan, Toliman or San Pedro are all called genuinely favorable this time of year, excellent visibility and firm, settled trail conditions throughout. Regulars call March one of the strongest overall months for both scenery and comfortable temperatures. The record: 25.1C days feeling like 26C, 16.9C nights, 71 percent humidity and 8.6 hours of sun.
AtitlanMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
January on the lake is warm days and genuinely cool nights - the forum's figures for San Pedro are highs of 77 to 81F against lows of 52 to 56F, with the altitude, 4,500 to 5,000ft, doing the work at both ends. What actually shapes a day here is the Xocomil, the wind that gets up in the afternoon: mornings on the lake are calm, and after about four it is choppy enough to make a lancha ride rough and a small boat unwise. So kayaking and crossings are morning business, and the public lanchas stop at dusk, around six. The water is on the cold side from November to February. The record: 23.4C days, 15.7C nights, 4.3 precipitation days carrying 14.9mm and 10.4 hours of sun.
XocomilAfterFour · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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Lake Atitlán climate normals — May

Daytime high24°C / 76°F🌤 warm
Nighttime low18°C / 65°F
Feels like (high)28°C / 82°F
Rainfall376 mm / 14.8 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days28 days
Humidity84%💦 very humid
Dew point18°C / 64°F
Sunshine10.4 h/day
Daylight12.8 h
Wind8 km/h / 5 mph
Air quality (US AQI)91🙂 moderate

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Lake Atitlán in May

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.

Quietone of its worst months for weather(estimated)

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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).

Toughest weatherLake Atitlán's weather peaks December–February, best around January.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Lake Atitlán in May

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Wet season

    MonsoonRisk

    28 rainy days and about 376 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in May →

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?

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Lake Atitlán in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Lake Atitlán?
May in Lake Atitlán: warm, soaked, with muggy air — a gamble, with 28 rainy days. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Lake Atitlán on SeasonMap's comfort score (57/100).
What is the weather like in Lake Atitlán in May?
In May, Lake Atitlán averages a daily high of 24.2°C and a low of 18.3°C, with about 375.6 mm of rain over roughly 27.5 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Lake Atitlán in May?
Lake Atitlán has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 91 in May.

Within 300 km: Antigua Guatemala's Corpus Christi carpets around 21 May – 27 Jun.