SeasonMapWhat's on in Tikal, Guatemala through the year
Tikal, Guatemala has 5 curated events through the year — 2 holidays, 2 seasons and 1 local rule. The ones to plan around: Sunrise and sunset permits (January) and Semana Santa (March). January, March, April and December are its peak-crowd months.
Updated September 2026 · every event curated and sourced · dates for 2026 where they are announced, the usual window where they are not
Tikal events and crowds by month
| Month | What starts | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| January | Sunrise and sunset permits | Peak crowds |
| February | — | Busy |
| March | Semana Santa | Peak crowds |
| April | — | Peak crowds |
| May | — | Busy |
| June | Green season in the Peten | Quiet |
| July | — | Shoulder season |
| August | — | Shoulder season |
| September | — | Shoulder season |
| October | — | Shoulder season |
| November | Dry season | Busy |
| December | Christmas and New Year | Peak crowds |
January in Tikal
Tikal weather in January →Peak crowds — Dry season, Christmas and New Year
- Rule
Sunrise and sunset permits
1 Jan – 31 DecBook earlyThe park runs six to six, and being inside for sunrise or sunset needs an extra ticket bought at the gate plus an authorised guide. It is the reason people pay to stay inside the park rather than in Flores. Source ↗
Still on: Dry season (15 Nov – 15 May (usually)), Christmas and New Year (18 Dec – 2 Jan)
February in Tikal
Tikal weather in February →Busy — Dry season
Nothing new starts in February.
Still on: Sunrise and sunset permits (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry season (15 Nov – 15 May (usually))
March in Tikal
Tikal weather in March →Peak crowds — Semana Santa, Dry season
- Holiday
Semana Santa
29 Mar – 5 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedBook earlyGuatemalan families take Holy Week and the car park fills before eight. The three hotels inside the park and the rooms at El Remate are booked months ahead of it. Source ↗
Still on: Sunrise and sunset permits (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry season (15 Nov – 15 May (usually))
April in Tikal
Tikal weather in April →Peak crowds — Semana Santa, Dry season
Nothing new starts in April.
Still on: Sunrise and sunset permits (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Semana Santa (29 Mar – 5 Apr), Dry season (15 Nov – 15 May (usually))
May in Tikal
Tikal weather in May →Busy — Dry season
Nothing new starts in May.
Still on: Sunrise and sunset permits (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry season (15 Nov – 15 May (usually))
June in Tikal
Tikal weather in June →Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather
- Season
Green season in the Peten
1 Jun – 31 Oct · usuallyMonsoonStorms build in the afternoon, the causeways turn to mud and the temple stairs get slick. In exchange the plazas are empty, the forest is in full leaf and the howlers carry across the whole site.
Still on: Sunrise and sunset permits (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
July in Tikal
Tikal weather in July →Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in July.
Still on: Sunrise and sunset permits (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Green season in the Peten (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually))
August in Tikal
Tikal weather in August →Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in August.
Still on: Sunrise and sunset permits (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Green season in the Peten (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually))
September in Tikal
Tikal weather in September →Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in September.
Still on: Sunrise and sunset permits (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Green season in the Peten (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually))
October in Tikal
Tikal weather in October →Shoulder season — an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in October.
Still on: Sunrise and sunset permits (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Green season in the Peten (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually))
November in Tikal
Tikal weather in November →Busy — Dry season
- Season
Dry season
15 Nov – 15 May · usuallyCrowdedFirm tracks between the temple groups, sunrise tours every morning and the outlying complexes reachable without a slide. February to April is when the park is at its busiest.
Still on: Sunrise and sunset permits (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
December in Tikal
Tikal weather in December →Peak crowds — Dry season, Christmas and New Year
- Holiday
Christmas and New Year
18 Dec – 2 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook earlyDomestic visitors from the capital and a wave of overland travellers between Belize and Mexico. Flores fills first, then El Remate, and the shuttles run at dawn to beat the queue. Source ↗
Still on: Sunrise and sunset permits (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry season (15 Nov – 15 May (usually))