AI-generatedQuetzaltenango at a glance
- Best time
- Dec – Mar
- Warmest month
- Apr · 23°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,930 h
- Rain a year
- 1,900 mm
- Climate
- Highland
- Time zone
- UTC−6
- Elevation
- 2,351 m
Climate in Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango has a highland climate: mild, spring-like days all year round and cool nights. April is the warmest month with average highs of 23 °C, while December is the coolest at 19 °C. With around 1,930 hours of sunshine a year, Quetzaltenango is moderately sunny; February is the sunniest month with 6.6 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Quetzaltenango
The best time to visit Quetzaltenango is from December to March. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from December to March. Rain is frequent from April to November; the wettest month is June with 357 mm.
Quetzaltenango through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Quetzaltenango in spring
Mar – May
Good
- 22–23 °C by day
- 6.1 h of sun a day
- 54 rainy days in all
Quetzaltenango in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 20–21 °C by day
- 4.6 h of sun a day
- 83 rainy days in all
Quetzaltenango in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 19–20 °C by day
- 4.3 h of sun a day
- 71 rainy days in all
Quetzaltenango in winter
Dec – Feb
Excellent
- 19–21 °C by day
- 6.2 h of sun a day
- 17 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Dec – Mar
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Apr – Nov
Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Quetzaltenango for you.
Your best months: February – March
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: December – March
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 15°
- Midday, 13:00: about 20°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 19°
- Evening, 20:00: about 15°
- Night, 23:00: about 14°
05:5717:46
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:44–06:26 · evening 17:18–18:00
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:35–05:44 · evening 18:00–18:08
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
October in Quetzaltenango compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs fall from about 20° at the start of the month to 19° at the end. The days get 0.4 h shorter.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 20° | 19° |
| Night-time low | 12° | 11° |
| Daylight | 12.0 h | 11.6 h |
What is the weather like in Quetzaltenango in October?
In October, Quetzaltenango is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 4.0 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 240 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Quetzaltenango.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 49 min05:57 – 17:46
- UV index
- 12 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 7 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 84 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC−6offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %17 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Compare two months in Quetzaltenango
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
February has the better holiday weather in Quetzaltenango: score 91 against 53. In February, days are 1 °C warmer than in October. February has 22 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in February.
| Month | October | February |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 53 | 91better |
| Daytime high | 20° | 21° |
| Night-time low | 12° | 10° |
| Sunshine | 4.0 h | 6.6 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 27 | 5better |
| Rainfall | 240 mm | 18 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Quetzaltenango month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
88January19° · 6.2 h
In January, Quetzaltenango is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. Expect around 6.2 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 17 mm. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Quetzaltenango.
Quetzaltenango in January91February21° · 6.6 h
In February, Quetzaltenango is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sun shines for around 6.6 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 18 mm in total. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Quetzaltenango.
Quetzaltenango in February78March22° · 6.6 h
In March, Quetzaltenango is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 6.6 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 43 mm in total. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Quetzaltenango.
Quetzaltenango in March64April23° · 6.6 h
In April, Quetzaltenango is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 6.6 hours a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 92 mm. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Quetzaltenango.
Quetzaltenango in April57May23° · 5.1 h
In May, Quetzaltenango is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 5.1 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 253 mm. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Quetzaltenango.
Quetzaltenango in May53June21° · 4.0 h
In June, Quetzaltenango is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 4.0 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 29 days, adding up to 357 mm. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Quetzaltenango.
Quetzaltenango in June56July20° · 4.9 h
In July, Quetzaltenango is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 26 days, adding up to 212 mm. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Quetzaltenango.
Quetzaltenango in July56August21° · 4.8 h
In August, Quetzaltenango is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 4.8 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 28 days, adding up to 239 mm. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Quetzaltenango.
Quetzaltenango in August54September20° · 4.1 h
In September, Quetzaltenango is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 4.1 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 29 days, adding up to 330 mm. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Quetzaltenango.
Quetzaltenango in September53October20° · 4.0 h
In October, Quetzaltenango is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 4.0 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 240 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Quetzaltenango.
Quetzaltenango in October64November19° · 4.9 h
In November, Quetzaltenango is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. Expect around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 73 mm. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Quetzaltenango.
Quetzaltenango in November83December19° · 5.8 h
In December, Quetzaltenango is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. Expect around 5.8 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 27 mm. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Quetzaltenango.
Quetzaltenango in DecemberClimate in detail
Year & climate table
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Quetzaltenango
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
CoolOctober: nights around 12°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (9°), the warmest in June (12°).
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 88 | 19° | 9° | 6.2 h | 5 | 17 |
| FebruaryFeb | 91 | 21° | 10° | 6.6 h | 5 | 18 |
| MarchMar | 78 | 22° | 11° | 6.6 h | 10 | 43 |
| AprilApr | 64 | 23° | 12° | 6.6 h | 17 | 92 |
| MayMay | 57 | 23° | 12° | 5.1 h | 27 | 253 |
| JuneJun | 53 | 21° | 12° | 4.0 h | 29 | 357 |
| JulyJul | 56 | 20° | 12° | 4.9 h | 26 | 212 |
| AugustAug | 56 | 21° | 12° | 4.8 h | 28 | 239 |
| SeptemberSep | 54 | 20° | 12° | 4.1 h | 29 | 330 |
| OctoberOct | 53 | 20° | 12° | 4.0 h | 27 | 240 |
| NovemberNov | 64 | 19° | 11° | 4.9 h | 15 | 73 |
| DecemberDec | 83 | 19° | 10° | 5.8 h | 7 | 27 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
14.84° N, 91.52° W · 2,351 m · America/Guatemala
Sunshine
Sunshine hours in Quetzaltenango
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 4.0 of 11.8 hours of daylight in Quetzaltenango, 34 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain
Rain in Quetzaltenango: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Quetzaltenango has about 27 rainy days with 240 mm of rain in total.
UV index
UV index in Quetzaltenango
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 12 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in August (UV 15).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 20 min
- Olive skin
- about 25 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Wind & clouds
Wind and clouds in Quetzaltenango
How breezy and how cloudy Quetzaltenango is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Quetzaltenango typically peaks at 7 km/h during the day: Beaufort 2, light breeze or less.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 84 % of the sky over Quetzaltenango: mostly overcast, with about 4.0 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Planning a trip to Quetzaltenango
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Quetzaltenango in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Quetzaltenango has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 86) and its weakest during October half-term (score 53).
- 68
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 23 °C by day
- 6.6 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 56
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 22 °C by day
- 4.9 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 56
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 20 °C by day
- 4.8 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 53
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 20 °C by day
- 4.0 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 86
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
ExcellentBest holidays
- 19 °C by day
- 6.0 h of sun a day
- 6 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 11 h 5 min
- Distance
- 8,790 km
- Time zone
- UTC−6
- Jet lag
- About 5 days (7 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Good to know: Guatemala
- Currency
- Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
- Language
- Spanish
- Sockets
- Type A, B · 120 V
- Traffic
- Drives on the right
- Dialling code
- +502
UK plugs need a travel adapter
Only 120 V: chargers marked 100–240 V work, other devices need a voltage converter.
Sources: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0). Please check details before you travel.
Compare & alternatives
Compare with another place
Quetzaltenango compared
Put Quetzaltenango side by side with another destination.
Quetzaltenango vs Antigua Guatemala
In October the holiday weather in Quetzaltenango and Antigua Guatemala is about equally good (score 53 vs 56). During the day Antigua Guatemala is 4 °C warmer than Quetzaltenango. Antigua Guatemala gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | Quetzaltenango | Antigua Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 53 | 56 |
| Daytime high | 20° | 24° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 27 | 21 |
| Best time | Dec – Mar | Nov – Mar |
Through the year
Best places in the country
Guatemala in October: the best places
In October, Quetzaltenango ranks 5 of 5 destinations in this country.
- Livingston31°30°69
- 2Puerto Barrios31°30°69
- 3Antigua Guatemala24°56
- 4Guatemala City24°56
- 5QuetzaltenangoThis page20°53
Places nearby
Near Quetzaltenango
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climate
Places with a climate like Quetzaltenango
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Quetzaltenango's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Quetzaltenango
When is the best time to visit Quetzaltenango?
The best time to visit Quetzaltenango is from December to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Quetzaltenango?
April is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C and nights around 12 °C. December is the coolest month at 19 °C.
When does it rain most in Quetzaltenango?
Rain is frequent from April to November; the wettest month is June with 357 mm. The driest month is January with 17 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Quetzaltenango get?
Quetzaltenango gets around 1,930 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is February with 6.6 hours a day; in June there are 4.0 hours a day.
What time zone is Quetzaltenango in?
Quetzaltenango is on UTC−6 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Quetzaltenango?
A nonstop flight from London to Quetzaltenango takes about 11 h 5 min, for a straight-line distance of about 8,790 km.
Which school holidays are best for Quetzaltenango?
Quetzaltenango has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 86) and its weakest during October half-term (score 53). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 68, May half-term 56, summer holidays 56, October half-term 53, Christmas holidays 86.