How to pack for a trip to Guatemala (women's edition)
- tyrawu19
- Apr 21, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 29, 2024
Planning a trip to Guatemala in winter? Lucky you! I took a spontaneous trip to Guatemala with a girlfriend in February and now count it as one of my favorite places I've ever traveled to. The country has consistently pleasant weather and beautiful scenery. Before my trip, I had trouble finding recommendations on what to pack, especially lists tailored for women. Here's what I learned about how to pack for Guatemala.
Guatemala winter weather:
Guatemala has a relatively warm and tropical climate, with daytime temperatures usually between 70°F and 90°F all year round. It depends on what part of the country you're in, but between November and February, you can expect warm, dry days, with little to no rainfall across the whole country. Temperatures range from around 75°F in the Highlands to 88°F on the Pacific Coast, but can still get chilly at night. In contrast, March and April are the hottest months, with the rainy season from May to October breaking the often overbearing humidity with afternoon showers and occasional thunderstorms.
During my trip in February, I traveled to Lake Atitlan and Antigua, two of the most popular tourist destinations in Guatemala. The weather in Lake Atitlan was pleasantly in the 70s during the day. At night, it did get a little cooler with the breeze coming off the lake, around low to mid 60s. In Antigua the weather was warmer and more humid, in the high 70s or low 80s. During the 2 pm-3 pm time period, the sun was especially fierce. At night, it cooled down to a comfortable temperature, only requiring a light jacket.
Your packing list for Guatemala:
Overall, Guatemala is a pretty casual place. You can get away with minimal packing, if you stick to basic t-shirts and tops plus a few options for pants. Most of the locals that I saw were wearing t-shirts, jeans and tennis shoes. Here's what I would add to my packing list for Guatemala, next time I go back.
Lake Atitlan
In this area, most local women wear traditional Mayan clothing, so you will stand out no matter what you wear. They tend to dress more modestly, covering their knees and shoulders but I saw lots of tourists wearing shorts and tank tops. In this area the main activities are hiking, swimming, kayaking and exploring the different towns around the lake.
While I was there I didn't really need bug spray. There was only one day when we hiked through a coffee plantation in Lake Atitlan that I wished I had it. I had packed some of these travel-friendly bug repellent wipes just in case, but found that it wasn't a big problem.
Here's what I would recommend for this area:
A sundress
A light jacket or button down for evenings
An athletic wear outfit you can wear for hiking
Sneakers (I would not recommend high heels due to cobblestone streets)
Tevas (Lightweight and can work for all sorts of water and hiking activities)
A bikini or one-piece for swimming in the lake or taking a dip in the hot springs
Antigua
In comparison to Lake Atitlan's slower pace of life and vibrant nature, Antigua gives you the city experience. There are cobblestone streets all throughout Antigua, so heels are a no go. I would also recommend bringing a travel backpack as your luggage, unless you want to lug your suitcase for a bumpy ride.
Hiking Acatenango
If you're planning to hike Acatenango, you will need warm clothes for the summit as temperatures can drop to the high 40s or 50s. Many of the tour companies will lend you clothes, however, you may want to bring some of your own if you are particular. I have heard great things about OX Expeditions, and I hope to do Acatenango with them on my next visit to Guatemala.
Sneakers or lightweight hiking shoes (I prefer trail runners)
Beanie
Semuc Champey, Tikal or El Paraedon
These areas are quite different from the other places mentioned. Semuc Champey is a natural preserve in Guatemala with beautiful swimming pools. If you're headed to this area, swimsuits and outfits to wear by the water are a must. I would say the same for El Paraedon, a small beach town with nice surf breaks. Lastly Tikal is where you'll find the Mayan ruins. It's in a remote area and gets quite hot so wearing shorts and breathable clothing is best here.
For more tips on what to pack for a trip to Guatemala, I like this article from Claire's Itchy Feet.
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