Lake Atitlán · Month comparison
May vs November
November ranks #1 overall vs May at #5. Dry season returns — Día de los Muertos (1-2 Nov) plus Sumpango giant kite festival.
May
#5 of 12 months
Strong option
Rainy season opens — afternoon storms, lush greening, prices fall.
- ↑Hillsides going green after dry-season brown
- ↑Hotel rates 30-40% below February
November
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Dry season returns — Día de los Muertos (1-2 Nov) plus Sumpango giant kite festival.
- ↑Día de los Muertos (1-2 Nov) — Santiago cemetery fully decorated
- ↑Sumpango/Santiago Sacatepéquez Giant Kite Festival (1 Nov, day-trip from Atitlán)
| Factor | May | November |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 7 | 9 |
| Value score | 7 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 8 | 7 |
| Events score | 6 | 9 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 10 |
| Avg high temp | 25°C | 23°C |
| Monthly rain | 130mm | 30mm |
| Daily sunshine | 7hrs | 8hrs |
May trade-offs
- ↓130mm rain — daily 3-5pm thunderstorms
- ↓Some hostel rooftop terraces become unusable
- ↓Lightning storms over the volcanoes can be dramatic but loud
November trade-offs
- ↓Rates climb sharply through the month as dry season begins
- ↓Cool nights returning (11°C) — pack a sweater
Scores compare months within Lake Atitlán. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →