February combines dry-season travel with Carnival Tuesday on 9 February, the start of Lent on 10 February and Día del Cariño on 14 February in 2027. It is a useful choice if you want cultural dates alongside a highland or Petén itinerary, but a calendar date does not guarantee a local parade.
Compare the seasons in our best time to visit Guatemala by month.
February weather by altitude
These are the published February values from our parent guide’s 1996-2025 Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis series: average daily high/low in °C, with °F in brackets. The published rounding is retained. These historical model averages are not official station normals or a forecast for your trip.
| Destination and elevation | February high/low |
|---|---|
| Antigua (1,540 m) | 26/14 (79/57) |
| Lake Atitlán, Panajachel (1,580 m) | 24/15 (75/59) |
| Xela (2,360 m) | 20/11 (67/51) |
| Tikal (300 m) | 29/19 (85/67) |
| Livingston (sea level) | 27/22 (80/71) |
| Monterrico (sea level) | 32/22 (89/72) |
In the same series, February carries 2% of Tikal’s annual rainfall, 4% of Livingston’s and 0% of Monterrico’s. These rounded seasonal shares describe the distribution of rain across the year; they are not daily rain probabilities, and zero is not a guarantee of dry weather.
For a highlands-and-Tikal trip, keep the warm evening layer while adding clothing suitable for warmer lowland afternoons. If rainfall is your main concern, use the destination comparison rather than treating the entire country as having identical dry-season conditions.
February’s calendar: what is fixed and what needs confirmation
| Date in 2027 | Occasion | Planning status |
|---|---|---|
| 9 February | Carnival Tuesday | Calculated from the church calendar; local programmes separate |
| 10 February | Ash Wednesday | Church-calendar date |
| 14 February | Día del Cariño | Annual observance; individual activities separate |
| 20 February | Santo Domingo velación, Guatemala City | Date published by Dulce Nazareno Dominico |
| 28 February | Santo Domingo procession, Guatemala City | Date published by Dulce Nazareno Dominico; confirm hours and route |
The USCCB calendar places Ash Wednesday on 10 February 2027. Carnival Tuesday is the preceding day, following the rule the Ministry of Culture gives for the Mazatenango carnival. This establishes the calendar relationship, not permission to reuse a previous year’s municipal programme.
Carnival and Mazatenango
The Ministry’s Mazatenango carnival entry describes the celebration’s relationship to Ash Wednesday. The 2026 edition was cancelled; see our Mazatenango guide. Confirm the municipality’s edition-specific programme before making Mazatenango the reason for your journey. See our Carnival and cascarones guide and Mazatenango carnival guide for the local context.
Día del Cariño and the beginning of Lent
The Ministry of Culture’s earlier Día del Cariño programme included friendship, family recreation and sport. Use our Día del Cariño guide when looking for announcements; earlier activity times do not establish the next programme.
For Lent, Santo Domingo’s organiser already lists the February dates above. This page does not cover other churches’ 2027 programmes; check the relevant Hermandad before choosing a viewing spot or arranging a transfer. Our Antigua Lent guide and Guatemala City Lent guide distinguish calendar dates from local programmes.
Packing and booking choices
Bring a warm layer for highland evenings, comfortable walking shoes for town visits, sun protection and a rain layer for lowland excursions. Use the Guatemala packing guide to match your clothing to your activities.
If Carnival is essential, confirm the local celebration before fixing the route. If you prefer a general sightseeing trip, choose bases around the climate and activities you want, leaving room to attend an announced event. Compare accommodation quotes directly; neither a festival date nor a dry-season label establishes a room price or crowd forecast.
Sources
- Guatemala Life: monthly weather tables and methodology — read 4 November 2026; published Open-Meteo ERA5 figures.
- USCCB: liturgical calendar — read 4 November 2026; church-calendar dates, not Guatemalan procession routes.
- Ministry of Culture, SiCultura: Mazatenango carnival — read 4 November 2026.
- Ministry of Culture: Día del Cariño activities — read 4 November 2026; historical programme.
- Dulce Nazareno Dominico: Santo Domingo calendar — read 4 November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Carnival in Guatemala in 2027?
Carnival Tuesday falls on 9 February, the day before Ash Wednesday. Confirm a local programme separately, especially before travelling to Mazatenango.
When does Lent begin in 2027?
Ash Wednesday is 10 February 2027 in the church calendar. Local procession routes and times require their own announcements.
What is Día del Cariño?
The Ministry of Culture and Sports’ 2026 programme marked it on 14 February, with friendship and family activities, sport and a Día de San Valentín Zumba class on 12 February (18:00 to 20:00); check announcements for 2027.
Is February suitable for Tikal?
February has a smaller share of Tikal’s annual rainfall than January in our 1996-2025 weather series. Plan for warm days and retain a rain layer.
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